Atlanta residents now have a chance to put their toughest trips on the city’s transportation agenda, from dangerous intersections to missing sidewalks and difficult connections to transit.
The Atlanta Department of Transportation held its first district open house Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Hollis Innovation Academy, launching a 12-district series for a transportation plan looking ahead to 2040. The next session is Thursday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. at St. James United Methodist Church, according to the official meeting calendar.
What residents can weigh in on
The city is in the listening stage of its Comprehensive Transportation Plan. ATLDOT says the effort will help determine transportation investments and policies, with safety and more ways to get around at its center.
At Tuesday’s meeting, residents raised concerns about road conditions and visibility at intersections, FOX 5 reported. The discussion included street connectivity, transit and trail access.
Sidewalks, bus stops, lighting, potholes and bike lanes are also part of the conversation, according to WSB-TV’s coverage of the open house. ATLDOT mobility planning director John Saxton told the station that giving residents alternatives to driving alone will be important as the city grows.
The planning process will involve coordination with MARTA, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Atlanta Beltline, WSB-TV reported. For background on one piece of the city’s growing trail network, see our coverage of the Northwest Beltline connection toward Buckhead.
How to participate
You do not have to wait for a meeting to share a problem spot. The project’s Share Your Ideas page links to a survey and input map for travel experiences, priorities and proposed improvements.
After Thursday’s District 7 session, the calendar lists a District 1 open house at Thomasville Recreation Center on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. District 12’s meeting follows Thursday, Oct. 8, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Rosel Fann Recreation Center.
Additional district sessions continue into November. Check the official calendar before heading out for the latest meeting details.
What happens next
This round of feedback will help shape project ideas and how they are evaluated. The city’s project website says the process spans 2026 and 2027, with adoption anticipated in December 2027.
The open houses are an early planning step. They do not mean that individual road, sidewalk or transit projects have already received funding or construction dates.
Featured image: Peachtree and Decatur streets in January 2013, a file photo by Hermann Luyken / Wikimedia Commons, released under CC0.
