Rockdale residents are set to receive $250,000 in federal grants distributed by the Atlanta Regional Commission for the Sigman Road portion of Rockdale's growing PATH trail network.

The federal Transportation Alternatives Program aim to make transportation options safer and more appealing. According to guidelines, TAP spending should be committed to providing “safe routes for non-motorized travel.” The Atlanta Regional Commission and the region’s local governments decided that the region’s $14.36 million of TAP funding should focus on advancing greenway trail segments, walking and cycling improvements within activity centers and promoting safe routes to schools and transit stations. 

“Currently, all or parts of some 20,000 metro Atlanta commutes are made on bicycles each week, plus many more on foot and transit,” said John Orr, Manager of ARC’s Transportation Access & Mobility Division. “And in today’s world of increasing congestion and decreasing funding, biking and walking are viable modes of transportation in places where they are safe and convenient.” 

In addition to transportation access and safety, much of the TAP funding will be spent to lay a foundation for greenway trail connections throughout the region and to help develop a regional network that eventually reaches from Alabama to Covington and from Cumming to Senoia. Special attention is being paid to projects that are located in key locations and are critical for bike and pedestrian safety. Projects to be funded through the TAP include:

City of Atlanta Pedestrian Accessibility Project; City of Atlanta; $5,880,000

Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road Bicycle and Pedestrian; DeKalb County; $1,750,000

Atlanta Beltline Trail from Glenwood Avenue to Allen Avenue; City of Atlanta; $719,000

Bob Callan Trail Phase II, US 41 Trail and Trailhead; Cobb County; $620,000

Western Gwinnett Bikeway Extension; Gwinnett County; $900,000 

Sigman Road Multi-Use Trail; Rockdale County; $250,000

CHC Regional Greenway Trail - Douglas County Extension from Boundary Waters Park to Sweetwater Creek State Park; Douglas County; $1,300,000

Dallas Battlefield Trail, Phase 2; City of Dallas; $200,000

Perimeter Commuter Trail System Study; Perimeter Center CIDs; $400,000

Georgetown Area Multimodal Project; City of Dunwoody; $200,000

Path Forward Program; Fayette County; $841,000

Norcross to Lilburn Multiuse Trail; Gwinnett County; $300,000

Rottenwood Creek Trail Phase 2; City of Marietta; $200,000 

Town Center / Noonday Creek Trail / KSU Bike-Ped Connector; Cobb County; $200,000

Barnwell Road Multi-Use Trail; City of Johns Creek; $200,000

Global Gateway Connector Project; City of College Park; $200,000

Bethany, Cogburn, Windward Connection; City of Milton; $200,000

The TAP is a continuation and combination of the former Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and Recreational Trail programs under previous federal funding bills. A more detailed list of projects is available here. 

The Atlanta Regional Commission is the official planning agency for the 10-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties as well as the City of Atlanta and 68 other cities.