Project

Atlanta voters approved three ballot measures on May 24, 2022, that will make significant investments in the City’s infrastructure and economy. The ballot measures — two ballot measures relating to the issuance of general obligation bonds and one ballot measure relating to the renewal of a special sales tax — will put $750 million toward vital transportation, recreation, public safety and arts projects across the City. 

The City of Atlanta has identified major infrastructure needs across streets, sidewalks, parks, recreation centers and public safety facilities. To make progress against these needs, the City of Atlanta has prepared a $750 million infrastructure program for the next five years. Below you can find detailed information about the following:  

• Each ballot measure 
• Project list, adopted unanimously by the Atlanta City Council in December 2021 
• Methodology for selecting projects 
• How the City has strengthened its internal capabilities to deliver projects on time and on budget

The first two ballot measures are general obligation bonds totaling approximately  $400 million. Approximately  $210 million will address vertical infrastructure such as police facilities, fire stations, recreation centers, and other parks and recreation facilities. Approximately $190 million will address horizontal infrastructure, including transportation and parks. General obligation (GO) bonds have long been a primary source of funding for capital investments to replace and expand City infrastructure.  

The third measure is a renewal of the TSPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) program which will generate $350 million for transportation projects. Atlanta’s TSPLOST is a 4/10 of a penny sales tax, applying to most purchases made within the city. By law, a TSPLOST can only be used for certain transportation capital projects. Atlanta voters approved the first TSPLOST program in 2016, which expired in 2022. 

Of the $750 million program, the largest category for investment is transportation infrastructure with $460.2 million. The second largest category is parks, recreation and the arts with $161.4 million. The third category is public safety with $92.3 million. And the final category is $36 million for district local funds. Each district’s councilmember will be able to allocate $3 million to neighborhood projects that are not already covered by the larger citywide investments in the package.

TRANSPORTATION & TRAILS 

The City has invested in building its internal capabilities to plan, design and execute transportation projects, including the establishment of the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) in 2020. To build the transportation project list, ATLDOT developed the framework below using advanced analytics and other best practices.  

These funds represent an investment in improving safety, equity and mobility, while keeping the City’s infrastructure in a state of good repair, with the highest returns on investment. 

The $460 million in transportation investments include the following categories: 

• $196.5M for sidewalks and trails 
• $108M for safe streets projects and protected bike lane projects 
• $40M for bridges and bridge matching funds to secure Federal Infrastructure Bill Funds 
• $32M for street repairs  
• $ 10M for traffic & pedestrian signals 
• $39M for overhead including engineering management services 
• $31.5M for an inflation reserve fund to ensure projects can be delivered  
• $3.2Mfor Georgia sales tax administration costs 

PARKS, RECREATION & THE ARTS 

The City will invest $161.4 million in parks, recreation and the arts in the following categories:

• $72.8M for recreation centers & pools 
• $64.6M for park improvements 
• $15M for the arts 
• $9M for parks & recreation maintenance facilities & greenhouse renovation 

PUBLIC SAFETY 

The City will invest $92.4 million in public safety facilities in the following categories: 

• $69.3M for police and fire station facilities and renovations 
• $15M for the 911 Call Center 
• $8M for the Center for Diversion & Services

DISTRICT LOCAL FUNDS

The City will invest $36 million in district local funds. Each district councilmember will be able to allocate $3 million to neighborhood projects that are not already covered by the larger citywide investments in the package.