ATL Board adopts federal fund policy updates

Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst presents transit feasibility updates to ATL Board

ATLANTA – The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board of Directors adopted the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Regional Formula Fund policies for the Atlanta Urbanized Area (UZA). The policies will now proceed to the Atlanta Regional Commission for their approval.

The FTA Regional Formula Fund policies provide details for how FTA formula funding is distributed throughout the 23-county Atlanta UZA and largely mirrors the national formula used by FTA. By adopting these policies, the ATL and ARC together are establishing an equitable and transparent process for how FTA Regional Formula Funding will continue to be distributed throughout the region.

With the goal of streamlining transit planning and promoting collaboration, updates regarding the work of the Regional Transit Planning Committee and the Regional Technology Committee were given as well as a presentation on the I-285 Top End Transit Feasibility Study. The Board heard updates on its first “Call for Transit Projects” that ended July 31, 2019. It was reported that 195 projects were submitted.

“This is the first step in working toward a plan for better connecting our transit systems across the 13-county region, ” said Felicia Franklin Warner, ATL Board Vice Chair. “We want to promote collaboration between our transit partners and stakeholders while thinking long-term about mobility.”

Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst along with Eric Bosman from Kimley-Horn presented an update on the I-285 Top End Transit Feasibility Study. Seven cities across the north side of I-285 including Smyrna, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Doraville and Tucker, are looking at an east-west transit line that would connect the cities by running high speed, high capacity transit service in toll lanes along the highway. Funding for the study is being provided by the cities in conjunction with the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, the Cumberland CID and the Tucker-Northlake CID.

“The items discussed during today’s (Aug. 8) meeting continue to emphasize that regional transit is truly a collaborative process,” commented Chris Tomlinson, ATL Interim Executive Director.

“A more efficient and unified transit system will help drive economic growth and provide better access to jobs for people across the region.”

The Board also approved its 2020 calendar. The next meeting of the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) Board of Directors is scheduled for September 5, 2019.