The Atlanta Regional Commission: What It Does and Why It Matters If You Live in Metro Atlanta

If you live in Atlanta or anywhere in the metro area, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) quietly shapes a lot of what you experience every day—how you get around, how your community grows, and how the region prepares for the future.

This guide breaks down what ARC is, what it does in Atlanta and the surrounding counties, and how you can plug into its work as a resident, visitor, or local business owner.

What Is the Atlanta Regional Commission?

The Atlanta Regional Commission is the regional planning agency for the metro Atlanta area. It brings together local governments to coordinate on big-picture issues that cross city and county lines, such as:

• Transportation and traffic
• Land use and regional growth
• Water and natural resources
• Aging and senior services
• Workforce development and economic competitiveness

ARC serves metro Atlanta counties including Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Clayton, and several surrounding counties, working with the City of Atlanta and dozens of local jurisdictions.

Instead of each city and county planning only for itself, ARC helps the region act like a connected whole—important in a fast-growing region like Atlanta.

Where Is the Atlanta Regional Commission Located?

If you need to visit or contact the Atlanta Regional Commission, its central office is in downtown Atlanta.

Atlanta Regional Commission – Central Office
229 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main phone: (often listed on ARC’s official site; verify before calling)

The office is typically accessible from major MARTA stations in downtown, making it reachable whether you’re commuting from Midtown, Buckhead, or other parts of the city.

For most residents, you’ll interact with ARC indirectly—through local programs, transportation projects, and community initiatives it funds or coordinates—rather than visiting the office regularly.

Key Roles of the Atlanta Regional Commission in Metro Atlanta

1. Coordinating Transportation & Traffic Planning

Traffic is one of Atlanta’s most talked-about topics. ARC plays a major role in:

• Planning highway, transit, and bike/pedestrian projects
• Setting regional priorities for MARTA expansions, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors, and major road improvements
• Helping local governments apply for and use federal and state transportation dollars

ARC acts as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Atlanta area, which means it leads long-range transportation planning for the region.

If you’ve heard of long-range plans like regional transit visions, freeway interchange upgrades, or multi-use trail connections, there’s a good chance ARC helped shape or coordinate them.

How this affects your daily life

• Commute improvements on I-20, I-75/85, I-285, GA 400, and major arterials often go through ARC’s planning process.
• New bike lanes, multi-use paths, and Complete Streets projects in the city may be partially supported by ARC funding or technical assistance.
• ARC helps coordinate between Atlanta, neighboring cities, GDOT, and MARTA, so projects work across boundaries.

2. Planning for Growth, Land Use, and Housing

Metro Atlanta is growing fast, and that creates pressure on housing, infrastructure, and neighborhoods. ARC works with local governments to:

• Develop regional growth strategies, including where density should increase and where to preserve open space
• Encourage mixed-use, transit-friendly development near MARTA stations and major transit corridors
• Support local planning for housing, zoning, and community development

ARC’s regional planning helps the City of Atlanta and neighboring jurisdictions think beyond their borders, especially on:

• Housing affordability and access
• Balancing infill redevelopment with neighborhood character
• Coordinating growth along major corridors like Peachtree Street, Memorial Drive, Moreland Avenue, and the I-20 and I-85 corridors

3. Supporting Older Adults and Aging Services in Atlanta

ARC also functions as the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for the metro Atlanta region. That means it helps coordinate and sometimes fund services for older adults, caregivers, and people with disabilities.

Services in the Atlanta area may include:

• Senior centers and community programs
• Meals for seniors, including home-delivered and congregate meals
• Transportation assistance for medical appointments or errands
• Information and referral services for families seeking help for aging loved ones
• Caregiver support resources

If you or a family member in Atlanta needs help navigating aging-related services, ARC’s aging programs can often connect you to local providers in the city and surrounding counties.

💡 Tip: Many residents are referred to ARC-related aging services by hospitals, social workers, or neighborhood senior centers. If you’re not sure where to start, calling your local Fulton County, DeKalb County, or City of Atlanta social services office is a good step.

4. Water, Environment, and Natural Resources

Water supply and quality are major issues in metro Atlanta. ARC supports regional efforts related to:

• Water planning and conservation
• Watershed protection and stormwater management
• Green infrastructure and greenspace preservation
• Planning around rivers and reservoirs that serve the region, such as the Chattahoochee River and the Lake Lanier system

In practical terms, this can influence:

• Local rules on water use and conservation measures
• Support for urban tree canopy and green space strategies in Atlanta
• Regional coordination on drought planning and water security

5. Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness

ARC helps the Atlanta region stay competitive by focusing on:

• Job training and workforce development programs
• Providing data and analysis on labor markets, demographics, and economic trends
• Supporting regional strategies that attract and retain employers

If you’re a resident looking for job support, you’ll most likely access services through local workforce development offices or career centers that coordinate with or receive funding routed through ARC.

Businesses in Atlanta sometimes rely on ARC’s regional data, forecasts, and planning tools when deciding where to locate, expand, or invest.

6. Data, Research, and Forecasts for Metro Atlanta

A core part of ARC’s work is collecting and analyzing regional data, such as:

• Population and demographic trends
• Housing and land use patterns
• Commuting and travel behavior
• Economic and industry trends

Local governments in the Atlanta area—along with planning departments, neighborhood organizations, and developers—commonly use ARC’s regional numbers to guide:

• Long-term infrastructure investments
• Neighborhood plans and community improvement projects
• Transit-oriented development near MARTA and future transit lines

If you’re deeply involved in civic work, real estate development, architecture, or public policy in Atlanta, ARC’s data and projections are often a key reference point.

Who Oversees the Atlanta Regional Commission?

ARC is governed by a Board that includes local elected officials and citizen representatives from across the region. Members typically include:

• County commissioners and mayors from participating metro counties and cities
• Representatives from the City of Atlanta
• Citizen members chosen to reflect the region’s residents
• Representatives from organizations like the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)

This structure is designed so that Atlanta’s city leadership and surrounding jurisdictions all have a voice in regional decisions that affect transportation, growth, and services.

How the Atlanta Regional Commission Affects You as an Atlanta Resident

Even if you never interact with ARC directly, its work influences:

• Your commute – through major road projects, MARTA coordination, and regional traffic planning
• Your neighborhood’s future – via regional growth and land use strategies
• Services for older adults – including senior programs and caregiver resources
• Job opportunities and training options – through workforce initiatives
• The environment you live in – water resources, greenspace, and environmental planning

If you’re involved in a neighborhood association, advocacy group, or local business organization in Atlanta, you might encounter ARC in community meetings, public comment sessions, or regional planning workshops.

Ways You Can Engage With ARC’s Work in Atlanta

If you’d like to be more involved in how metro Atlanta plans for the future, you can:

• Attend public meetings or open houses when ARC collects feedback on transportation or regional plans.
• Participate in surveys and online engagement tools that ask for input on priorities like transit, housing, and growth.
• Work with your neighborhood association or community group to track major regional projects that affect your part of Atlanta.
• Contact your local elected officials (such as your City of Atlanta councilmember or Fulton/DeKalb county commissioner) and ask how ARC-led plans impact your district.

Staying aware of ARC’s role helps you better understand why certain projects move forward, how funding decisions are made, and where your voice can make a difference.

Quick Reference: What the Atlanta Regional Commission Does for Metro Atlanta

Understanding the Atlanta Regional Commission gives you a clearer picture of how big regional decisions are made—and how they affect life in the City of Atlanta and across metro communities.