Region working toward addressing common challenges

In the past year, the Atlanta region has added jobs and population at the fastest rate since the financial crisis. The region’s job growth ranked second among the nation’s largest metro areas.

While many things are trending in the right direction, much work remains to be done to enhance our quality of life, from transportation to education. That’s the message I recently delivered to more than 1,300 regional leaders who attended the Atlanta Regional Commission’s State of the Region breakfast.

So, where do we begin? One place we can turn to for guidance is Metro Atlanta Speaks, a public opinion survey commissioned each year by ARC and several community partners. The survey offers a statistically valid snapshot of how the region’s residents feel about a range of critical issues.

In the survey, residents say that transportation is our No. 1 challenge. The good news: our region is making tremendous strides on a number of fronts to improve mobility.

In the near term, our partners at the Georgia Department of Transportation plan to open new managed toll lanes early next year on I-75 in Henry and Clayton counties. Similar lanes on I-75 in Cobb and I-575 in Cherokee will open in 2018. Importantly, transit vehicles will be able to use these new lanes, providing a new commuting option.

In the long-term, the Atlanta Region’s Plan, our 25-year blueprint for metro Atlanta, features an $85 billion investment to maintain and expand the region’s transportation infrastructure. Key projects include additional managed toll lanes, an expanded transit system, improved arterial roads and highway interchanges and a regional network of bicycle and pedestrian trails.

Also, Gov. Nathan Deal has unveiled a plan to accelerate road and bridge construction throughout the state. Major projects getting fast-tracked include managed toll lanes on Ga. 400 and on the top end of I-285. Meanwhile, voters in Atlanta and Fulton County recently approved new funding for a range of transportation projects, including transit expansion in Atlanta.

The Metro Atlanta Speaks survey also is abundantly clear that not everyone is benefiting from the region’s improving economy. Half of those surveyed said they wouldn’t be able to immediately pay an unexpected bill of $400. And almost 20 percent said they sometimes skip meals to make ends meet. These are sobering numbers.

Poverty exists throughout metro Atlanta, from the urban core to the suburbs to our rural, outer reaches. We must meet this challenge by working together. No organization can bring about lasting change by acting alone.

There are some exciting regional efforts taking place that are beginning to demonstrate the power of collaboration.

The Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance is a coalition of businesses, nonprofits and governments that is working to transform the area around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport into a regional economic competitor. I believe this effort will serve as an important catalyst for the entire South Metro area.

And we’re nearing the launch of an innovative, regional education initiative called Learn4Life. This “cradle to career” program aims to improve workforce readiness and student achievement, using a data-driven approach that measures student outcomes while sharing and cultivating best practices.

The level of collaboration around Learn4Life is virtually unprecedented in our region. It includes eight local school systems supported by the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the United Way of Greater Atlanta and ARC, and a number of other organizations.

We’ve come a long way since our region’s journey began way back in 1837. As we continue to grow, our region’s leaders must constantly evolve and adapt to a fast-changing world, anticipate new challenges and take advantage of opportunities that arise. Our journey continues.