CUMBERLAND — Cobb has a major role to play as a member of the metro Atlanta region, said Anna Roach, CEO of the Atlanta Regional Commission, at a Cobb Chamber event Monday.
She said issues such as water resource management, transportation and air quality exceed the capacities of local governments, using the example of the Atlanta Braves playing in Cobb to demonstrate that the region is interconnected to an extent that demands regional planning.
“We can’t enjoy that team without coming to Cobb, and so every single thing that you do, every decision that you make, every investment that you make here in Cobb affects the entire region,” Roach said. “The Atlanta Regional Commission is here to help make sure that those investments are made in such a way that they have the entire region, not just Cobb, in mind.”
‘One Great Region’
Roach focused her talk on the theme “One Great Region,” identifying ARC’s priorities while also noting challenges it is looking to tackle in the coming years.
One of those priorities is better mobility. Roach said each year, ARC is responsible for overseeing nearly $3 billion in federal and state funds as part of its regional mobility plan, including $191 million in Cobb.
Transportation projects in Cobb supported by ARC include the Barrett Parkway Reliever in the Kennesaw-Town Center area, the widening of Highway 92 and improved accessibility at CobbLinc stations.
Another part of ARC’s mobility plan includes the Livable Centers Initiative, aimed at making communities more walkable and vibrant, Roach said. She highlighted the more than $3 million in improvements to the Franklin Gateway in Marietta as part of the initiative, which went toward landscaped medians and a wide sidewalk along the road.
“It’s made a huge difference in this fast-changing part of the community,” Roach said.
A current Livable Centers Initiative…
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