ABSTRACT
Atlanta missed the Olympic opportunity to bring about revolutionary change to its transport system, even though the city’s goal was to evolve out of the Olympic preparations as a “modern multi-modal transport city” (CODA 1993: 3). Instead, the Centennial Games catalyzed primarily improvements for road users. Massive road expansions across Atlanta’s counties with high-tech traffic management equipment, high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and a new traffic management center were integrated into a broad Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) scheme, which remained in Atlanta as a strong legacy and ultimately driver for its future development. Public transport improvements were relatively minor, including an extension of one rail line and some biking and walking paths. Atlanta’s urban legacy included refurbished facilities in the city center, a new inner-city park and new housing developments adjacent to Olympic venues. Because Atlanta’s Games were driven by the private sector, whose interest lay in revitalizing downtown for real estate purposes, the bidding committee sought to spend the bare minimum on public infrastructure.
