In This Edition of Transportation Spotlight

Beyond the Headlines

Plans Milestones and Key Dates

Study Updates

Other News of Note

Local Interests

Beyond the Headlines

By David Jackson, Transportation Planning Division

The Atlanta region is facing many factors that drive a rise in CO2 emissions at a time when national policies are considering strategies for reducing all Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The ARC is actively engaged in planning to reduce transportation based GHG emissions in the Atlanta region. When looking at the on-road transportation sector in the Atlanta region, carbon pollution is produced by increased vehicle miles traveled (VMT), an inefficient fleet, on-road freight traffic and congestion. It is estimated that VMT in the Atlanta 20-county region will increase from 137 million in 2000 to 167 million in 2030, mostly due to continued population growth. Since 1990, there has been a rise in popularity of sport utility vehicles (SUV) and trucks and minimal improvements in overall fuel economy, resulting in a regional average fleet fuel economy of 17 mpg. Eighty-four percent of the freight movement in the Atlanta region is attributed to truck traffic, heavily contributing to GHG emissions. Congestion is an issue due to lower driving speeds and idling which decreases fuel economy, thus increasing CO2 emissions. Read more…

Plans Milestones and Key Dates

Requests for 2nd Quarter 2008 TIP Administrative Modifications due June 6

ARC is now accepting requests for 2nd Quarter 2008 Administrative Modifications to the FY 2008-2013 TIP.  The deadline for submitting requests is June 6, 2008.  The administrative modifications will be processed on June 20.  In accordance with the Transportation Public Participation Plan (TPPP), no formal action by any ARC committees or GRTA is required to incorporate administrative modifications into the TIP.  Click here for more information on what constitutes an administrative modification and to download the request form. 

ARC Board adopts Amendment #2 to the FY 2008-2013 TIP

On May 28, the ARC Board adopted Amendment #2 to the FY 2008-2013 TIP.  The public comment period for Amendment #2 closed on May 10 and ARC received no comments on the proposed amendments.  Amendment #2 will go before the GRTA Board for approval on June 11.  Click here for more information on Amendment #2, including the list of project changes.

Study Updates

Congestion Management Process Update

ARC is currently evaluating proposals submitted for the 2008 CMP Update Contract.  The proposals review committee includes representatives from GDOT, GRTA, SRTA, and MARTA to ensure a broad range of viewpoints are reflected in the decision-making process.  One of the key deliverables of this year’s work is to determine the feasibility of a centralized database of all traffic count and travel time data in the region.  Results from this year’s CMP work are expected prior to the end of 2008.  ARC will also be working this year, on re-evaluating the most congested facilities list.

2008 LCI Supplemental Study Recipients

The LCI program promotes quality growth in the Atlanta region by encouraging greater mobility and livability within activity centers, town centers, and corridors. The LCI funded communities have shown significant effort and commitment to create innovative plans for the improvement of their centers and corridors. Likewise, ARC has shown commitment to support the implementation of these completed plans with $500 million in the RTP dedicated to transportation improvements in LCI areas. The LCI Supplemental Study Program further emphasizes ARC’s commitment by providing additional study funding to communities for assistance in implementing their completed LCI plans. The LCI Supplemental Study Program is an intermediate step that helps bridge the gaps between plan development and implementation.

In 2008, ARC received eight applications for LCI Supplemental Study funds totaling $315,630. ARC selected six communities to receive LCI Supplemental Study funding awarding $220,000 (Federal funds); in addition, each local government is required to provide a 50% cash match. The communities who received the supplemental study funding are: Cobb County, to manage access on the Austell Road corridor; Buckhead, to expand zoning of its activity center; the City of Griffin, for a comprehensive parking study within the Historic Downtown District;  Gwinnett Place CID, to develop a parking management plan at Gwinnett Place Mall; Gwinnett Village CID to perform a tax-allocation district feasibility study for the Jimmy Carter Boulevard corridor; and the City of Holly Springs, to study a multi-use trail and bicycle facilities master plan for their town center. For more information, click here...

Atlanta Region Bicycle Facility Inventory in Progress

Most of you might be familiar with the regional efforts to expand and improve the state of bicycle and pedestrian facilities including the recently completed 2007 Atlanta Region Bicycle Transportation and Pedestrian Walkways Plan, inventory of pedestrian facilities around transit, the considerations for bicycle facilities as part of Connect Atlanta visioning process by the City of Atlanta and by counties through the Comprehensive Transportation Plan Assistance Program. This May, ARC is excited to announce another step toward a better cycling network in the Atlanta region by performing a regional inventory of the bicycle facilities (including signed paths, multi-use trails and on-street striped bike lanes.)

This process will allow ARC to compile a comprehensive map of the facilities currently available and post it online. The inventory will also help guide our future efforts in improving bicycle accommodations in the region. Due to the multi-jurisdictional nature of the project (18 counties and over 90 municipalities), ARC appreciates any help local governments could provide in cataloging the existing facilities, especially those outside of the City of Atlanta. If you have that one favorite trail or map with bicycle facilities, let us know and we would gladly incorporate your information. Please contact Lyuba Zuyeva at 404.463.3744.  All information would be particularly helpful if submitted by June 30, 2008.

Other News of Note

Transit Planning Board Public Opinion Survey Findings

In April, as part of its public engagement process, the Transit Planning Board released the results of an 11 county survey of metro-Atlanta voters in 11 counties.  The survey revealed that metro-Atlanta would use public transportation if more of it was provided, particularly those voters with the longest commute times.  Additionally, metro-Atlanta voters are supportive of a balanced, multi-modal transportation system and are willing to pay to achieve that balanced transportation system.  In addition to the phone survey mentioned, the TPB conducted an online survey, hosted nine open houses, many stakeholder meetings, and other events throughout the region to gauge public reaction for regional transit.  The results of this process are currently being analyzed with results expected this summer.

Transportation Public Meetings for the Connect Atlanta Plan Announced

Please join City of Atlanta to discuss project ideas and project evaluation criteria for the Connect Atlanta Plan.  Many of the concepts and project ideas that will be discussed at these meetings were generated in workshops held across the City during February and March.  This is a key step in the development of the plan and your input and ideas are critical.  Now’s the time!

Local Interests

Perimeter Community Improvement Districts announces completion of its first joint LCI and GRTA bond project

In partnership with DeKalb County, the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts (PCID’s) have completed a streetscape project along Perimeter Center Parkway. This project constructed bike lanes, wide sidewalks with brick pavers, shade trees, decorative cross walks, pedestrian signals, street lights, decorative mast arms and pedestrian enhanced lighting throughout the corridor. This project connects with the recently completed Perimeter Center Parkway Flyover Bridge creating a north/south bike connection within the Perimeter Area. Construction was completed by Baldwin Paving at a winning $7.2 million dollar bid. This unique project was collaboratively funded by the Atlanta Regional Commission’s LCI grant, GRTA’sBond Program, DeKalb County and the PCID’s. For more information on other PCID projects, click here...

Clayton County Finalizing its Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Clayton County is in the final stages of developing a Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) that will identify strategies to provide current and future mobility needs for the citizens of the county and its seven municipalities.   Through technical analysis and consultation with stakeholders and the general public, the county and its consultant team have developed preliminary recommendations for all modes of transportation including highways, public transit, bicycle/pedestrian facilities and freight movement over the next twenty years.  Recommended projects and strategies are currently being reviewed by stakeholders and the general public.

Specific programs and projects were identified by evaluating multimodal transportation alternatives and land use scenarios based on the CTP vision, goals, and objectives to determine which improvements best meet identified needs. Strategies comprehensively address the existing and future transportation needs; identify land use strategies to support Livable Centers Initiatives (LCIs), town centers and transit-oriented developments (TODs); and maintain and enhance the county’s business vitality. The Final CTP Report will be developed by August 2008 to provide an implementation program for recommended transportation strategies and projects.

For more information on the planning process or to make a comment, please visit http://www.co.clayton.ga.us/tnd/CTP/ or contact keith.rohling@CH2M.com.

Cobb County “SMART CORRIDOR” Project soon to be underway

Cobb County will be partnering with GDOT, GRTA and several local jurisdictions and agencies on an ITS Demonstration Project. The “Smart Corridor” project includes traffic signal system upgrades along the SR3/US41 Corridor traversing multiple jurisdictions including Cobb County, City of Marietta, Fulton County and the City of Atlanta.  The project, which will begin construction in summer 2008 with an expected completion date of December 2009, will install SCATS (Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System) traffic signals on the SR 3/US41 corridor from West Paces Ferry Road in Fulton County to the intersection of Sprinks Drive and Cobb Parkway in the City of Marietta. A total of twenty-nine intersections are included in the project limits.  There are 11 intersections in Cobb that will receive transit priority emitters to assist thru movements of Cobb Community Transit buses, pedestrian accommodation upgrades and video detection cameras, which will be re-aimed and calibrated as needed. The project will use the Cobb Department of Transportation’s Traffic Control Center as the main server for the entire system. Cobb County DOT recently implemented Georgia’s first SCATS adaptive traffic signal control system in the Cumberland CID area. Additional information on the project may be found on the County’s website at http://dot.cobbcountyga.gov/road_rept.htm#update.