Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the city's early beginnings and growth with particular attention to how its transportation infrastructure played a major part in creating the context in which Atlanta would grow. It presents different perspectives on how identity, neighborhoods, power, and access determined which planning projects moved forward, who drove them, and who benefited from their success or failure. The book provides readers with views of current regional and local transportation planning projects, including the airport, the recent reintroduction of streetcars to the downtown area, and the auspicious Beltline project. It speaks to the city and region's reliance on growth through discussions about the 1996 Olympics, notable mixed use communities, and housing and economic development policy. The book discusses some of the environmental risks and innovations that may shape the city and region in the decades to come.