Assessing Atlanta’s Infrastructure for Equitable Access to Active Transportation and Multimodal Mobility

Project Summary:

The City of Atlanta and Georgia State University are leading this Multimodal Mobility project as part of the Georgia Smart Communities Challenge 2023. The project's goal is to address the systemic infrastructure hindering equitable mobility in historically marginalized communities, perpetuating cycles of disinvestment that heighten public safety risks and impede crime prevention efforts. The goal of the initiative is to help Atlanta reach its goal of becoming a "15-minute city," where residents safely access essential services through active and multimodal transportation, by integrating smart technologies and community-driven strategies.

Target Study Areas

The project follows crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) principles, transforming marginalized areas into resilient, connected neighborhoods where safety and mobility reinforce community well-being. Equitable access to reliable transportation reduces recidivism risks by connecting justice-impacted individuals to jobs and services, while safer, inclusive infrastructure fosters community trust and reduces environmental hazards. This research aligns with broader public safety and crime reduction goals by addressing systemic barriers to economic opportunity and community well-being.

MARTA, Propel ATL, and Micromobility lab at Georgia State University are collaborating on this project to ensure interdisciplinary insights into transportation policy, urban and health equity. Outcomes, such as a geospatial database, community-developed strategies, and policy recommendations, will contribute to scalable models for equitable mobility, addressing deficiencies in infrastructure investment and facilitating Atlanta's evolution towards a resilient, interconnected urban future.

Methods:

The study employs a multi-method approach across four neighborhoods (two with planned "Complete Street" upgrades and two controls):

Mobile Light Detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning to map physical infrastructure (sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting) and to build digital twin models of the physical built environment along the target corridors with georeferenced locations, accurate geometry measurements, and structured, quantitative condition information.
Participatory Action Research (PAR) workshops were conducted to enable residents to co-document mobility experiences and identify community needs and solutions.
Neighborhood surveys: A total of 219 surveys were administered assessing travel behavior, physical activity levels, and safety perceptions in their communities.
Wearable Technology: To track the physical activity and air pollution exposure wearable activity trackers with GPS and heart rate monitors and portable air pollution sensors were used. A total of 50 individuals participated in this part of the study.