Johns Creek Green Lights Neighborhood Paving Plan

Staff Report

The Johns Creek City Council on Monday voted to approve a 5-Year Neighborhood Paving Plan to repair and/or repave streets in subdivisions in most need of repair. The plan calls for spending $11.5 million to improve neighborhood streets.

The City Council approved staff recommendations to spend $5.5 million in 2015 and $1.5 million per year thereafter until 2019, investing a total of $11.5 million over the five years as a significant start to improving the city’s neighborhood streets.

“Paving our neighborhood streets is one of the city’s highest priorities, and this is a significant down-payment on a much larger problem,” said Mayor Mike Bodker. “Improving our subdivision streets enhances quality of life for our residents, improves the curb appeal of our neighborhoods, and protects people’s investments in their homes.”

When the city incorporated in 2006, it inherited a street system “far below acceptable standards,” the city said in its press release. Since then, it has put tremendous effort into upgrading major roads and working closely with the Georgia Department of Transportation to see that state routes are properly maintained. Now it wants to focus on neighborhood streets.

Johns Creek Public Works director Tom Black said the city will start paving in April each year with the goal of completing the work before school heads back into session from the summer break.

“We’ll get the job done as quickly as possible to minimize inconvenience to our residents,” he added.

City staff intends to budget at least $500,000 each year, beginning in 2015, for major road resurfacing on top of the $11.5 million for neighborhood resurfacing. Black said he anticipates the city would need to spend another $8.5 million to reach the ideal goal of bringing our neighborhood streets to a rating of 70.

Johns Creek was recently awarded a $4 million Georgia Transportation Infrastructure loan from the State Road and Tollway Authority. That loan will be used to implement the 5-Year Neighborhood Paving Plan. The remaining funding would come from the local budget.

Residents can view the council Agenda Report outlining the Issue, recommendation, background, financial Impact and alternative approaches.

You can also view the 5 Year Paving Plan (2015-2019) and the 5 Year Paving Plan Map.