ABSTRACT
Transportation is synonymous with Atlanta and it is the characteristic by which the city is most often referenced-from its simple beginnings as "Terminus," the end of the railroad line, to serving as home of one of the world's busiest airports and a central place for air travel. The city is confronted with a number of significant challenges, including congestion, the large number of jurisdictions, local home rule, land costs, workforce housing and transportation, and the transit system. A number of city streets were converted to one-way traffic to reduce congestion, and the era of the primacy of the automobile was ushered in, leading to the construction of high-capacity roadway systems. The legislature created the statewide Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) in 1999 to develop transportation choices, improve land use, improve air quality, enhance the quality of life, and promote sustainable development for Georgia and particularly Atlanta's citizens.
