Midtown Alliance Receives $750K Grant From SRTA For 5th Street ‘Complete Street’ Project
Project includes protected bike lane, pedestrian crossings and new and upgraded traffic signals.
Published: 06/25/2020
Midtown Alliance has received a $750,000 grant from the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB), a program administered by the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA). This funding will help to construct the 5th Street Complete Street Project, which will improve safety and connectivity for vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic in a key multi-modal corridor in Midtown.
The 5th Street Complete Street Project, which Midtown Alliance will implement in partnership with City of Atlanta, stretches from Williams Street through Technology Square to Myrtle Street. Proposed improvements include a two-way protected cycle track, mid-block pedestrian crossings, ADA compliant sidewalks and crosswalks, new and upgraded traffic, bike and pedestrian signals and enhanced protection and increased visibility of Light Individual Transportation (LIT) lanes.
The corridor’s primary business area in Tech Square is one of Atlanta’s busiest multi-modal streets, with an average of more than 15,000 pedestrians and 400 cyclists per day. According to a survey conducted by Midtown Alliance, more than 50% of visitors to the buildings in Tech Square arrive on foot.
“With more than 6 million square feet of office, residential and commercial development currently under construction in one square mile of Midtown, safe transportation options have never been more important,” said Midtown Alliance President and CEO Kevin Green. “We are grateful for SRTA for awarding us this grant so we can move forward on this creative safety and mobility project that will benefit everyone.”
A total of $25.8 million in grants and loans were awarded to local, regional and state government projects on June 23 through the GTIB investment fund, a competitive program that helps to jumpstart or complete much needed improvement projects in Georgia. Since its inception in 2010, the GTIB program has provided more than $150 million in grants and loans, which enabled projects with a total value of more than $945 million.
“This GTIB award to the Midtown Alliance will help supply critical funding to the 5th Street Complete Street Project,” Chris Tomlinson, SRTA Executive Director, said. “SRTA couldn’t be more excited that the 5th Street Complete Street Project will soon provide accessible and efficient connections to the region. Projects such as this one also enable the safe use and mobility of all users.”
The 5th Street Complete Street Project will also receive construction funding from the City of Atlanta’s TSPLOST Program.
“This project is yet another successful collaboration between the City of Atlanta and Midtown Alliance,” said Josh Rowan, Commissioner of the Atlanta Department of Transportation. “We are excited to bring this project that promotes safety and mobility to Midtown’s urban center.”
Construction on the 5th Street Complete Street project is scheduled to commence in mid-2021, with additional funding from the City of Atlanta and the Midtown Improvement District. Follow the project’s progress here.
