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‘100 Metros Dashboard’ Makes it Easy to Compare Biggest Metro Areas on Key Regional Issues

By Paul Donsky Data is most meaningful when placed in context. It’s one thing, say, to know that the median home sale price in metro Atlanta is $233,000. It’s much more powerful when you learn that the figure is $525,000 in the Seattle region and $193,000 in Chattanooga. But finding accurate data can be difficult and time-consuming. Where do you start? What sources […]

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Looking to Volunteer During Pandemic? Be a Friend to an Older Adult with ARC Phone Reassurance Program

It’s a common misconception: Loneliness and social isolation are just a normal part of aging. In truth, they are not. Furthermore, loneliness and social isolation pose very real health risks: Prolonged isolation has been shown to be as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. And a 2020 study by the National […]

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What the Latest Round of Federal Transportation Funds Means for Metro ATL

By Paul Donsky Better traffic signals. Enhanced bus service. Improved roads. These are a some of the projects included in this year’s list of transportation projects slated to receive federal funding. In all, $44 million from Uncle Sam was recently allocated by the Atlanta Regional Commission toward a range of projects. Here are some highlights: Other projects in line for funding include: Phase 1 of a traffic […]

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Atlanta and Columbus, Ohio Regional Commissions to Hold Sustainability Summit

By Kate Sweeney The Atlanta and Columbus, Ohio regions are nearly 600 miles apart, one in the Southeast, the other in the Midwest. But they have much in common. They each boast fast-growing populations and robust economies. They’re also state capitals and home to large universities. And they face similar challenges when it comes to […]

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Metro Atlanta Adds 63,600 People in Past Year

By Paul Donsky Metro Atlanta grew at a relatively healthy clip in in the year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, adding nearly 64,000 people to bring the 10-county region’s total population to 4.7 million. That’s according to the latest population estimates from the Atlanta Regional Commission. There’s a lot of data to parse, so let’s delve into the numbers. How Does […]

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How Downtown Atlanta Aims to Drive Alternative Commute Options

Incentives, Education, and Even Zoning May Play a Role By Junior Knox Imagine an Atlanta that, as it grows, expands its mobility options to better accommodate movement in and around the city, beyond driving alone in a car. Although the reality of COVID has significantly changed commuting habits, it’s important for us to plan for […]

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Services Supporting Older Atlantans Kick into High Gear During COVID-19

By Kate Sweeney During the COVID-19 pandemic, many once-mundane tasks — like dropping by the grocery store or pharmacy — represent a newfound degree of difficulty, and even risk. This is especially true for folks 65 and up, who are more endangered than others by the highly contagious coronavirus. In these times, many service agencies […]

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Out of Work? 5 Tips for Job Hunting During the Crisis

Featured Photo from https://writix.co.uk/ By Junior Knox COVID-19 is not just a health crisis – it’s also an economic crisis, as unemployment in claims in Georgia have reached 1.3 million since mid-March. But some places are still hiring, and it always helps to have a competitive edge when you’re seeking employment. We recently spoke with […]

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Teleworking and Social Distancing Push Traffic Down, Air Quality Up

By Paul Donsky A quick check of your favorite mapping app makes it clear: traffic congestion has eased during these shelter-in-place times. Even during rush hour, major highways are bathed in a sea of green, signifying free-flowing traffic. Now, we have some numbers that show just how much congestion has declined, and what that means […]

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The Region’s Connected Vehicle Technology is Getting Ready to Roll

By Junior Knox The future of mobility is upon us. A network of “smart” traffic signals is headed for some of the region’s busiest thoroughfares. The system relies on Connected Vehicle (CV) technology – cars that talk to each other and to traffic signals and other infrastructure around them – to improve safety and efficiency. The […]

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ARC Now Accepting Applications for 2020 Regional Leadership Institute Class

By Junior Knox Applications are now being accepted for the Atlanta Regional Commission’s 2020 Regional Leadership Institute (RLI). Respected for both its network- and knowledge-building approach, RLI exposes a diverse group of participants to the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing metro Atlanta, such as equity, housing, transportation, and water resources. The 2020 RLI program will be held from September […]

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The Critical Importance of Lifelong Communities to Our Region

By Kate Sweeney It seems like a simple concept: Build neighborhoods that can accommodate people across all stages of life — from toddlers, to twenty-somethings, to those past retirement. Regional planners call them “lifelong communities.” Too often though, neighborhoods in metro Atlanta fail to live up to this promise. Many communities lack the sidewalks and […]

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