Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and other officials join Livable Buckhead to break ground on $12.8 million project

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and other officials join Livable Buckhead to break ground on
$12.8 million project

Construction is now officially underway on the final major segment of PATH400’s 5.2-mile route through Buckhead. When complete, the new 0.75-mile stretch between Wieuca Rd. and Loridans Dr. will provide pedestrian and bike connections to Mountain Way Common and the planned Loridans Park. It also will create almost three contiguous miles of pathway between the GA 400 Loop and Loridans Dr.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Atlanta City Council Representative Howard Shook, and other officials joined Livable Buckhead for a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 11.

“We are thrilled to kick off construction on the last major section of PATH400 as it was originally envisioned in Buckhead,” said Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead. “This section connects directly to Mountain Way Common, a park that neighbors have worked for years to develop. Creating pedestrian and bike-friendly connections between parks in Buckhead was one of the central purposes for building PATH400, and we’re excited to deliver on that promise with this new segment.”

The $12.8 million Wieuca-Loridans segment of PATH400 is funded through federal and local government funds, including approximately $8.8 million from transportation improvement project funds administered by the Atlanta Regional Commission and $3.8 million from the City of Atlanta’s TSPLOST funds with additional funding for design contributed by the Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID). The complete PATH400 project cost is approximately $37 million, with significant funding for earlier phases provided by the PATH Foundation and Buckhead CID. Georgia Department of Transportation provided its right-of-way along GA 400 as land for most of the trail which will stretch from the Atlanta BeltLine to Sandy Springs when it is complete. The PATH Foundation has provided construction management services and expertise at no cost to the project.

“PATH400–a $12.8 million investment made possible by TSPLOST and Federal funding—is part of a growing trail network that can eventually serve as a valuable economic development tool for our city and the region,” said Mayor Dickens. “Trails like PATH400 help make Atlanta a healthier city, providing accessible and equitable opportunities for exercise and recreation.”

Construction on the Wieuca-Loridans segment is expected to take approximately two years. Livable Buckhead will soon begin hosting construction tours for members of the public who are interested in learning more about the project.

PATH400 is a 5.2-mile walkable, bikeable greenway being constructed on public land adjacent to GA 400 extending from the bank of Peachtree Creek northward toward the northern edge of Atlanta. It is the centerpiece of a broader greenspace plan, the Buckhead Collection, initiated by Atlanta Councilman Howard Shook. Livable Buckhead is spearheading the PATH400 project in partnership with the Buckhead Community Improvement District (Buckhead CID) and the PATH Foundation. Several other agencies and organizations are involved in the development of PATH400, including Georgia Department of Transportation, the City of Atlanta, MARTA, Atlanta Neighborhood Planning Unit B, and Atlanta Public Schools. PATH400 will increase access to community amenities such as arts, historic, and cultural exhibits; neighborhood pocket parks and greenspaces; retail centers; and learning centers.

Livable Buckhead is a nonprofit organization that strives to ensure the long-term viability and prosperity of the Buckhead community. The organization achieves its mission by working cooperatively with individuals, public entities and private businesses to integrate sustainable strategies. Livable Buckhead implements programs related to greenspace, recycling, energy efficiency, commute alternatives, arts and culture, real estate development and land use.

Since 1991, PATH has been turning neglected greenspace and abandoned railroad corridors into beautiful greenways. Thanks to generous local supporters, PATH trails link neighborhoods to commercial centers and provide alternative modes of transportation for all abilities, ages, income levels, and races. By creating linear greenways, PATH trails help communities improve and thrive by providing equitable access to educational, recreational, and employment opportunities.

The objective of the Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID), working with the City of Atlanta and its community partners, is to meet the challenges resulting from Buckhead’s rapid, primarily automobile-based growth, including improving safety, traffic mobility, enhancing the pedestrian environment, creating better access to public transit, initiating intra-district transportation alternatives, encouraging better integration of land uses and improving linkages to the region’s automobile, transit and bicycle networks.

Friends of Mountain Way Common  / NPU-B / North Buckhead Civic Association

Heath and Lineback Engineers / Perez Planning / Design Astra Group, LLC