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Transportation connects us to the places we need to go and the things we want and need to thrive. But as the Atlanta region experiences both rapid and ongoing population growth, getting around is getting harder and taking longer and can have a negative impact on business.

  • Employee financial hardship: Analysts found that metro residents spend an average of 22% of their incomes on commuting costs — or more than $10K annually.
  • Barriers to retention: 60% of employees said their commute is a main factor impacting their willingness to return to the office, and 40% said they would consider quitting if required to commute to work daily.
  • Mood buster: 87% of employees surveyed said that commuting definitely impacts their stress levels, impacting morale and mood around the office.

Transportation connects us to the places we need to go and the things we want and need to thrive. But as the Atlanta region experiences both rapid and ongoing population growth, getting around is getting harder and taking longer and can have a negative impact on business.

TMAs to the Rescue

TMAs are nonprofit organizations that use public and private funds to deliver transportation services in defined areas such as malls, industrial parks and medical campuses.

These groups are real-life transportation heroes who support commuters, employers, property managers and other program partners services such as:

  • Biking & pedestrian infrastructure
  • Carpools/Vanpools/Shuttles
  • Commuter incentives
  • Flexwork support
  • Guaranteed ride home
  • Marketing, surveys, promotions
  • Parking management strategies
  • Ride matching services
  • Transit subsidies

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) manages our region’s TDM plan—a set of strategies that support the efficient and sustainable use of our transportation systems to improve mobility, congestion and emissions. ARC oversees Georgia Commute Options, the regional TDM program covering 20 counties, and partners with TMAs to tailor and localize transportation planning and services in employment centers around the region.

Tell Your TMA We Said “Hi”

Metro Atlanta has six TMAs focused on specific geographic districts with individualized services.

1. ASAP

The Atlantic Station Access and Mobility Program (ASAP) service area covers the entire Atlantic Station site, a 138-acre mixed use commercial real estate development located west of Midtown Atlanta. Atlantic Station, which covers 1.5 square miles within the 30363 ZIP code, is home to more than 100 companies that employ some 6,000 office and retail employees. It’s also home to more than 4,000 residents.

2. Clifton Corridor TMA

Overseen by Emory Transportation and Parking, CCTMA’s service area includes three of the largest employers in metro Atlanta: Emory University (includes Emory Healthcare), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. CCTMA provides services to more than 30,000 employees and 15,500 students as well as 2M+ healthcare patients who visit the area annually. With no direct access to a MARTA station or the interstate system, CCTMA shuttles serve 150,000+ riders a year.

3. Livable Buckhead

Livable Buckhead’s service area covers the Buckhead community, a 20-square mile area that includes luxury residential and commercial developments. Located north of Midtown and Downtown, the area is roughly bounded by Sandy Springs on the north, Brookhaven/DeKalb County on the east, Cobb County on the west; and the Northwest and Northeast expressways on the south. Buckhead has an estimated $57B economic impact and supports nearly 300,000 jobs for Atlanta and the State of Georgia.

4. Midtown Transportation

Midtown Transportation concentrate our efforts on the Midtown Atlanta district, a thriving mixed-use district located in the City of Atlanta. The service area is roughly bounded by Atlantic station and Northside Drive to the west, Buckhead on the north, the Ansley Park neighborhood and Piedmont Park/Garden District on the east, and includes Emory University Hospital on the south. The area is home to more than 18,000 residents and 27,000 workers, and draws nearly 70,000 visitors a day.

5. Perimeter Connects

The Perimeter Connects service area is roughly bounded by the cities of Dunwoody, Brookhaven and Sandy Springs, and is intersected by two major arterials, Interstate 285 and GA Highway 400. In addition to the Perimeter Mall, the area is home to more than 5,000 companies, 120,000 workers and nearly 9,000 multifamily residential units. The TMA is supported by the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts that levy a small property tax on commercial space to fund transportation and infrastructure projects. Read more about this real-life commute hero!

6. Shift

Shift (formerly Aero) serves the Atlanta Airport area, helping over 157,000 airport employees get to their jobs. The TMA’s service area is nearly 16 miles and cuts across Fulton and Clayton counties. It includes the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as well as portions of the cities of Atlanta, College Park, East Point, Hapeville, South Fulton and Forest Park. The TMA is funded by the Atlanta Airport CIDs, in partnership with commercial property owners, to make improvements in traffic and infrastructure that benefit businesses and residents.

Show The Receipts

Your TMA can boost business and improve employee retention and satisfaction by helping your team find their best way to work.

Attract and retain great employees
Increase employee productivity
Minimize payroll taxes
Save parking expenses
Enhance customer access
Bolster sustainability and wellness strategies

GCO can help you find the right blend of employee commute strategies that suit your business. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Let’s discuss how we can help.