In a move poised to significantly enhance Southern Crescent's mobility and connectivity, Clayton County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Dr. Alieka Anderson-Henry, together with the collaboration of neighboring counties and the City of Atlanta, has successfully secured a substantial $3.5 million grant from the Atlanta-region Transit Link (ATL) Authority for the Southern Crescent Regional Transit Study. The grant was obtained following a resolution by the Clayton County Board of Commissioners, as reported by Clayton County News.
This financial injection represents part of a larger pool of funds totaling $16.4 million that the ATL Authority Board allocated for the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), aimed at supporting 16 transit capital, technology, and planning projects within the ATL region, projects that in turn are expected to draw an additional $239 million in local and federal contributions, escalating the impact of state investment, as Information from the ATL Authority confirms. Chairwoman Dr. Anderson-Henry expressed enthusiasm about the grant, declaring, “This investment is more than a study. It is a long-overdue commitment to the communities that have powered Metro-Atlanta for decades,” per Clayton County News.
In a statement put forth to Clayton County News, ATL Executive Director Jannine Miller described the significant criterions on which these funds were competitively awarded—namely competitiveness, customer focus, and cross-county service—all part of ATL’s Strategic Blueprint. In line with this objective, Steven M. Brock, ATL Board Chairman, asserted the importance of funding initiatives, stating, “We are proud to fund initiatives that move our region forward,” signifying a strong intent to propel regional progress."
Ricky Clark Jr., a member of the ATL Board for District 10, underscored the Southern Crescent's role as a burgeoning economic force, stating that “The study aims to identify essential transit routes, prioritize expansion with public input, and merge local and county plans into a cohesive regional vision,” a sentiment that consolidates the collective drive to improve overall transportation experience, according to Clayton County News.
For those seeking additional information, resources can be accessed at the ATL Transit website, or for media inquiries, interested parties are encouraged to reach out to Valerie L. Fuller, Communications Administrator, at the Clayton County Office of Communications.
