As the movement to invest in infrastructure improvements across Atlanta and Fulton County gains momentum following passage of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Transportation Purposes (TSPLOST) ballot measure last month, the Fulton County Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH) Program, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and the City of Atlanta have released a new video highlighting the health, safety and lifestyle benefits of Complete Streets. The video will be used by public officials and the PICH Program in discussing transportation infrastructure projects designed to make roadways less congested and more pedestrian-friendly.
Complete Streets allow users of all ages and abilities to share the road through such features as shaded sidewalks; bike lanes or wide-paved shoulders; designated bus lanes; comfortable and accessible public transportation stops; frequent and safe crossing opportunities; pedestrian signals; median islands; curb extensions; narrower driving lanes; and roundabouts. The modifications make the streets more user-friendly for pedestrians, joggers, cyclists and rollerbladers, the disabled, car drivers and transit riders as they live, work and play.
The Fulton County PICH Program supports the development of Complete Streets throughout the County as a way to facilitate increased physical activity. Over the past year, PICH has sponsored a series of workshops and outdoor walking lectures to educate residents in East Point, Atlanta and Sandy Springs about the benefits of Complete Streets and how to work with policymakers to bring them to their neighborhoods.
The TSPLOST measure that was approved by County voters in November is projected to generate approximately $570 million to fund transportation infrastructure projects throughout North and South Fulton cities outside of Atlanta, based on estimates by the Council for Quality Growth.
Separately, the Atlanta TSPLOST is expected to generate about $260 million. This money will supplement the $30 million from the Renew Atlanta Infrastructure Program the City is already spending on more than 30 miles of Complete Streets, in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Atlanta BeltLine and community groups.