Athens-Clarke County approves $239 million TSPLOST 2026 list, reallocates $237,000 to East Athens traffic calming

On Jan. 20, 2026, the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission approved the Revised TSPLOST 2026 Final Projects List, a $239,000,000 transportation program, and authorized the mayor and staff to execute related contracts and documents.

The vote followed public input and a brief procedural motion to suspend the rules so the Commission could consider the item that evening. Commissioner Link moved to suspend the rules; Commissioner Myers seconded and the suspension passed unanimously. Commissioner Davenport then moved to approve the revised project list; Commissioner Link seconded. The Commission adopted an amendment to strike Project 31 (Bus Shelters at Peter Street and Gressom Avenue) on the basis that that work is covered by Downtown Tax Allocation District funds, and to allocate $237,000 toward traffic-calming projects in East Athens located outside the Tax Allocation District. The motion passed by unanimous vote (8 YES).

Public commenters during the meeting urged support for greenway projects included on the list. Dana Scheffen and Merritt Melancon, representing Friends of the Greenway, spoke in favor of greenway funding. Members of the Electric Bike Group (Damon Allen, David Allen and Robert Allen) and other attendees including Michael Goltzer, Alan Jones and Alex Sams also voiced support. Bennie Coleman spoke in opposition to greenway funding.

Commissioner Johnson proposed a substitute motion to add three District 6 projects—a Quailwood Drive sidewalk improvement, an Atlanta Highway sidewalk corridor project from Huntington Road to Highway 78, and a traffic signal at Fowler Mill Drive and Atlanta Highway—funded by reallocating roughly $8 million from the Middle Oconee Greenway ($7,000,000), Milledge Makeover ($700,000), and the Road Pavement Program ($300,000). That substitute motion died for lack of a second.

With the amendment approved and no further motions, the Commission authorized the mayor and staff to carry out contract execution and related steps necessary to implement the revised TSPLOST project list. The special called session adjourned at 6:40 p.m.

The action completes the Commission’s formal approval of the TSPLOST 2026 project list for the program; the record shows the change that removes the downtown bus-shelter project and redirects $237,000 to traffic calming in East Athens. Any further project design, permitting and contracting steps will be handled by staff under the authorization granted by the Commission.