Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority

The board meeting agenda covered several items, including administrative actions such as the Xpress Bus Title Transfer Approval and the submission of Grant Submittals and Subgrant Agreements for Forsyth and Coweta Counties, as well as General Planning Contract Awards. The Executive Report provided updates on Federal Appropriations, noting the passage of a T-HUD omnibus bill funding agencies through September, including specific funding amounts for FHWA and FTA, and highlighting Georgia transit projects receiving Congressionally Directed Spending. The report also detailed the Governor's Budget Recommendation and the House Budget Recommendation for AFY26, focusing on significant investments like Local Maintenance Improvement Grants and the I-75 South Express Lanes upgrade. A key action item involved approving an amendment to Gwinnett County's FY24 Transit Trust Fund Award to change the project service area to the Central Business District.

The Administrative Committee meeting focused on several action items requiring potential Board approval. Key discussions included the Xpress Bus Title Transfer Approval, which necessitates a Board action because asset valuation exceeds the threshold, involving the transfer of ownership from SRTA to ATL via an MOU. Furthermore, the committee addressed the submittal of federal grant applications and subgrant agreements on behalf of Forsyth County and Coweta County for FTA 5307 formula funds, detailing fund allocations and proposed usage for operating assistance and capital costs. Lastly, the agenda covered General Planning Contract Awards, involving a proposal to set initial usage limits totaling $12.5M across five new contracts with selected consultant firms for various planning and administrative services.

This Transit Network Analysis Report, a component of the 2022 ATL Regional Transit Plan, identifies transit gaps and needs across the 13-county Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority (ATL) region. The plan aims to establish a safe, efficient, and resilient transit system with seamless regional connectivity by enhancing Mobility and Connectivity, promoting Equity, fostering Economic Development, and ensuring Safety, Efficiency, and Resiliency. It utilizes current and future travel demand analyses, extending to 2050, to provide a basis for prioritizing and implementing high-performing, regionally significant projects that support equity, economic vitality, and environmental enhancement.

This document presents Amendment 2 to the 2020 Atlanta Regional Transportation Plan (ARTP), detailing a comprehensive list of transit projects submitted by various regional entities for inclusion in the plan. The projects encompass a wide range of initiatives including microtransit services, expansion of commuter, express, and fixed bus routes, the development of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and BRT Lite lines, and upgrades to park-and-ride facilities. Additionally, the plan addresses infrastructure improvements such as new administration and maintenance facilities, technology upgrades, and enhancements to transit amenities, aiming to advance regional transportation goals with operational projections extending to 2055.

The Regional Transit Plan for The Atlanta Region Transit Link Authority (the ATL) outlines a strategic direction to enhance transit connectivity across the 13-county Atlanta region. It is guided by six core principles: Economic Development and Land Use, Environmental Sustainability, Equity, Innovation, Mobility and Access, and Return on Investment. The plan aims to streamline transit planning, improve the rider experience, and drive economic development by ensuring metro Atlantans remain mobile, connected, and capable of accessing opportunities, with components spanning six and twenty years and an outlook extending to 2050.