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CUTHBERT 
BYPASS STUDY 
Randolph County 
 
Prepared By: Office of Planning Ulysses Mitchell 
June 3, 1998 
 
 city and if nothing is done to relieve the heavY truck traffic in the downtown area, the level of service in the square and along SR 50 will reach an unacceptable level by the year 2017. 
The Office of EnvironmentlLocation projects that, if constructed, 1,150 vehicles will use the proposed south bypass by the year 2022 (See Figure 3). It isalso projected that 12% of the daily traffic on the bypass would be trucks. Designating the proposed south bypass and the existing bypass as an alternate truck route would greatly reduce the need for through trucks to use the square. 
CONCLUSION 
A 1985 study done by the Office of Planning proposed that the square be reconstructed to eliminate the one-way traffic patterns and that left turn lanes and traffic signals be added (see Figure 4). The study noted that constructing a bypass would not be cost effective and that the projected ADT would only reach 1,000 vehicles by the year 2004. Reconstructing the square is still an alternative. It would eliminate the problems trucks are having maneuvering around the square. However, it will make parking less convenient and may increase the accident rate in the downtown area. The current (1996) accident rate in the square (Traffic Count Station 113) is 895 accidents per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled (MVMT). The statewide accident rate for a Rural Principal Arterial is 144 MYMT. For additional accident rates see Appendix "0". Reconstruction of the square would cost an estimated one million dollars. Although this alternative would cost less than constructing a bypass, it would receive the most opposition from the local citizens and government. 
12 
 
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 Constructing the south bypass and restricting truck usage of the Cuthbert square would greatly reduce the current truck problems along the square. The bypass would be approximately 1.67 miles with two new rail crossings. A two lane bypass with two rail crossings would cost an estimated $3.4 million. However, the benefit-eost ratio for . construction the bypass is 3.11. This means, over a 20-year period, the benefits the public derives from us!ng the bypass would be 3.11 times greater than the cost of constructing and maintaining the bypass. 
Obtaining approval from rail companies for grade crossings can be difficult and may require the elimination of an equal number of crossings. Providing communities access to SR-50 via the proposed bypass is one way of eliminating grade crossings. The two proposed rail crossings will require gates, bells, and signals. 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
A south bypass is a cost effective project and would result in a savings to the public. However, the traffic volume is only projected to reach 1100 vehicles per day by the year 2022. Thus, the Office of Planning recommends the project be placed in long range at 2010. We also recommend this study be reviewed in five years to see if traffic warrants moving the project up to an earlier construction date. 
15 
 
 APPENDIX A 
15 
 
 APPENDIXB 
20 
 
 Level-of-Service 
Level-of-Service is defined as a qualitative measure describing operational conditions within a traffic stream. There are six identified levels of service a roadway can operate. Each of the six are identified by a letter, A through F. Level-of-Service A representing the best operating conditions and Level-of-Service F the worst. . For example, Level-of-Service A represents free flow. Individual users are virtually unaffected by the presence of others in the traffic stream. The general level of comfort and convenience provided to the motorist is excellent. Level-of-Service C marks the beginning of a range of flow in which the operation of the individual users becomes significantly affected by interactions with others in the traffic stream. The general level of comfort declines noticeably at this level. Level-ofService E represents operating conditions at or near capacity. All speeds are reduced to a low, but relatively uniform value. Comfort and convenience levels are extremely poor. Level-of-Service F is when traffic flow has shut down completely and the traffic stream is characterized by stop-and-go traffic. 
Information on Level-of-Ser-vice was taken from "Highway Capacity Manual" Special Report 209. 
21 
 
 .. 0.. O. 0 
APPENDIXC 
22 
 
 List of trucks passing through the Cuthbert square in a single 45 minute span, August 1997. 
 
McElroy Truck Lines Schneider International Carriers Waggoners Trucking M&D Trucking BAT Inc. Milan Express Co., Inc Sunbelt Transport Werner enterprises Arctic Express Rhett Butler Hub Truck Lines Tidwell Transport America Holland Trucking P&R Trucking Empire Express Wal-Mart & Other Discount Gold Kist Shaffer 
 
Southeastern Freight Lines LT Lumber Transport Service Express Interstate Nationalease Inc. Merchants Truck Lines Ryder Truck Transamerican Carriers Leon Jones TDI Jet-Pep Richbourgs Truck Lines Atlanta Motor Lines Glenn Whitehead Vernon Sawyer Boyd Brothers Going West Willis Trucking Inc. United Van Lines Lane 
 
List furnished by the Cuthbert-Randolph county Chamber of Commerce and does not include logging trucks. 
 
23 
 
 APPENDIXD 
24 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
Executive Summary 
 
1 
 
Scope 
 
1 
 
Background 
 
1 
 
Roadway Characteristics 
 
4 
 
Traffic Characteristics 
 
6 
 
Analysis. 
 
11 
 
Conclusion 
 
12 
 
Recommendations 
 
13 
 
Appendix A 
 
16 
 
Appendix B 
 
20 
 
Appendix C 
 
22 
 
Appendix D 
 
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 FIGURE 1 
 
12,000 
 
POPULATION TREND 1970 - 2015 
 
10,000 8,000 6,000 
 
 Randolph County 
11 City of Cuthbert 
 
4,000 
 
2,000 
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1970 1980 1990 2000 2015 
 
Information for the year of 2000 and 2015 is projected 
Population information taken from ';The Georgia County Guide". 
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 MAP 3 
TRAFFIC COUNT MAP N 
 
. Cuthbert bypass opened September 6, 1995. 
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Station ~ 
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 
 
 MAP 4 
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Station 
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TRAFFIC 
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TRUCKS EXITING SQUARE 
 
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TRUCKS ENTERgNGSQUARE 
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Truck turning e a s t In square from SRI Bu. 
 
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Traffic Count Stations 108, 110, and III are for SR 1 Bu which opened in.1995. 
 
 CUTHBERT SQUARE 
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I\orthwest corner of square. 
 
No r t h se c t i o n of square. 
 
17 
 
 CUTHBERT BYPASS. 
Executive Summary 
Randolph County requested that the Department look at the possibility of constructing a bypass southwest of Cuthbert. The proposed project would extend from SR SO/US 82 to SR 1 BUSIUS 27 BUS on new location. 
The city of Cuthbert is currently experiencing heavy traffic in the downtown square. The traffic includes a significant amount of truck traffic. The Chamber of Commerce counted 38 trucks over a 45 minute span in August 1997. The 1997 AADT is 7,600 vehicles. 
In a 1985 study, the Office of Planning proposed reconstructing the square to eliminate the oneway traffic patterns and that left turn lanes and traffic signals be added. The study concluded that constructing a bypass would not be cost effective and that the projected AADT would only 
I 
reach 1,000 vehicles by the year 2004. 
In the attached study, the construction of a two-lane bypass with two rail crossings is estimated to cost $3.4 million. A benefit-cost analysis reveals that the benefit to the public would be 3.11 times greater than the cost. However, traffic volumes are only projected to reach 1100 vehicles per day by 2022. Therefore, we are recommending that a project to construct a south bypass be placed in long range for year 2010. We are also recommending this study be reviewed in five years to see if traffic warrants moving the project up to an earlier construction date. 
 
 SCOPE 
Randolph County requested that the Department look at the possibility of constructing a bypass southwest of Cuthbert. The proposed project would extend from SR 50lUS 82 to SR I BUS/US 27 BUS on new location (see Map 1).. 
BACKGROUND 
The City of Cuthbert is the county seat of Randolph County and the largest city in the county. Forty-six percent of the county's population resides in Cuthbert, although Cuthbert is less then one percent of the county's total land area. According to the 1990 census, Randolph County's population was 8,023 and Cuthbert's population was 3,730 (see Figure 1). Between 1980 and 1990 Randolph and surrounding counties experienced a drop in population. The population drop is attributed to a decline in the farming industry as a result of several years of bad crop production in the early 80's. 
However, the county's population is projected to increase 5% by the year 2015 to 8,468, and Cuthbert's population is projected to increase 14% to 4,260 compared to a 48% increase in the state's population over the same period of time. Cuthbert's population would reach 50% of the county's population by 2015. The projected increase in Randolph County and the city of Cuthbert is based on an improved infrastructure in the city of Cuthbert. Other factors influencing an increase in population include an increase in the furniture and poultry industries, enrollment and employment at Andrew College located in the city of Cuthbert, and medical services and employment at the hospital in Cuthbert. 
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1 
 
  ,I' 
Cuthbert is also considered the" growth center for the four county federally designated Champion Community region which includes Clay, Quitman, Randolph, and Stewart Counties. Some of the communities that applied for the federal Empowerment Zone designation, but did not meet the requirements, were designated as Champion Communities. As part of the application process for the Empowerment Zone designation, communities were required to develop a regional strategic plan. The main economic development goal of Cuthbert region's strategic plan is to expand the agri-business opportunities by bringing the poultry industry into the area. This strategic plan will offset the decline in the peanut industry, which is a prime agri-business activity of the four counties. 
Although the region's strategic plan is to expand the agri-business opportunities, manufacturing is the largest employment sector in Randolph County. The manufacturing industry provides 24% of the counties jobs and 33% of employment earnings. 
ROADWAY CHARACTERISTICS 
Cuthbert is served by five state routes, SR llUS 27, SR 1 BUSIUS 27 BUS, SR 50lUS 82, SR 266, and SR 216 (see Map 2). State Route llUS 27 is part of the Governor's Road Improvement Program (GRIP) and is a north-south route that bypasses the city to the east. State Routes 266 and 216 are north-south routes that terminate south of Cuthbert. State Route 266 serves the city of Coleman and indirectly provides access to Abbeville, Alabama. State Route 216 roughly parallels SR 1 and serves several smaller cities including Carnegie, Edison, and Arlington. In conjunction with SR 45 and SR 37, SR 216 provides access to the cities of Colquitt and Camilla respectively (see Map 2). 
4 
 
 . 
State Route 1 BUSIUS 27 BUS and SR 50lUS 82 are both two lane roadways and are the only state routes that enter the city limits of Cuthbert. State Route 50lUS 82 is functionally classified as a Rural Principal Arterial arid runs in an east-west direction. The pavement width averages 24 feet with a two foot paved shoulder. State Route 1 Business carries a Rural Major Collector classification. This north-south route has an average pavement width of 36 feet with curb and gutter. State Route 1 Business runs common with State Route 50 along the square in downtown Cuthbert. 
The square has one lane of traffic (one-way) with a pavement width of 36 feet. Parallel parking is permitted along the inside curb of the square and angle parking along the outside curb. Refer to Figure 2 for a current sketch map of the square and Appendix "A" for photographs. 
TRAFFIC CHARACTERISTICS 
State Route 50 is the only major east-west corridor in Randolph County. There are only two north-south corridors, SR llUS 27 and SR 41. State Route 41 is located along the east 
'- 
county boundary while SR llUS 27 is located in the central part of the county. Both SR 50 and SR 1 BUS pass through the center of the city of Cuthbert. Every major collector and arterial route, except for two, tie either into SR 1 or SR 50. Both SR 1 and SR 50 are STAA (Surface Transportation Assistance Act) oversize truck routes. 
6 
 
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 As traffic approaches the Cuthbert square from either direction on SR 50 the level of service drops from "B" to "C" (see page 21 of Appendix B for an explanation of Level-of-Service). State Route 50 has an Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) of 4,193 vehicles east of the square and 6,482 west of the square. South of the square on SR I BUS the level of service drops from "B" to "C" as traffic approaches the square, and. the AADT increases from 1,545 to 5,665 vehicles (see Map 3 and Map 4). North of the square on SR 1 BUS the AADT is in the 1,500 to 1,900 range with a level of service of "A". The level of service in the square is "D" and the AADT is 7,568. 
There are a number of businesses in the Cuthbert area that utilize SR 50 to transport goods. In August 1997, the Cuthbert-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce counted trucks from 38 different companies using the square in a 45-minute period. The list of businesses is listed. in Appendix "C". On a separate occasion, the Cuthbert fire department in conjunction with the chamber of commerce counted 2000 trucks using the square over a 44-hour time span. 
One of the major truck generators utilizing the square is Leon Jones Feed and Grain trucking operation. T1)e trucking operation is located on SR 50 east of the Cuthbert city limits. Leon Jones Feed and Grain handles the trucking services for a number of businesses in and around Cuthbert. They presently handle approximately 150 tractor trailer trucks per day. The number of trucks is expected to increase 25% by the year 2000. They are in the process of relocating to a larger site on SR 50 to expand their operation. 
Clients of Leon Jones Feed and Grain include Georgia Feed Products, Inc., Charoen Pokphand, and American Proteins, Inc. Georgia Feed Products is located east of the city 
8 
 
 limits and contracts with the Charoen Pokphand poultry plant in Eufaula, Alabama. The Charoen Pokphand plant generates 28 trucks each day, six days a week. These trucks must go through the Cuthbert square to reach the Georgia Feed Products facility. 
American Protein, Inc. is also located east of Cuthbert on SR 50. American Protein handles the poultry processing for all the poultry companies in the area. Its market traffic comes from all directions, but must utilize SR 50 to access the plant. American Protein has plans to add a rail spur that will increase truck traffic in the Cuthbert area once completed. 
Other truck generators in the area includes Settles Brothers Ground Support Systems, The Day Company located south of SR 50, Trendline Home Fashions, Inc., Best Manufacturing, and Georgia Food Products, Inc. 
ANALYSIS 
With the configuration of the network of roads in Randolph County and the number of industries located on SR 50 near the city of Cuthbert, a large number of trucks must pass' through the square in downtown Cuthbert. The circular movement around the square makes it difficult for the large tractor trailer trucks to negotiate turns. Photographs of trucks entering and exiting the square are shown in Appendix "A". 
The lowest existing level of service for SR 50 and SR 1 BUS is "C", except for the square where the level of service is "D". Traffic in the square is projected to increase to an AADT of 10,100 vehicles by 2017 with a level of service of "E". If traffic continues to increase in the 
11