Meeting with the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC)

Created in 1947 with several predecessors, the ARC is a governmentally funded regional planning agency for the City of Atlanta as well as its ten surrounding counties. Major fields of work include public transport (MARTA), water resource management (Tri-State Water Wars), innovating the region’s economy and workforce, land use and communal livability. The ARC collaborates with local governments, businesses, non-profit organizations and individual citizens.

On September 29th the Delegates met with the ARC to discuss their Green Communities Program, a voluntary certification program for the ten counties to adopt practices that reduce their impact on the environment. Local governments can earn points by choosing from a list of ten categories to implement practices which promote efficiency in energy use, including transportation and water treatment, power generation from renewables and green building practices (largely LEED and Energy Star measures).

Furthermore points can be collected by enforcing recycling and waste reduction, increasing the amount of trees and green spaces and providing education and community outreach. Measures taken then translate into a bronze, silver, gold or platinum certification for the community. If necessary and desired the ARC also provides communities with technical support and training to meet their goals. As of 2014, there have been 18 communities awarded with the Green Communities certification.

In the meeting with Green Communities principal planner Crystal Jackson the Delegates addressed some of the most pressing systemic problems of metropolitan Atlanta. Due to Atlanta’s lack of a comprehensive public transport system (MARTA’s subway system provides only four lines running in two directions) Atlantans are facing heavy traffic, particularly on and within Interstate 285 (the perimeter) which encircles the City of Atlanta and several other counties.

Consequently, the inner city’s infrastructure is predominantly laid out for automobiles, with multi-lane avenues and countless large parking grounds, making the city less walkable, less cycling friendly and causing respiratory problems for some of its dwellers. The expansion of MARTA faces opposition by some constituencies, also due to racial stereotypes, which is why it is hard to move along in this direction. Though the ARC cannot pass laws or impose taxation to combat these problems, it can bring together the region’s leaders to address them and help plan Atlanta’s future.

Our special thanks go out to Crystal Jackson, who gave us an interesting presentation on the Green Communities Program, devoted her time for our questions, and presented us with insightful information folders.

For More information on the ARC’s regional involvement and the Green Communities Initiative visit:http://www.atlantaregional.com/environment/green-communities

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