Study: Toll Road Won't Help

Atlanta's proposed 59-mile toll road would do more to harm the region's quality of life than to improve it.

1 minute read

January 24, 2003, 12:00 PM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"A two-year study of Atlanta's northern suburbs by the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority says the proposed 59-mile Northern Arc toll road would do less to relieve traffic congestion, promote good air quality and save time and money for commuters than other options... But even that won't be enough. Better roads and more trains and buses alone will not ease traffic congestion, the research says, unless they are linked with changes in local land use requirements."

Thanks to Governing Magazine

Friday, January 24, 2003 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Historic homes in St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs

Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

March 18, 2025 - Newsweek

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands

The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

March 17, 2025 - The Wall Street Journal

Close-up of traffic congestion from behind cars on a freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Conservatives’ Decongestion Pricing Flip-Flop

When it comes to solving traffic problems, the current federal administration is on track for failure, waste, and hypocrisy.

March 17, 2025 - Todd Litman

Downtown Los Angeles skyline viewed from the northwest on a sunny day with scattered clouds.

Shaping LA’s Future: Public Voting Opens for LA2050 Grants

The LA2050 Grants Challenge invites Angelenos to vote on the top issues facing Los Angeles, helping direct $3 million in funding to organizations working to build a more connected and resilient region.

45 minutes ago - MyNewsLA.com

White CTA bus and elevated train against sunset sky in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago Transit Agencies on Brink of Major Crisis

Without additional funding, regional transit agencies will be forced to cut services by 40 percent.

1 hour ago - Mass Transit

Blue and red oil pumpjack in field surrounded by grasses and wildflowers in rural Alberta, Canada.

Alberta’s Orphan Well Cleanup Plan Sparks Debate Over Use of Public Funds

Alberta’s upcoming plan to address nearly 80,000 abandoned oil wells has sparked controversy over the potential use of public funds, despite government claims that taxpayers won’t be footing the bill.

2 hours ago - Canadian Occupational Safety