DeKalb Seeks Input on the Draft Comprehensive Transportation Plan Recommendations

Draft recommendations for the DeKalb County Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) are now available for public comment. This multi-year effort offers a blueprint for improving the quality of life throughout DeKalb through thoughtful, community-supported transportation infrastructure investment over a 25 year horizon. This study is funded through ARC’s CTP program, which provides funding to help local governments identify transportation needs and solutions through an open, consensus-building planning process. The DeKalb CTP represents the 18th such study completed in the Atlanta region since 2005.

The public is invited to review the draft Comprehensive Transportation Plan and to submit comments during the 30 day comment period which ends on May 9, 2014. All comments should be submitted in writing to transportationplan@dekalbcountyga.gov or by postal mail to the following address:

DeKalb County Transportation Plan
c/o Sycamore Consulting, Inc.
195 Arizona Avenue, Unit LW-4
Atlanta, GA 30307

Click here to access the document or visit http://www.dekalbtransportationplan2014.com. Physical copies of the document can also be reviewed at the following locations:

DeKalb County Government

Board of Commissioners Office (lobby)

1300 Commerce Drive; 5th Floor

Decatur, GA 30030

 

DeKalb County Public Library

Stonecrest Branch (Reference Desk)

3123 Klondike Road

Lithonia, GA 30038

 

DeKalb County Public Library

Tucker-Reid H. Cofer Branch (Reference Desk)

5234 LaVista Road

Tucker, GA 30084

 

DeKalb County Public Library

Dunwoody Branch (Reference Desk)

5339 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road

Dunwoody, GA 30338

 

For more information on the project, please visit the project website  or contact the DeKalb County Project Managers, Sylvia A. Smith at sasmith@dekalbcountyga.gov or 404-371-2299; or Patrece G. Keeter, PE at pgkeeter@dekalbcountyga.gov or 770-492-5206.

 

GDOT Kicks Off Statewide Rail Plan Update

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has begun a major update of the Statewide Rail Plan. This document, last updated in 2009, outlines long-range rail planning priorities in Georgia and  provides comprehensive data about the railroad industry within the state. The plan will enable GDOT to implement a more efficient and effective approach to integrate passenger and freight rail elements into the larger multi-modal transportation framework. It will cover the time period from the present to the year 2040 to better integrate with the Georgia Statewide Transportation Plan (SWTP) and Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan (SSTP).

The Department will conduct extensive outreach to the state’s railroads, shippers, ports, transit agencies, public sector transportation planners, neighboring states’ transportation officials, and the general public. This outreach will help the Department identify potential administrative and regulatory improvements to enhance rail-related economic development benefits to the state. Public input will also be fundamental in establishing the state rail vision and guiding goals, objectives and the proposed projects necessary to realize the established vision and goals.

The first round of public outreach begins in April, with meetings scheduled across the state. A public meeting in Atlanta is scheduled for April 16th at Atlanta Regional Commission Headquarters (40 Courtland Street, Atlanta GA 30303) from 5:00PM to 7:00PM. A formal presentation will begin at 5:30, while staff will be on hand to answer questions and gather feedback. For more information and contact information, please visit GDOT’s State Rail Plan webpage.

 

Forum to Discuss Strategies for Improving Pedestrian Access to Transit

 

Approach sidewalk, raised island and bicycle bypass lane all help improve safety to and from this bus stop in Sheffield, England

 

Since the recent survey data shows that the majority of public transit trips include a walking component, improving the state of pedestrian facilities around stations and bus stops is a key means of supporting existing and potential users of transit services. PEDS, with the support of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Kaiser-Permanente and FHWA, has studied this issue and developed a toolkit to help local governments deliver safer routes to transit. Learn more about these issues at a forum scheduled tonight (April 3rd) at the Decatur Recreation Center from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. For more information about the PEDS safe routes to transit toolkit may be found here.

Public Open House Scheduled for Peachtree Road Projects in Buckhead

 

The Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID) will host a public open house to gain feedback, present concept drawings, explain the project in detail and seek/answer questions and concerns regarding ongoing work on the Peachtree Road Corridor. All members of the public are encouraged to attend. The project is part of BCID’s Peachtree Transformation initiative, which aims to improve safety and accessibility of this important facility for all users.

The meeting will be held on Thursday (April 3, 2014) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. To learn more about the Peachtree Transformation, please visit the BCID project website.