City of Atlanta Policy Agenda: Transit & Affordability Recommendations
Transit Access
Atlanta City Council holds MARTA accountable to adopt an equitable transit fare structure and ensure stations are accessible to people using wheelchairs, walking, and biking.
Unbundle Parking
City of Atlanta unbundles parking from rents — requiring that parking be charged separately — and eliminates minimum parking requirements for developments throughout the city, not just Downtown or Midtown.
Prioritize Equitable Transit-Oriented Development
City of Atlanta Department of Planning prioritizes Equitable Transit-Oriented Development in its Comprehensive Development Plan.
Invest Atlanta Utilizes Equity Evaluator
City of Atlanta requires Invest Atlanta to use the Equity Evaluator Tool developed by TransFormation Alliance when allocating public funds for developments.
Zoning Code
City of Atlanta updates its zoning code to allow for more flexibility in what kinds of housing gets built, to allow more people to live near transit and to fix exclusionary zoning policies.
Bike Share Access
Atlanta Department of Transportation relaunches city bike share program to provide affordable first- and last-mile access to transit, especially in communities with low rates of car ownership.
Prioritize Affordable Housing Near Transit
City increases available funding for affordable housing, especially near transit, and MARTA increases quantity and affordability of housing required for Transit-Oriented Developments.
Public transportation, or transit, is a public good — it benefits everyone, even people who don’t use it. Transit cuts down on traffic, helps employees get to work on time, and uses less space than parking in cities where land use is at a premium. For those who rely on it or use it occasionally, public transportation is less expensive than car ownership, provides more chances for social interaction than sitting in traffic, and is the safest way to travel. Atlanta’s severe lack of solid transit options is a major barrier to economic and cultural development. It also hinders our ability to become more resilient in the age of climate change.
Sustainable transportation modes — biking, walking, riding transit, running, or using wheelchairs, strollers, skateboards, or scooters — are less expensive than owning a car. Yet the cost of driving is often built into other goods and services. Because Atlanta’s housing sector continues to grow more expensive and more burdensome on people’s budgets, we are looking for ways transportation policy can lower the cost of housing. When people are less burdened by housing costs, they are able to dedicate more resources to invest in their community's ability to thrive, whether that's supporting local businesses or freeing up more time to participate in community engagement processes.
