On target, Vol. 11, no. 1 (Winter 2005)

Georgia Department of Transportation
ON TARGET

Office of Planning

Winter 2005

" P l a n n i n g G e o rg i a 's F u t u re To d a y " Vol. 11 No. 1

Statewide Transportation Plan (SWTP) Update

by Cambridge Systematics
In our July edition, the Office of Planning announced that it was embarking on an update of the GDOT Statewide Transportation Plan (SWTP). This work started in November, 2004, with a consultant team lead by Cambridge Systematics, Inc. The current SWTP was adopted by the State Transportation Board in December, 2001, with a "horizon year" of 2025. In order to meet the federal requirement to actively maintain at least a 20-year window into the future, the updated SWTP will have a "horizon year" of 2035, and will be completed in time for adoption by the State Transportation Board in December, 2005.
The SWTP will assess the current and future performance of all major transportation modes in the state highways, transit, air, water, bicycle and pedestrian. It will also examine the linkages among modes. The project will develop new statewide economic and transportation demand forecasts for the year 2035.
While taking into account all existing regional and modal plans, the SWTP will define financially constrained and unconstrained statewide transportation programs, by estimating the cost of these programs and forecasting available and potential funding.

The project team has begun work on documenting existing conditions and developing economic forecasts. The project will include extensive outreach activities.
The first round of open-house public meetings has been scheduled as follows:
Atlanta, January 20, 2005, 3-5 pm, Capitol Education Center; 180 Central Avenue; Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Savannah, January 24, 2005, 5-7 pm, Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401
Tifton, January 25, 2005, 5-7 pm, UGA Tifton Conference Center, 15 RDC Road, Tifton, Georgia 31794
Your attendance and comments at these meetings are important as we plan Georgia's transportation future.
tamrat.kassa@dot.state.ga.us

Long-Range Transportation Plan Updates

by Radney Simpson
Federal transportation legislation requires that a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) be designated for each urbanized area with a population of more than 50,000 people in order to carry out the metropolitan transportation planning process. Currently, the 15 MPOs throughout the state of Georgia have just completed or have begun 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Updates. Federal legislation requires that each MPO have a long

Goals and Objectives of the MPO
Social and Economic issues such as, population, Income, number of households, employment and school enrollment.
Land Use.
Operations and Maintenance of existing routes
Project Considerations (Roads and Bridges, Public Transportation, Bicycle and Pedestrian, Freight and Goods Movement)

In addition, federal legislation requires that the LRTP must be financially constrained. The LRTP can only propose transportation projects that can reasonably anticipate receiving federal/ state or local funding during the 20 year period of the LRTP. The 15 MPOs in Georgia are Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Brunswick, Chattanooga, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Hinesville, Macon, Rome, Savannah, Valdosta and Warner Robins.
The LRTP update is an opportunity for MPOs to review their current

range transportation plan to identify

Justification for LRTP Recommendations LRTP and determine what additional

proposed highway, multimodal, and

transportation needs have developed

major transit investments. The LRTP

since the MPO's last LRTP update. The

must cover at least a 20 year horizon period and must be

MPO planning staffs seek public involvement at various times

updated every five years (every three years in air quality

during the LRTP update.

nonattainment and maintenance areas). Also, if the MPO study area boundary (geographic area of the MPO) was

radney.simpson@dot.state.ga.us

revised due to the 2000 Census, the MPO must update the

LRTP no later than October of 2005.

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Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Local Access Road Program

by Michelle Caldwell
The Appalachian Regional Commission was established by Congress to support economic and social development in the Appalachian Region. The Appalachian Regional Commission has a unique structure that is designed to ensure an active federal-state partnership. There are 14 Commission members: the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a federal co-chair. The federal co-chair is appointed by the president and is subject to Senate confirmation. Each year the 13 governors elect one of their members to serve as states' co-chair of the Commission. Grassroots participation is provided through local development districts--multi-county organizations with boards made up of elected officials, businesspeople and other local leaders.
Each year the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) provides funding for several hundred projects throughout the 13 Appalachian states in support of economic and human development. These efforts seek to augment ARC's highway development program and bring more of Appalachia's people into America's economic mainstream. Congress authorized the construction of the Appalachian Developmental Highway System (ADHS) in the Appalachian Development Act. In helping Appalachian states meet community needs, ARC has supported a variety of innovative projects and initiatives. Each year throughout the Region, ARC programs create thousands of new jobs; increase school readiness; improve local water and sewer systems; expand access to health care; assist local communities with strategic planning; and provide technical, managerial and marketing assistance to emerging new businesses. The ARC's Local Access Road Program may approve local access road projects, which serve industrial and commercial areas, residential developments, recreational areas, and educational areas.
The ARC approves local access road projects on a projectby-project basis. Each project must go through a project application process, which requires approval by ARC, the State DOT and FHWA. Projects must also meet a set criteria for local-access road projects.
The amount of money available to fund the local access road projects is limited. State Governors have the option of using up to $500,000 plus 5% of their annual ADHS apportionment, but no more than $1,000,000 each year. These funds are not additional funds; they are ADHS funds apportioned to the State for use on the ADHS.
Over the past two years, Georgia has had two local governments apply for and receive funding for local access roads. There are also several local governments that have identified potential projects to apply for 2005 funding. Currently Dade and Towns County have approved projects that are under design.
During FY `03, the City of Trenton in Dade County gained approval for use of ARC funds for the construction of a local

The thirteen member states of the
Appalachian Regional Commission.
access road. The project will construct a new two-lane access road and bridge starting at Piney Grove Road and extending northwest to South Industrial Boulevard. The proposed route bisects the existing 112 acre Dade County Industrial Park located northeast of downtown Trenton. The route will also bisect 84 acres of property south of Lookout Creek, which will be used to expand the industrial park. The proposed road, once constructed, would provide connectivity between the existing and proposed expansion of the industrial park. The project is critical for the future industrial expansion of Dade County and the City of Trenton. The current industrial park has less than five acres left to be developed. The construction of the proposed project will allow for additional industries to locate within the expanded Dade County Industrial Park. The expansion is projected to generate 25 to 30 new jobs.
Recently during FY `04, Towns County's local access road project was approved for ARC funding. The project will construct a new, 2-lane road to provide access to an industrial park currently being developed. Building the proposed road will allow anticipated industries to locate within the Towns-Clay Regional Industrial Park. The Towns-Clay Regional Industrial Park, located in the northeastern corner of Georgia, and the extreme southwestern tip of North Carolina, provides several key benefits to companies interested in an expansion of existing operations or relocation from other states. The Industrial Park will be located on approximately 81 acres immediately adjacent to Lake Chatuge on the North Carolina and Georgia State Line.

Continued on page 3

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(Continued from page 2)
The proposed project will begin at SR 339 and continue north for approximately .2 mile tying into North Carolina's proposed local access road project, which ties into Highway 69 in Clay County. The access road allows access to the Industrial Park from either North Carolina or Georgia.
The development of the Industrial/ Technology Park across state lines is the first of its kind that demonstrates the local leadership's willingness to partner,

as well as the regional approach to success, and commitment to industry. The proposed road would assist Towns County's need for an industrialcommercial park that will allow for the development of steady, year-round job opportunities in production, processing and warehousing. One company has begun development on 13 acres in the Industrial Park and projects 120 new jobs.
The Access Road Program aims to better-link the Region's businesses, communities, and residents to the

Appalachian Development Highway System and to other key parts of the Region's transportation network. The program offers a flexible approach designed to meet local needs and provide a financing mechanism to support a variety of economic development opportunities throughout the Region.
michelle.caldwell@dot.state.ga.us

Banks, Franklin and Jackson Counties Transportation Study

by Michelle Caldwell
The transportation study, which began in November of 2003, was a cooperative effort between Banks, Franklin and Jackson Counties and the Department to look at transportation needs within each individual county and the region as a whole. Transportation needs have dramatically changed over the last decade and will continue to grow. The study resulted in the development of a regional multi-modal transportation plan that addressed the projected growth and anticipated changes. The transportation study was conducted in two phases and included several public involvement meetings in each county.
Phase I included an evaluation of the existing transportation network and projected operations to the year 2025. The study considered the transportation systems available in the area now, as well as future growth. Transportation needs

could include a better way to get to school and work, more bicycle and pedestrian facilities, transit for those who cannot afford a car, and/or better access for an area. This evaluation led to the identification of existing and future deficiencies.
Phase II looked at potential projects to address the current and future deficiencies identified during phase I. Stakeholders and the general public indicated several congested areas, potential intersection improvements, and maintenance issues that warranted actions. The Department's goal was to identify as many ideas, concerns, and problems as possible so that a thorough transportation plan could be developed. The Department also looked at the potential or future need for more bicycle facilities, sidewalks and transit. In July 2004, through technical analysis and consultation with stakeholders and the general public, the

project team completed the transportation study which identified transportation needs and prioritized project recommendations to address needs.
Public participation is critical at the planning stage, before actual projects are identified and developed. Effective public involvement helps identify the best solutions to meet the transportation needs. The study process included the participation of a stakeholder group. This group was identified by the Department and the Consultant and consisted of elected officials, local citizens and people interested in certain elements of transportation, including bicycle and transit. This group provided guidance and direction to the study team, which resulted in a comprehensive study.
michelle.caldwell@dot.state.ga.us

Office of Planning Welcomes New Branch Chiefs

by Joel North
The Office of Planning is pleased to welcome three new Branch Chiefs. Elaine Armster is our new Special Projects Branch Chief. Elaine manages the transportation enhancement, scenic byways and bike-ped programs. She replaces Joy Still who retired this past summer. Elaine comes to us from a private consulting firm where she worked for four years and Atlanta Gas Light where she worked for 10 years. Elaine has a Master's degree in City Planning from Georgia Tech. Her undergraduate degree is in business.

Phil Peevy is our new Air Quality Branch Chief. Phil fills the vacancy created by Julia Bottin who retired this past November. For the past three years Phil served as the manager of Jasper County. Phil manages the Department's air quality planning as well as the state Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program. Phil has a Master's Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administraion, both from Georgia College and State University.
Cedric Clark is the new Atlanta Planning Branch Chief. Prior to becoming Branch

Chief, Cedric was a Planner in the Atlanta Planning Branch. He previously worked in the Office of Transportation Data in Chamblee in the Systems and Classification Branch. Cedric also worked in the Department's Office of Traffic Operations as an ITS Planning Engineer. Cedric graduated from the University of Tennessee in Martin with a degree in Civil Engineering.
The Office of Planning welcomes Elaine, Phil, and Cedric in their new positions and we look forward to working with them.
joel.north@dot.state.ga.us

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"Sneak Preview" of Georgia Bike Sense: A Guide for Cyclists and Motorists

by Amy Goodwin
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Program at the Georgia Department of Transportation is developing a bicycle safety and rules-of-the-road user's guide called Georgia Bike Sense. The Department has enlisted the help of the University of Georgia Campus Graphics and Photography office to produce the document. The guide will provide important information to bicyclists about Georgia traffic law, where and how to operate a bicycle in traffic, safety tips,

and a wealth of information about bicycling in Georgia. The guide is also intended to instruct motorists on the rights
of cyclists and how to safely share the road with bicycles. The guide is expected

to become available in March 2005, with an initial printing of 50,000 copies to be distributed widely to bicycle shops,
schools, community centers, Department of Motor Vehicle locations, welcome and visitor centers, state parks, local governments, and other interested entities and individuals. It will also be available on our website. Stay tuned for information on how to get a copy.
amy.goodwin@dot.state.ga.us

Georgia Department of Transportation Office of Planning 2 Capitol Square S.W. Atlanta, GA 30334-1002
On Target is a publication of the Georgia Department of Transportation's
Office of Planning.
Please send address corrections to: Karen Quarles
Office of Planning 2 Capitol Square S.W. Atlanta, GA 30334-1002 Phone: (404) 656-6016 Fax: (404) 657-5228 Email: karen.quarles@dot.state.ga.us
Visit our website at: www.dot.state.ga.us