On target, Vol. 5, no. 3 (Fall 1998)

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Georgia DepartInent of Transportation Office of Planning

Fall 1998 Vol. 5 No.3

With the increased Federal funding made available under the new- Transportation Equity Act for the 21 8t Century, GnaT is again calling for applications for Transportation Enhancement Activity (TEA) projects. The Federal -legislation adds four new- subcategories to the existing categories eligible for funding. These newsubcategories are: 1. Provision of safety/educational activi-
ties for pedestrians and bicycles; 2. Provision of tourist and w-elcome
centers on scenic or historic highw-ays; 3. Projects to reduce vehicle-caused w-ildlife mortality w-hile maintaining

habitat connectivity; and 4. Establish transportation museums.
The new- applications are due back to the Office of Planning by 3:00 PM February 1, 1999. Applicants w-ill be notified during June of the State Trans- . portation Board selections. These selections w-ill be funded for FY2000 and FY2001.
The TEA application package is available on the internet at our w-ebsite: w-w-w-. dot. state. gao us/homeoffs/ planning.w-w-w-/planning/tea/index.htrn.
by Steve Roberts e-mail: steve.roberts@dot.state.ga.us

With this year's passage of the Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century comes new- requirements, challenges, and increased transportation funding. To assess how- best to utilize these future resources, the Office ofPlanning is taking a new- look at Georgia's transportation needs. This process is currently underw-ay in the form ofthe update ofthe Statew-ide Transportation Plan.
The kickoffofthe plan's update began "With a w-ork retreat hosted by the Office ofPlanning on October 26, 1998. At this meeting, GnaT staffas w-ell as representatives from regional, state, and federal agencies; environmental groups; multirnodal interests and development agencies metto contribute their concerns and ideas for updating Georgia's Statew-ide Transportation Plan. Attendees discussed many items including w-hat issues should be included in the plan update, w-hat

the plan's format may look like, how- the puolic should be involved in the plan's development, and w-hat data needs to be collected.
The Statew-ide Transportation Plan w-ill incorporate the data and the research and analysis of the comprehensive transportation netW"ork w-ithin the state. Scheduled for completion in approximately tW"0 years, the plan w-ill span a 25 year period, from 2001 to 2025.
'The next steps w-ill include further research ofplans completed by other states, identification ofw-ork teams, and consultant selection. For more information on the update of the Statew-ide Transportation Plan, contact: Carl Spinks at (404) 657-6688. D
e-mail: carl.spinks@dot.state.ga.us

Page 2

As ofSeptember 30, 1998, the ozone fore-

casting season officially ended for the

Metro Atlanta region and with it the first

year of the Governor's Voluntary Ozone

Action Program (VOAP) for Georgia State

agencies (additional information is avail-

able on the internet at '-VVW.voap.org). The

Georgia Department ofTransportation was

recently recognized by the state Environ-

mental Protection Divisions (EPD) as hav-

ing the most outstanding performance for a

large public sector agency.

.

64%, transit use by 40%, and the number of employees teleworking and working compressed work weeks more than quadrupled. Preliminary traffic data indicates traffic was significantly reduced on most Ozone Action Days throughout the season.
Public awareness of air pollution & VOAP was in using the Department's changeable message signs to announce Ozone Action Days. A recent telephone survey of Atlanta area residents show that almost half (49%) of the respondents became aware of ground-level ozone issues through the variable message signs-up from only 13 % last year.

The Office of Planning coordinated GDOT's participation in the VOAP program with help from GDOT managers and supervisors, a network of coordinators throughout GDOT's offices, and almost 2,000 GDOT employees in the metro Atlanta area. It took everyone's work to make the Department's partici. pation a. resounding success.

The Department's efforts, as well as those ofother VOAP partners, won't stop here. There is still a lot of work to do to get Atlanta's air quality problem under control. Ofthe 35 Ozone Action days, Metro Atlanta experienced 22 exceedances of the federal air quality standards for ozone. Next year we need to double our efforts. CI

Preliminary results show that GDOT by Janide Sidifall employees increased their carpooling bYe-mail: janide.sidifall@dot.state.ga.us

A number of milestones have been reached this year in the development of the Georgia Scenic Byways Program. A policy and procedures document entitled "Program Requirements" was approved by the State Transportation Board in January. In February, the Department applied for a Federal discretionary grant of $124,800 to further implement the Program (a notice was received in November stating that. This funding sas approved). The "Designation Handbook" was completed in August and over 6,000 copies of the document have been distributed throughout the State. The Scenic Byways Advisory Committee met for its last time in October-members discussed the Handbook and recommendations for the program. The Department has received and approved for further development three initial byways ap-

plications. The first byway applicant submitted their Corridor Management Plan in October. This currently bein,g reviewed by.the Dep~ent. DNR, DCA, and FHWA.
Future Scenic Byways activities include revising the byways Application and Corridor Management Plan documents to give them a look and feel similar to the Handbook. The Department will be developing an Implementation Plan to carry the program through the next several years. It is also exploring possibilities for signing, mapping, and publicizing the byways that are approved by the Board. CI
by David Crites e-mail: david.crites@dot.state.ga.us

Page 3

In 1996, the Georgia DepartITlent of Transportation coITlITlissioned the Appalachian Scenic Corridor Study to determine the need for and feasibility of a continuous east-vvest transportation corridor across north Georgia.
The study of this GRIP (Governor's Road lITlprovement Program) corridor vvas conducted in three phases over a tvvo-year period, in response to many years oflocal and regional concerns. The study addresses eastvvest mobility, safety issues, reduction oftraffic congestion, transport ofgoods, economic opportunities, and tourism opportunities.
Public' involvement vvas a major consideration throughout the study. A total of 15 public informational meetings vvere held, a ITlonthly nevvsletter vvas distributed and reached a circulation of nearly 2,400 over the course ofthe study, and a toll-free hotline and vvebsite Were available to the public. An Advisory CoITlITlittee vvorked vvith the DepartITlent throughout the study.

The study recommends that a continuous corridor be established. The corridor is approxiInately 169 miles in length, running from I-59 in Dade County, easterly to 1-85 in Franklin County. The recommended corridorhas manageable environmental impacts, offers opportunities for environmental and aesthetic enhancement, and is feasible from both an engineering and economic standpoint. The benefits-costs analysis shovvs that there vvould be a return of $13.97 in economic, operating, and accident cost savings for every dollar spent. More than 60% of the corridor follovvs existing roads, and approximately tvvothirds of the corridor is recommended to be tvvo lanes.
The general recommendations from the study are as follovvs: 1. Designate a single east-vvest corridor
for continuity; 2. Implement consistent, recognizable
signage; 3. Prioritize improvements; and 4. Initiate upgrades of existing roads for
safety iITlproveITlents. 0
by Janet Harvey e-mail: janet.harvey@dot.state.ga.us

Several ITlonths ago the Office of Planning initiated a project that would docuITIent current levels of congestion in ITIetropolitan Atlanta on the Interstate and arterial systeITIs. The consultant, SkycOITlp, has developed a process for conducting siITIultaneous aerial photographic surveys of ITIajor transportation facilities within a designated study area during peak travel periods. The Atlanta survey covers approxiITIately 500 ITIiles of interstate and ITIajor arterials in the non-attainITlent area (for ozone pollution) of Metropolitan Atlanta.
The aerial photos are analyzed and traffic density is cOITIputed along with travel tiITIes, operating speeds and levels of service. Areas of congestion can be pin pointed, for analysis and correction. The process can also provide inforITlation relating to the origin and destination of ve-

hicles vvithin the study area.
By repeating this process every three to four' years, the DepartITIent will be able to docuITIent changes in congestion and travel patterns in the Metro area, and deITIonstrate the results of out efforts to iITIprove traffic congestion.
The inforITlation froITl the study will be arranged into an interactive collection of photographs, video, ITIaps, text and charts in a CD-ROM forITIat for both projection and printing. This fOrITlat is very effective in proITloting cOITIITlunication and understanding betvveen technical and non-technical audiences and is easily re-fOrITlatted for other presentations. The project will be COITIplete by the SUITIITler of 1999. 0
by Carl Spinks e-ITIail: carl.spinks@dot.state.ga.us

Page 4

On Target is a quarterly publication of the Georgia Department of Transportation.
OfficeofPlanning No.2 Capitol ~quare.S.W Atlanta, GA 30334-1002
(404) 656-5411 Fax: (404)657-5228
Visit ourrecently updated web site at: www.dotstate.gauslhomeoffslplanning.www/ p:JannirWanhome.h1m

TEA Contracts Executed in the last
quarter.

County:

Description:

Cherokee

Holly Springs Historic Train Depot

DeKalb Stevvart Co.

Avondale Streetscape
BedingfieldInn Historic Restoration

Georgia Department of Transportation Office of Planning No.2 Capitol Square. S."W. Atlanta. Georgia 30334-1002
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Susan Tuggle Ga Document Depository Collection, Gov!. Document Dept University of Georgia Library Athens GA 306021645