1. RTP Update (2013-2014):
An overview

2. What is PLAN 2040?
PLAN 2040 is metro-Atlanta’s long-range planning
process for land development and transportation needs
through the year 2040. The Atlanta Regional
Commission (ARC), as the Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO) for all or parts of eighteen
counties, develops the Regional Transportation Plan
(RTP). The plan is updated every four years, or more
frequently as necessary.

3. Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Update
The PLAN 2040 RTP is:
• a long-range, financially constrained plan covering 20+ years of
transportation projects for the 18-county metro area
• a multi- modal balance of projects; e.g., bridges, bicycle paths,
sidewalks, transit services, roadway upgrades, safety improvements,
transportation demand management initiatives and emission
reduction strategies
The current PLAN 2040 RTP was adopted in July 2011.
This update to the plan is expected to be approved in
early 2014.

4. Why does the PLAN 2040 RTP need to be updated?
The current plan must be updated to help the region stay in alignment with
changing Federal, State and Local priorities.
Federal
Federal legislation priorities introduced by
reauthorization of transportation funding through
MAP-21*
State
Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan and
Governor’s Goals
Local
Latest design scopes for major projects and updates
to local priorities
Regional
Reflect current regional financial realities (post July
31, 2012 Transportation Investment Act
referendum)
*On June 6, 2012 the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21 st Century (MAP-21) legislation was signed into law

5. Keeping Up with Federal Changes
The current plan must be updated to help the region stay in alignment with
changing Federal, State and Local priorities.
Federal
Federal legislation priorities introduced by
reauthorization of transportation funding through
MAP-21
State
Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan and
Governor’s Goals
Local
Latest design scopes for major projects and updates
to local priorities
Regional
Reflect current regional financial realities (post July
31, 2012 Transportation Investment Act
referendum)

6. Keeping Up with Federal Changes
Updated MAP-21 priorities:
• Emphasized focus on
National Highway System
(NHS)
• Required preservation
performance measures and
targets for roads and bridges
conditions
Current NHS Network

7. Keeping up with State Updates
The current plan must be updated to help the region stay in alignment with
changing Federal, State and Local priorities.
Federal
Federal legislation priorities introduced by
reauthorization of transportation funding through
MAP-21
State
Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan and
Governor’s Goals
Local
Latest design scopes for major projects and updates
to local priorities
Regional
Reflect current regional financial realities (post July
31, 2012 Transportation Investment Act
referendum)

8. Coordination with State Transportation
Priorities and Strategies
Decision-Making Framework*
To make the best use of limited funding through
existing revenue streams and to keep aligned
with the State’s Strategic Priorities, ARC and
planning partners use a Decision-Making
Framework to identify transportation
investments that will improve system-wide
performance.
The three major goals of this framework are:
1. Optimize and manage existing assets in
the current transportation system
2. Strategically expand regional system
3. Implement overall demand management
programs
.
* Officially adopted by ARC Board: April 24,
2013 & GRTA: April 10, 2013

9. A closer look at Decision-Making
Framework for PLAN 2040 Update
The Decision-Making Framework includes performance measures to support the
Statewide Strategic Plan, Governor’s Strategic Goals and PLAN 2040 goals with an
emphasis on enhancing economic growth in region. Major capacity, operations
and safety projects in the plan are evaluated according to this criteria.
Annual fatalities on the transportation network
Percent of system adequately maintained
Percent of reliable peak-period trips within 45 minutes by car
Percent of reliable peak-period trips within 45 minutes by
transit (rail and bus)
Recurring congestion costs in terms of wasted time and fuel
Incident response time in metro Atlanta
Truck delay measures

10. Incorporating Local and Regional Project Updates
The current plan must be updated to help the region stay in alignment with
changing Federal, State and Local priorities.
Federal
Federal legislation priorities introduced by
reauthorization of transportation funding through
MAP-21
State
Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan and
Governor’s Goals
Local
Latest design scopes for major projects and updates
to local priorities
Regional
Reflect current regional financial realities (post July
31, 2012 Transportation Investment Act
referendum)

11. Transportation Projects Since 2011:
Refreshing the Plan
• Review the relationship of existing projects to
planning networks and system-wide
performance
• Review the need that each project is
addressing and consider lower-cost
alternatives
• Incorporate changes to major projects as a
result of ongoing engineering and design
work

12. Projects & Plans: What’s Currently in
the RTP?
The RTP contains a multi- modal balance of projects; e.g., bridges, bicycle paths,
sidewalks, transit services, roadway upgrades, safety improvements,
transportation demand management initiatives and emission reduction
strategies
Since project scopes, schedules and budgets are constantly evolving, the plan is
amended on a regular basis. The current project info can be found at:
www.atlantaregional.com/tip.

13. Transit Projects Under
Review
Clifton Corridor Light Rail Transit
I-20 East Heavy Rail Transit &
Bus Rapid Transit
Atlanta Streetcar Expansion
Connect Cobb/Northwest
Corridor Bus Rapid Transit
MultiModal Passenger Terminal
Connect 400 and Revive285

14. Major Roadway Project Updates
Atlanta Regional Managed
Lanes Implementation Plan
•
GDOT is updating the State’s
managed lane vision
•
•
•
•
New freeway capacity in region will
likely be tolled
No existing High Occupancy
Vehicle (HOV) lanes will be
converted to toll lanes
No long-term leases to private
companies
Emphasizing most cost-effective
solutions for each corridor
Major Roads
•
•
Project limits being reviewed to ensure needs are fully addressed
Lower cost operations and safety improvements being considered where major capacity
projects are not practical

15. Bicycle & Pedestrian Planning Efforts

Maximizing benefits – considering level of service (quality),
cost/benefit, health impacts, developing regional trail
network serving job centers, etc.

Assessing regional resources – evaluating datasets, refining
data collection and analysis, identifying significant gaps

Safety & crash data review – evaluating crash hotspots, link
crash types to countermeasures

Coordinating funding – using data-driven analysis and
stakeholder input for selecting and implementing better
projects

16. How are Transportation Projects
Financed?
The RTP is required to be financially constrained – the total cost of the
plan cannot exceed projected available funding
Revenue is forecasted from various sources, such as:
• State and federal motor fuel taxes
• Local sales taxes
• Other funding from local governments
• Bonds and infrastructure banks
• Tolls and user fees

17. Financial Realities and Challenges in
PLAN 2040 RTP Update
The RTP must be reassessed to accommodate changes to funding
amounts, project scopes and federal, state and local priorities
Considerations:
• Core transportation funding sources are not keeping up with
population growth and needs
• Federal, state, local funding sources are under stress and have yet
to recover to pre-recession levels
• A slower funding growth rate under MAP-21, in addition to
Sequestration, has impacted funding for new transit services
• E-commerce has eroded sales tax revenues for local governments
and MARTA

18. Local Level Property Tax Digests Are Down An
Average 18% From Peak 2008 Levels
County
2008
Barrow
$1,909,685,506
Bartow
$3,260,821,740
Cherokee
$8,595,242,973
Clayton
$8,566,561,443
Cobb
$27,597,125,819
Coweta
$4,058,742,761
DeKalb
$25,197,674,686
Douglas
$4,300,264,819
Fayette
$5,431,100,479
Forsyth
$8,890,399,061
Fulton
$51,433,458,064
Gwinnett
$29,804,680,832
Henry
$6,776,901,378
Newton
$2,955,354,830
Paulding
$4,301,640,779
Rockdale
$2,885,675,074
Spalding
$1,482,154,458
Walton
$2,881,381,411
Total
$200,328,866,113
Source: Georgia Dept. of Revenue
2012
$1,379,782,129
$2,947,158,781
$6,673,907,367
$5,983,372,350
$24,810,376,696
$3,720,582,854
$18,926,895,064
$3,508,852,223
$4,301,271,416
$8,035,502,721
$44,344,781,916
$24,346,632,421
$4,641,027,111
$1,948,389,575
$2,787,405,635
$2,288,188,617
$1,423,486,807
$2,206,126,856
$164,273,740,539
% Change
-27.7%
-9.6%
-22.4%
-30.2%
-10.1%
-8.3%
-24.9%
-18.4%
-20.8%
-9.6%
-13.8%
-18.3%
-31.5%
-34.1%
-35.2%
-20.7%
-4.0%
-23.4%
-18.0%
*85% of the roadway lane mileage, 52% of bridges, and 42% of
travel occurs on locally-owned roads and bridges
Why is this important?
Local governments rely
on property taxes to
maintain/operate the
transportation
network that is off the
state system* and
operate several local
transit systems

19. Statewide Sales Tax Receipts Are Down 10.3%
From Peak 2007 Levels
Georgia Sales Tax Revenues: 2007-2012
$6,000
$5,800
$5,600
Millions
$5,400
$5,200
$5,000
$4,800
$4,600
$4,400
$4,200
$4,000
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Source: Georgia Governor’s Office of Planning & Budget
Why is this important?
Many local governments rely on sales taxes to implement capital projects and pay
19
match for federal aid projects; MARTA uses the sales tax to fund operations & capital

20. State Motor Fuel Taxes Are Down 3.5% Since 2008
Revenues in $000s
Motor Fuel Tax Type
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Prepaid Motor Fuel Sales
Tax
$538,156
$422,827
$385,241
$479,881
$573,047
$547,172
Motor Fuel Excise Tax
$473,046
$438,329
$443,386
$441,189
$431,564
$428,278
$1,011,202
$861,156
$828,627
$921,070 $1,004,611
$975,450
Total
Source: Georgia Dept. of Revenue
*Exclusive of the 1% of motor fuel sales tax that goes to state general fund
Why is this important?
State motor fuel taxes comprise the primary source for state transportation
funding, including matching federal funds

21. Federal Funding Resources Allocated to the
Atlanta Region Will Become More Strained
Forecasted FHWA Funding to the Atlanta Region ($YOE)
PLAN 2040
PLAN 2040
Update
2014-2019
$3,763,615,743
$4,001,679,941
$238,064,199
6.3%
2020-2030
$9,181,088,485
$9,270,206,688
$89,118,202
1.0%
2031-2040
$10,469,325,249
$10,093,899,927
-$375,425,322
-3.6%
Total
$23,414,029,477
$23,365,786,556
-$48,242,921
-0.2%
Difference
% Change
Note: 1.4% forecast annual growth rate in federal revenues; inflation 2.2%
Why is this important?
Federal funding comprises the largest share of system expansion funding

22. How can I follow the progress of the RTP
Update & be more involved?
Thank you for your interest in the PLAN 2040 RTP. Your
involvement in the regional planning process is important.
Here are some ways where there will be opportunities to
learn more about the plan and add your perspective to the
discussion:
• Visit the Plan 2040 RTP Web site to see the latest info
• Check the “Get Involved” section of the site for
discussions, open house meetings and other ways to
share thoughts
• Email comments to ARC at plan2040@atlantaregional.com
• Call ARC with comments or questions: 404.463.3272