The Atlanta Regional Commission wanted to know what our residents think about metro Atlanta. Recently, ARC commissioned one of the largest public opinion surveys in our region’s history. The result is the first “Metro Atlanta Speaks” regional survey. We now have a statistically valid snapshot of what residents in our 10-county region think about some of the major issues and opportunities here.

1. Taking the Pulse of Metro Residents
Atlanta Regional Commission
For more information contact:
mcarnathan@atlantaregional.com

2. Metro Atlanta Speaks
This public opinion survey, conducted by the A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service and
Research at Kennesaw State University, asked more than 2,100 voting-age residents to
voice their opinions on how the 10-county Atlanta region rates in terms of key quality-oflife issues like transportation, education, the economy, the arts and aging in the Atlanta
region. This statistically-significant survey paints a fascinating picture of the Atlanta
region.
While it is important to get a point-in-time understanding of how residents perceive the
quality-of-life in metro Atlanta, the true value of this survey will be to understand how
these perceptions change over time. This is the first year we have conducted Metro
Atlanta Speaks. ARC, along with other community partners, plans to continue this survey
so we can build on this valuable intelligence every year.
Survey margin of error is +/- 2.1 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

3. What is the Biggest Problem Facing The Atlanta
Region?
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%

4. Rate The Availability of Job Opportunities in Metro
Atlanta...
Don't Know, 7.7%
Excellent, 6.7%
Poor, 20.3%
Good, 29.0%
Fair, 36.3%

5. Compared to Other Metropolitan Areas, Rate the
Economy of Metro Atlanta...
40.0%
35.0%
38.0%
36.6%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
17.3%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Much or Slightly Better
Much or Slightly Worse
About the Same

6. Rate Metro Atlanta As A Place To Live...
Poor, 4.6%
Don't Know, 0.8%
Excellent, 14.5%
Excellent
Fair, 27.5%
Good
Fair
Poor
Don't Know
Good, 52.5%

7. Will Living Conditions Be Better or Worse in Metro
Atlanta in 3-4 years?
Better in 3-4 years,
27.8%
Better in 3-4 years
About the same,
39.1%
Worse in 3-4 years
About the same
Worse in 3-4 years,
30.5%

8. Has Traffic in Metro Atlanta Gotten Better or Worse
in Last 3-4 Years?
Gotten Better
7.0%
About the Same,
33.8%
Gotten Worse, 56.8%
Don't Know
2.4%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%

9. Best Long-Term Solution to Traffic Problems in Metro
Area?
Don't Know, 4.5%
Do Nothing, 2.7%
Develop
Communities in
Which People Live
Close to Where They
Work, 21.9%
Improvements to
Public
Transportation,
40.9%
Better Roads &
Highways, 30.0%

10. How Important is Improved Public Transportation For
Metro Atlanta's Future?
Not Important At All
8.8%
Somewhat
Important
17.1%
Very Important
71.3%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Don't Know
2.7%
100%

11. Best Way for Metro Atlanta to Accommodate
Growth?
Other, 0.9%
Don't Know, 5.0%
Build New Suburbs,
18.3%
Redevelop Older
Areas, 75.8%

12. If You Could Live Anywhere in Metro Area, What
Type of Neighborhood Would You Prefer?
Don't Know, 2.9%
Single Family Residential Area
Mixed Development,
39.2%
Single Family
Residential Area,
57.9%
Mixed Development
Don't Know

13. Rate Public Education In...
40.0%
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Your District Metro-Wide Your District Metro-Wide Your District Metro-Wide Your District Metro-Wide
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor

14. How Would You Rate Your Neighborhood As A Place
To Live?
Poor, 4.7%
Don't Know, 0.2%
Fair, 15.0%
Excellent
Excellent, 33.2%
Good
Fair
Poor
Don't Know
Good, 47.0%

15. How Long Does It Take You to Get to Work From
Your Home?
35.0
30.0
32.5
25.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
Average Commute Time
Median Commute Time

16. Rate Availability of Cultural Events and Venues in
Metro Area
Don't Know
3.6%
Excellent, 23.7%
0%
10%
20%
Good, 44.6%
30%
40%
50%
Fair, 22.6%
60%
70%
80%
Poor
5.6%
90%
100%

17. Biggest Problem Associated With Growing Old in
Metro Atlanta?
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Staying in
Own Home
Financial
Issues
Affordable
Housing
Locating
Other
Services
Transportation
Don't Know
Other

18. Primary Source of Information on Current Events?
Word of Mouth,
5.3%
Other, 1.6%
Don't Know, 0.6%
Television
Radio
Television, 38.7%
Internet, 34.0%
Newspapers
Internet
Word of Mouth
Other
Don't Know
Radio, 11.1%
Newspapers, 8.7%