Just four decades ago, the Atlanta area was a moderate-sized metropolis, with a small-town feel. It appeared not that different from other cities in the Southeast.
But, metro Atlanta leaders were quietly planting the seeds for what would become the capital of the South and one of the fastest-growing metro areas in U.S. history.
Vision-led plans created the first parallel runways in the U.S., paving the way for the world’s busiest airport. A heads-up planner in the 1950s crafted the region’s first transit plan, enabling metro Atlanta to snag federal funding for the first rapid transit system in the Southeast. With foresight, the Chattahoochee Corridor Plan led to the protection of this critical water source for a metro of millions.
So much has changed so rapidly, that we rarely stop to acknowledge it. In those 40 years, we’ve added more than 2.5 million residents. Our heavy rail system, MARTA, now connects major employment centers and serves as a magnet for job growth.
Cities and job centers across the region are embracing and investing in lively, pedestrian-friendly areas packed with restaurants, shops and offices. Trails are being constructed and connected, the Atlanta Beltline is bursting with life and we’re using less water today than 15 years ago, despite our soaring population.
We didn’t get here by accident. It took vision, bold decisions, genuine collaboration and hard work by caring and committed people across metro Atlanta.
I’m pleased that the Atlanta Regional Commission had a role to play in these foundational building blocks, but I’m even more proud of the collaboration that occurs today around the ARC table – where key elected officials and citizen members from our 10-county region meet and act to tackle common challenges and opportunities.
But, I also know we must continue to work together, across political and geographic divides, if we are to continue to thrive. The challenges we face, from traffic congestion to economic competitiveness, are complex and intertwined, and can best be addressed from a regional perspective.
No region is perfect. So, what needs to be done to make ours even better?
We must continue to build a truly world-class transportation network, featuring a range of even more viable alternatives to our cars. Our education and workforce development systems must better prepare our children and workers for the future. We need even more compact, walkable, lifelong communities that enable people of all ages to stay active and engaged.
Yes, these are ambitious goals. But metro Atlanta has a strong track record of coming together to get important things done.
The AJC’s “Atlanta Forward” series poses the question: Does the region have what it takes to regain our pre-recession prosperity?
Of course we do. However, we cannot do so by looking back or trying to be like other regions. We must strive to be the best region we are capable of becoming.
In fact, we’re already well on our way, regaining the jobs lost during the Great Recession and moving ahead. In the past year, Atlanta’s job growth has been among the nation’s strongest. Major employers like State Farm, Mercedes-Benz and athenahealth are making significant investments here, signaling their belief in our region’s future.
There’s no doubt that we are at a critical juncture, a time of tremendous change and opportunity. Most successful regions are having this same conversation, but we must move past the talk. Now is the time for concerted civic and political action and investment.
To play in the big leagues, we must have a cohesive team that is willing and able to make bold decisions and investments for the common good, like the ones that got us this far. I’m ready. The Atlanta Regional Commission is ready. Are you?
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