The “Moving Atlanta Forward” initiative is addressing decades of deferred infrastructure work through a multi-year construction push across 50 city corridors
Atlanta is moving forward with one of the largest pedestrian infrastructure investments in its recent history — a $200 million commitment to repair, expand, and modernize the city’s sidewalk network. The effort, operating under the banner of the “Moving Atlanta Forward” initiative, is designed to address a combination of legal obligations, public safety concerns, and long-standing equity gaps that have left many neighborhoods without reliable pedestrian infrastructure for decades.
The scope of the project is broad, covering 50 high-priority corridors across the city, with construction already underway in several areas. For residents, commuters, and anyone who walks in Atlanta, understanding where the money is going and what to expect in their neighborhood is increasingly relevant.
Why This Investment Is Happening Now
The $200 million commitment is not simply a policy choice — it reflects two converging pressures that city officials could no longer defer.
The first is legal. Atlanta’s sidewalks recently received a score of 54 out of 100 in a citywide pedestrian infrastructure evaluation, a result that contributed to the city operating under a consent decree — a formal legal agreement — requiring it to bring its pedestrian network into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. ADA standards mandate that sidewalks, curb ramps, and pedestrian crossings be accessible to people with disabilities, and Atlanta has a significant backlog of infrastructure that does not currently meet those standards.
The second is safety. The investment is a central component of Atlanta’s Vision Zero campaign, a policy framework with a stated goal of eliminating all traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2040. City data has consistently shown that pedestrians are at risk when sidewalk infrastructure is missing, damaged, or disconnected, forcing people — including those using wheelchairs and mobility devices — into roadways where they share space with moving vehicles. Repairing and filling gaps in the sidewalk network is treated by city planners as a direct intervention in that pattern.
Where the Funding Comes From
The $200 million is drawn from multiple funding streams rather than a single source, reflecting the layered nature of large urban infrastructure projects.
A meaningful portion comes from Atlanta’s voter-approved Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, passed in both 2016 and 2022. These T-SPLOST measures gave the city dedicated revenue for transportation improvements and have funded a range of projects beyond sidewalks, including transit and road work.
Federal funding plays a significant role as well. The announcement was timed in part around new allocations available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including programs such as the All Stations Accessibility Program, which directs federal dollars toward improving access for people with disabilities at transit infrastructure and connecting pedestrian networks.
The 50 Corridors: Where Construction Is Focused
The Atlanta Department of Transportation has identified 50 high-priority corridors where sidewalk work will be concentrated. Prioritization was based on factors including traffic volume, pedestrian activity levels, and proximity to transit stops and stations — areas where the gap between existing conditions and what residents need is widest.
Several locations have been confirmed as early construction priorities.
Cascade Road in the Westview neighborhood is among the areas receiving attention first. Residents there have reported for years that crumbling or absent sidewalk infrastructure has left them with no safe option other than walking in the street.
West Midtown, particularly along Howell Mill Road and 17th Street, is seeing accelerated Complete Streets work driven by the area’s significant increase in residential density. As more people live and move through the corridor, the need for reliable pedestrian infrastructure has grown accordingly.
South Boulevard and Ralph McGill Boulevard are prioritized for ADA ramp upgrades and gap-filling, where disconnected stretches of sidewalk create barriers for wheelchair users and others with mobility needs.
Campbellton Road is targeted for both sidewalk repairs and anticipated connections to future rapid transit infrastructure, making the pedestrian environment there relevant not just for walking but for transit access.
What the Money Will Actually Build
The project has defined several concrete deliverables that will serve as markers of progress over the coming years.
The city is on pace to install or repair nearly 3,000 curb ramps by the end of 2026. Curb ramps are a foundational element of ADA compliance — without them, people using wheelchairs or mobility devices cannot safely transition between the sidewalk and the street at intersections.
Gap-filling is another major component of the work. In many Atlanta neighborhoods, sidewalk coverage is discontinuous — a stretch of paved walkway ends abruptly at a patch of grass, dirt, or a missing section, leaving a pedestrian with no choice but to detour or enter the roadway. Connecting those gaps, so that a person can travel multiple blocks without interruption, is a primary goal of the program.
One of the more technically complex aspects of the project involves Atlanta’s tree canopy. The city’s mature urban tree cover is environmentally and aesthetically valued, but tree roots are responsible for lifting and cracking a significant portion of the city’s existing sidewalk surface. Rather than removing trees, the city is pursuing engineering solutions — including sidewalk grinding and the use of flexible paving materials — that allow roots to be accommodated without destroying the surface above. A notable portion of the $200 million is allocated specifically to this challenge.
Timeline and What Residents Should Expect
Commissioner Solomon Caviness has described the sidewalk investment as a legacy project — one whose full effects will be felt over years rather than months. The complete $200 million work plan is designed to be executed over a three-to-five year period, with the ramp installation goal set for late 2026 serving as an early benchmark.
Residents along the 50 priority corridors should expect to see construction notices and orange signage as work gets underway in their areas. The Atlanta Department of Transportation has committed to hosting neighborhood listening sessions to discuss corridor-specific designs and to gather input from residents before and during construction.
For homeowners in historic neighborhoods, a separate option may be worth exploring: some areas offer a 50 percent reimbursement program for residents who choose to repair the section of sidewalk in front of their property independently. In neighborhoods with long city construction queues, that option can result in faster improvements for individual blocks.
The Larger Picture
Atlanta’s sidewalk investment reflects a shift in how the city is approaching urban mobility — one that places pedestrian infrastructure alongside roads and transit as essential public assets rather than secondary concerns. The combination of ADA compliance obligations, Vision Zero safety commitments, and federal funding availability has created conditions for the city to address a backlog that accumulated over decades.
Whether the project delivers on its stated goals will depend on execution over the years ahead. For now, construction is underway, the corridors are identified, and the timeline is set. Atlanta’s sidewalks are, for the first time in a long time, a city priority.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only. Project timelines, funding allocations, construction schedules, and corridor priorities are subject to change at the discretion of the Atlanta Department of Transportation and relevant city and federal agencies. Residents are encouraged to consult official city communications, attend ATLDOT listening sessions, or visit the city’s official website for the most current and location-specific information regarding the “Moving Atlanta Forward” initiative.
