* This is the fourth post in a series highlighting different groups of metro Atlanta residents and their views on relevant regional topics, based on data from ARC’s Metro Atlanta Speaks Survey data.
Traffic (or rather, the “challenges” of it) has long been one of Atlanta’s most enduring conversation starters—right up there with our famously hot summers. And there’s good reason for that. Atlanta consistently ranks among the most congested urban areas in the United States.
According to INRIX, a leading provider of transportation data, Atlanta ranked 8th among U.S. urban areas for traffic congestion in 2024 [1]. We have found similar results with more regional comparative analysis in a 33N blog post (Traffic) Congestion: Clearing or Continuing earlier this year from Pedro Ortiz. Transportation remains a pressing issue, especially with recent developments such as the introduction of autonomous vehicles to our roadways [2] and major federal policy shifts that impact infrastructure nationwide [3]. While electric vehicles and charging infrastructure are critical areas driving change, this post will focus more broadly on our regional transportation systems. (If you’re particularly interested in EV trends, our Metro Atlanta Speaks 2024 Survey covers those topics in detail, and can be explored here.)A Shift in Concern: What Happened After 2019?
Our Metro Atlanta Speaks Survey reveals that transportation was the #1 concern for Metro Atlanta residents—until 2019. So, what changed from then till now?
It’s not a shocker–the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nearly every aspect of daily life, and transportation was no exception. Because transit is fundamentally about connecting people and goods, it was particularly affected by conditions that made those connections fraught with concern. During the height of the pandemic, transportation demand declined sharply, leading to a temporary drop in concern over transit-related (and roadway-related) issues. Our survey data reflect this shift.
But while some pandemic-era trends were temporary, others may be more lasting. From the rise of remote work to ongoing changes in global supply chains, the way we move through the region has fundamentally evolved [4].
Who’s Concerned About Transportation—and Who Isn’t?
*Before we dive in, it is important to clarify that these aggregate survey responses are only from a sample of metro Atlantans. They do NOT represent any individual person from the years of residence in metro Atlanta cohorts we are about to discuss. These give us helpful insights for planning and policy, but no information about specific individuals.
One of the most revealing influences on transportation attitudes is how long someone has lived in Metro Atlanta.
Overall, residents agree that improving public transit—such as buses and trains—is important. In fact, 64% of respondents said it was “very important,” while just 7% said it was “not important at all.”
However, perceptions differ based on how long respondents have lived in the region. Among residents who’ve been in Metro Atlanta for 5 years or less, 71% said improved public transit is very important. That number drops to 53% among residents who’ve lived here 30 years or more—a difference of 18 percentage points. This trend is also revealed at the opposite end of the spectrum: only 2% of newcomers said transit improvements are not important, compared to 12% of longtime residents.
Accessibility and Experience
Another survey question asked whether people frequently lack the transportation they need to get where they’re going. While the majority of respondents don’t say they have such issues, a meaningful segment still feels that they—and again, respondent tenure in the region matters.
Only 19% of residents who’ve lived in Metro Atlanta for 30+ years reported frequently lacking the transportation they need. In contrast, 42% of residents who’ve been here 5 years or less reported the same–or more than double the rate of the longer-tenured residents.
The Funding Paradox
Even though most Metro Atlantans say public transit improvements are very important, a majority are opposed to raising taxes to fund them.
Part of this reluctance may stem from the fact that most people report not experiencing transportation issues themselves. However, that may not be the whole story.
Breaking the numbers down by tenure again shows a consistent pattern: 64% of residents who’ve lived in the region for 30 years or more oppose paying higher taxes for transit expansion, compared to 41% of residents who’ve lived here 5 years or less.
What’s Driving the Divide?
While our survey does not explore the reasons behind these opinions in depth, several possible explanations exist. Longtime residents may have developed workarounds or become familiar with Atlanta’s current system. Others may prioritize different regional challenges over transportation. It’s also possible that opinions have simply jaded over time.
What we can say, though, is that long-time Atlanta “locals” tend to have less difficulty getting around metro Atlanta and are less willing than newcomers to pay for expanding regional public transit options. .
For transit enthusiasts, these findings may be disheartening. However, there’s a bright note worth noting for enthusiasts. While opposition to higher transit taxes remains strong, the intensity of that opposition appears to be softening. Since 2019, the share of residents who “strongly disagree” with paying more taxes for regional transit has decreased by 7%, while the share who “disagree” has increased by 7%.
For more insights from the Metro Atlanta Speaks 2024 Survey, including data on EVs, regional infrastructure, and other key issues, visit our Metro Atlanta Speaks 2024 Dashboard. And watch out for results from our 2025 edition—coming in the late Fall of the year.
[1] https://inrix.com/press-releases/2024-global-traffic-scorecard-us/
[3] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-american-energy/
[4] https://www.its.ucla.edu/news/for-the-press/transportation-coronavirus-covid19/