Newsletter for the Georgia Department of Transportation's Office of Planning Volume 4 #7 "Planning Georgia's Future Today" In This Issue: Statewide Transportation Plan Update 1 SR 400/SR 365 Study 1 Georgia's New Nonattainment Areas 2 Georgia's Newest Scenic Byway 3 CHCNGA TPO: A Busy Time 4 Chatham County Interstate News 5 Georgia DOT Releases Bike Sense: A Guide for Cyclists and Motorists 6 Office of Planning & the 2005 Dodge Tour de Georgia 7 Statewide Transportation Plan Update by Tamrat Kassa In our previous edition, the Office of Planning announced it was gearing up for the first round of public meetings for the Statewide Transportation Plan (SWTP) which were held in January in Atlanta, Savannah and Tifton. During our first round of public meetings, the Department provided a report card on The following is a list of dates and locations for the 2nd round of public meetings: o Monday, June 6th Coastal Georgia Center 305 Fahm Street Savannah, GA 5 PM 7 PM the progress made since the last SWTP update in 2001. During these public meetings, the general public also had an opportunity to provide input in the form of questions and recommendations to o Tuesday, June 7th Moultrie Tech 800 Veterans Parkway North Moultrie, GA 5 PM 7 PM be included within the SWTP's final report. o Thursday, June 9th Commerce Civic Center Currently, the Office of Planning is wrapping up task 3, (there are a total of seven tasks) which is an evaluation 110 State Street Commerce, GA 5 PM 7 PM of system-wide deficiencies. Task 3 We encourage everyone to attend one will focus specifically on future usage of the three public meetings held in in terms of performance and a needs Savannah, Moultrie or Commerce. analysis for the various modes of However, if you are unable to attend transportation. Task 3 will be completed please feel free to e-mail any comments and ready for discussion for our second to Tamrat (Tim) Kassa, Jr., at round of local government consultation Tamrat.kassa@dot.state.ga.us. as well as our second round of public meetings. Consultant Selected to Perform Studies by Jason Crane The Office of Planning has selected the consulting firm Arcadis to analyze the conditions, operations and limited-access potential of SR 400 from SR 306 in Forsyth County to SR 60 in Lumpkin County and of SR 365 from SR 369 in Hall County to US 441 in Habersham County. The purpose of this study is to identify current trends in population, employment and economic development, as well as to assess the impacts of limited-access corridors on the local and regional economies, the trucking and tourism industries, travel demand patterns, traffic operations and safety, and the long-range plans of both the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Gainesville-Hall Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Arcadis team will be using the micro traffic simulation model, CORSIM, to perform the traffic operational analysis and to evaluate the improvement options to meet the future travel demand of the study corridors. In the collection of traffic patterns along SR 400 and SR 365, Arcadis will be conducting traffic studies and license plate surveys at various locations to sample ten percent of the annual daily traffic. This study is scheduled to be completed in August 2006. Michelle Caldwell is the Project Manager and can be reached at (404) 651-5327 for additional information. Page 2 ON TARGET Georgia's New Nonattainment Areas by Phil Peevy In 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new scientific information showing the effects on human health from exposure to ozone at lower levels and exposure over a period greater than one hour. The findings led to the creation of the 8-hour ozone standard issued by EPA in July 1997. When ozone is formed naturally in the earth's stratosphere, it acts as a protective layer for the earth. At ground level, ozone is formed when emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds cook in the summer's heat. Emissions in Georgia come from a variety of sources including cars and trucks, power plants, industrial facilities and natural sources. Research indicates that exposure to ozone creates an increased health hazard to people with heart and lung disease, children, adults participating in outside activities and older adults. The "ozone season" lasts from May 1 until September 31. Georgia's original 1-hour ozone nonattainment area consisted of 13 metro Atlanta counties including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale. In December of 2004, the 8-hour ozone standard expanded the Atlanta nonattainment area to include a total of 20 counties (see map). Additional counties outside the Atlanta nonattainment area were also designated. These additional areas include Bibb, Catoosa and portions of Murray and Monroe counties. All but Murray County must demonstrate conformity for the 8-hour ozone standard by June 2005. The Atlanta nonattainment area has already met these requirements. The partial area of Murray County is not associated with a metropolitan area and urban transportation planning. Therefore, federal-aid transportation projects will utilize project-level conformity rather than transportation plan/program-level conformity. Conformity is defined as a process in which transportation plans and programs are reviewed to ensure consistency with federal clean air requirements and the State Implementation Plan (SIP). Regional transportation projects, as defined in the transportation plan, collectively must not worsen air quality. The plan updates for nonattainment areas are required every three (3) years. Also, new conformity determinations are required when nonattainment areas either add or delete capacity-increasing projects from the Plan or the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The EPA recently added a new pollutant to Georgia's nonattainment area classifications. The EPA released final particulate matter (PM) designations in December 2004, and the designations became effective on April 6, 2005. PM is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid matter. Research indicates exposure to PM has been linked to a range of respiratory and cardiovascular health problems. Two types of PM are currently regulated by the EPA: PM 10 and PM 2.5. Georgia is attaining the PM 10 standard, but there are areas in the state in nonattainment for PM 2.5. Unlike seasonal ozone, PM 2.5 is considered a yearround problem. Counties receiving the PM 2.5 designation include the 20-county metro Atlanta area (see map) as well as parts of Putnam and Heard counties. Counties outside the metro Atlanta area include: Floyd, Walker, Catoosa, Bibb and a portion of Monroe. These counties must demonstrate conformity for PM 2.5 by April 2006. For more information on these topics, please visit the new Air Quality Branch's website at www.dot.state.ga.us/DOT/ plan-prog/planning/aq/ ON TARGET Page 3 Georgia Gets Eighth Scenic Byway by Tim Meyer The State Transportation Board designated the Meriwether-Pike Scenic Byway as the eighth Georgia Scenic Byway at its March board once-thriving farm community. In May and October, the Cotton Pickin' Fair and the Great Gay Marketplace bring thousands from around the Southeast. meeting. The Georgia Scenic Byways Program is a grassroots effort to preserve, promote, protect and interpret treasured corridors throughout the state. A Georgia Scenic Byway is defined as any designated highway, street, road or route which features certain intrinsic qualities that should be protected or enhanced. The Meriwether-Pike Scenic Byway encompasses all of the six Scenic Byway intrinsic qualities: scenic, natural, historic, cultural, Sabra McCullar, the Executive Director of the FDR Warm Springs Welcome Center, served as liaison between the Meriwether-Pike County Scenic Byway Designation Committee and Georgia DOT. Ms. McCullar worked with residential and commercial landowners, local government officials and other interested parties in the proposed byway area to develop the route and the Corridor Management Plan (CMP). The Meriwether-Pike Scenic Byway is located in the districts of State Transportation Board member Sam Wellborn and Board Chairman David Doss. archaeological and recreational. For more information about Scenic Byways, please The 55-mile route begins at Warm Springs, Georgia on SR 85 and continues north to Gay, moving west on the contact Tim Meyer at tim.meyer@dot.state.ga.us or by phone at (404) 656-2005. SR 109 spur back to Gay. From Gay, the route extends eastbound along Flat Shoals Road across the Flint River and turns southwest on SR 18 to Molena. The route follows SR 18 back to SR 85 south of Woodbury to Manchester and pro- ceeds to follow SR 190 back to Warm Springs. The Meriwether-Pike County Scenic Byway celebrates the unique legacy of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. During the 1920's, 30's, and 40's, President Roosevelt came to Warm Springs in hopes that the therapeutic springs would help improve the condition of his polio-damaged legs. He built a home in Warm Springs, known as the Little White House, which is now operated as a state historic site. The Meriwether-Pike Scenic Byway features several other attractions such as the Red Oak Covered Bridge and the Oakland Baptist Church. At Jones Mill, a large grist mill and mill pond are the only reminders of a Georgia's newest scenic byway: Meriwether-Pike Page 4 ON TARGET Busy Time for Planning Organization by Annette Eason Can States come together in harmony and develop a Long Range Transportation Plan of federal, state and local governments and other community groups and organizations within Chattanooga/Hamilton County and North Georgia. (LRTP) for one region? A series of stakeholder meetings were conducted in Chattanooga Hamilton County North Georgia June and August of 2004. Other small stakeholder Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization meetings were held at the request of any local (CHCNGA TPO) and other bi-state Metropolitan jurisdiction on an as-needed basis. Three series of Planning Organizations (MPOs) have been faced with public meetings were conducted in March and November this task for many years. of 2004 and April of 2005 at There are challenges, but More information can be four locations throughout the these challenges are being overcome by CHCNGA TPO as it undergoes its 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan. found on the TPO's website at www.chcrpa.org/ Pages/Transportation/ Chattanooga/Hamilton County and North Georgia Area. The meetings provided extremely valuable informa- Their LRTP process has pro- Transplan2030/ tion regarding data collected ceeded with full cooperation and coordination from the TransPlan_2030_Mainpage.htm and the outcome of evaluations of current cities, counties, the Tennessee and future conditions. The Department of Transportation (TDOT), the Georgia meetings were successful in obtaining information from Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT), the minority communities and disabled citizens on their Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Federal transportation needs and concerns. Local residents also Highway Administration (FHWA). The purpose of the provided comment that helped shape the plan's overall LRTP is to promote the efficient movement of people vision and guiding principles. A final opportunity for and goods and to support the community's land use public comment and review of the draft 2030 Plan is and economic development goals. The LRTP plan scheduled for May 26, 2005, 6:00 pm at the University will evaluate and identify current and future roadway, of Tennessee at Chattanooga. bicycle, pedestrian, rail, transit, freight and aviation The development of CHCNGA TPO's 2030 Plan was improvements. The goals of the Plan are to increase the interrupted as they were required to undergo a federal safety, accessibility, efficiency and connectivity of the certification review of their planning process. At first it current transportation system in order to foster a livable seemed as though this was bad timing, but instead it was community and support economic growth. The 2030 right on time. The certification review re-visited previous Transportation Plan will set the framework for the TPO certification comments from the 2025 Plan, which was to set project priorities and make funding decisions for helpful to further develop CHCNGA TPO's 2030 Plan. transportation improvements. The final program of projects must be fiscally constrained by only utilizing the anticipated future revenue stream from local, state, federal and other sources and must be adopted by the MPO committees. Federal laws require that the LRTP be updated every three years for non-attainment areas and every five years for urbanized areas meeting attainment. CHCNGA area was designated non-attainment for particulate pollution or particulate matter (PM 2.5); therefore, their LRTP plan will be required to be updated every three years. CHCNGA TPO's federal certification review of their planning process was held on March 22 and 23, 2005. A certification review of the planning process within TMAs is one of a number of critical mechanisms for ensuring the satisfactory implementation of the planning requirements. This review is required at least every three years for Transportation Management Areas (TMAs), which are urbanized areas with populations over 200,000. The TPO's last review was held March 2002. The March 2005 certification review team consisted of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Public involvement has been a very important factor Highway Administration (FHWA). in maintaining harmony as the plan continues to be developed. An advisory committee was established ON TARGET Page 5 There are challenges, but these challenges are being overcome... During the two-day review, FTA and FHWA questioned the TPO regarding the certifications and agreements, Unified Planning Work Program, LRTP, Transportation Improvement Program, Congestion Management System, and their public involvement process. CHCNGA TPO's coordinator discussed the summary of work accomplished since the last review and discussed upcoming planning activities, issues and concerns. The certification process also provided an opportunity for the public and elected officials to discuss their concerns, problems and successes with the TPO and planning process. A public meeting was held on the evening of March 22 and a special meeting for the elected officials was held on the morning of March 23. A small crowd attended the public meeting and a large number of elected officials attended the special elected officials meeting. The local officials agreed that the relationship between North Georgia and Tennessee has improved. One of the major concerns discussed during the meeting with local officials was the coordination of projects that cross state lines and how to address differences in priorities between the two states. The TPO is working diligently with the Georgia and Tennessee DOTs and local governments during the 2030 LRTP to address those projects that cross state lines. The federal certification review team met to discuss their draft findings at the conclusion of the two-day review. As of now, there are no corrective actions; only those mentioned in the 2002 certification regarding the 2025 LRTP will be carried over because the new 2030 Plan has neither been completed nor reviewed (with exception of a bike plan which has been completed). As of now, there are about 10 notable practices and 20 recommendations. Recommendations do not have the effect of regulations, but they do reflect national interest and trends and are intended to assist the MPO in their efforts to effectively meet the federal planning requirements. Chatham County Interstate Needs Analysis and Prioritization Plan by Keith Melton In an effort to fully evaluate and prioritize current and future needs on the Interstate System in Chatham County, the Georgia Department of Transportation's (Georgia DOT) Office of Planning recently selected the consultant firm of Jordan, Jones & Goulding (JJG) to develop an Interstate Needs Analysis and Prioritization Plan for all interstate routes (I-95, I-16, and I-516) and their intersecting routes in Chatham County. At the conclusion of this two-year effort, the plan will prioritize the existing and any newly identified interstate projects in Georgia DOT's Long-Range Work Program and the Chatham Urban Transportation Study's (CUTS) Long Range Transportation Plan. In addition, the Office of Planning has directed JJG to take efforts to ensure that the most critical improvements (weighed against constructability, costs and funding availability) are recommended to be implemented first. The plan will also identify congested/operationally challenged sections on the interstate system within Chatham County which do not presently have a project identified. Currently, Georgia DOT Planning staff is coordinating initial work scope activities with JJG. During the course of the plan development over the next two years, meetings will be held with various Chatham County officials, other Georgia DOT officials, the Federal Highway Administration as well as with the public. The public meetings will be advertised throughout Chatham County. If you have any questions about the Chatham County Interstate Needs Analysis and Prioritization Plan, please contact Radney Simpson at 404-657-6689 or email Radney.Simpson@dot.state.ga.us Page 6 ON TARGET Georgia DOT releases Georgia Bike Sense: A Guide for Cyclists and Motorists by Amy Goodwin The Office of Planning's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program has developed a bicycle safety and rules-of-the-road user's guide called Georgia Bike Sense. The guide is intended to teach cyclists and motorists how to safely and legally share the road. It provides guidance on technique, rules of the road, trail etiquette and safety. It also contains a listing of local, state and national bicycle resources. The Guide was funded by a Transportation Enhancement grant and was developed by the University of Georgia's graphics division with extensive input from the State Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Georgia DOT staff. The Guide is being distributed throughout the state to local bike shops and organizations, bicycle and community events, colleges and schools, law enforcement agencies, welcome and visitor centers, parks, community centers and many other locations. The Guide can also be downloaded from Georgia DOT's website www.dot.state.ga.us (see "Featured Links") or you can request a hard copy by emailing bikeped@dot.state.ga.us or call 404-657-6692. Office of Planning Exhibits Bicycle/Pedestrian Initiatives at the 2005 Dodge Tour de Georgia by Elaine Armster The 2005 Dodge Tour de Georgia drew the largest attendance in the cycling competition's history, as a crowd of more than 700,000 gathered along the 650-mile course to witness Lance Armstrong's last scheduled race on American soil. In Augusta, the start city of the Dodge Tour de Georgia, Armstrong held a press conference and announced to the world that he would be retiring from cycling following the Tour de France this summer. The Dodge Tour de Georgia is North America's premier, professional cycling event. The Office of Planning maximized this opportunity to raise awareness of our Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs by teaming up with the Georgia Department of Economic Development to host the Visitor's Information Tent during four stages of the six-stage race. Kathleen Kern Hardison, Director of Strategic Partnerships for the race, was instrumental in serving as the liaison to facilitate this premium placement in Tent #1 at the Tour de Georgia expo cities of Macon, Fayetteville, Rome and Dahlonega. At the expos, Office of Planning team members greeted race fans and provided copies of the bike safety manual, Georgia Bike Sense, as well as copies of a pamphlet that promotes Georgia DOT bicycle and pedestrian initiatives within the Transportation Enhancement and Scenic Byway Programs. Copies of the state bicycle map were also available. In addition to enlightening the spectators who attended the race start and finish activities, the Planning team was able to share the Georgia Bike Sense with the 15 international cycling teams. Several of the world-class cyclists from the Discovery ChannelUSA; Credit AgricoleFrance; GerolsteinerGermany; and Saunier Duval-ProdirSpain, were photographed reading the bike safety manual moments prior to the start of stage two in Fayetteville. At the end of the race, Discovery Channel's Tom Danielson captured the yellow Dodge Race Leader jersey, winning the 2005 Dodge Tour de Georgia with a final time of 26.53.44. The Georgia DOT Georgia Bike Sense safety guide also was a winner as it received very favorable comments from race fans. Hats off to the Office of Planning personnel that staffed the Georgia DOT information desk: Amy Goodwin, Elaine Armster, Jason Vargo, Tim Meyer, Ronda Britt and Lisa Safstrom (intern). ON TARGET Page 7 Seen @ 2005 Dodge Tour de Georgia Page 8 ON TARGET Seen @ 2005 Dodge Tour de Georgia Georgia Department of Transportation Office of Planning 2 Capitol Square S.W. Atlanta, GA 30334-1002 2005 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) 656-5411 Fax: (404) 657-5228 Email: karen.quarles@dot.state.ga.us Visit our website at: www.dot.state.ga.us