Public Works Department Named Agency of the Year

Based on its continuous focus on transportation improvements, the Sandy Springs Public Works Department was named Agency of the Year by the Georgia Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

This award is intended to recognize governmental or quasi-governmental agencies “which have made significant transportation improvements in their area of jurisdiction,” the city said in a press release. The achievement is to have been accomplished during the previous 12 months.

“We are very proud of this accomplishment,” said City Manager John McDonough. “Customer service, in this case, by way of transportation improvements, is a top priority for the city. Our Public Works team works hard on our community’s behalf, and it is good news to see they are recognized by their peers for these efforts.”

In 2014, Sandy Springs attained a number of noteworthy achievements including:

• Sponsored and completed the $3.4 million Roswell Road ATMS project applying adaptive traffic management systems along Roswell Road from Abernathy Road to the Forsyth County Line. This was a successful joint project with Georgia Department Of Transportation and the cities of Roswell and Alpharetta;
• Earned grants valued at $2.9 million to extend the ATMS system to include 56 additional intersections along Roswell Road, Hammond Drive, Glenridge Drive and Peachtree Dunwoody Road. These projects, along with other completed ATMS projects, resulted in Adaptive Management Systems control on about 80 percent of the city’s signal system;
• Over the past three years, the number of traffic signals on-line and controlled by the Traffic Management Center increased from eight to 105. In addition, the group expanded and maintained 32 miles of fiber optic network, providing the backbone for traffic, police, fire and 24 hour Call Center communications. Public Works Implemented travel time technologies including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on three corridors within the city.
• Completed the design andor construction of nine intersection improvement projects, including major intersections such as Roswell Road at Abernathy Road and Powers Ferry Road at Northside Drive. Installed the city’s first High-intensity Activated Crosswalk Beacon (HAWK) on Roswell Road near Long Island Drive.
• Coordinated with GDOT on multiple projects including the I-285 at GA 400 Interchange, I-285 CD Lanes, I-285 at Riverside Drive Interchange, S.R. 400 at Northridge Road Interchange, the GA 400 flex lanes and the RTOP, PTOP Programs.

ITE also cited the completed construction of the Abernathy Greenway Park, which includes a plaza, patio, gardens, lighted trails, playgrounds and playable art, leveraging funding from Georgia Department of Transportation, the Sandy Springs Conservancy and Northside Hospital.

The Playable Art Park at Abernathy Greenway is highlighted as Atlanta Magazine Spotlight as Best New Park in 2014.

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