Roswell Road Improvements, PDR Trail Get Federal Funding

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — The Atlanta Regional Commission Board last month approved $14.9 million in transportation projects around North Fulton County through 2023, two of which will improve pedestrian movements in Sandy Springs.

The ARC has provided funding for improvements on Roswell Road and towards the Peachtree Dunwoody Road multi-use trail in Sandy Springs. The Roswell Road improvements, which runs 2.6 miles from Meadowbrook Drive to Interstate 285, would add and repair sidewalks, provide pedestrian crossing striping where required and improve intersection curb ramps and bus stop pads to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

According to project documents, that project is estimated to cost $7.8 million, with the feds doling out $6.2 million and Sandy Springs pitching in $1.5 million in fiscal year 2019. Broken down, the federal match includes $498,000 towards engineering, $2.56 million towards right-of-way acquisition, $320,000 for utility relocation and $2.86 million for construction. Sandy Springs is set to pay $124,500 for engineering, $640,050 towards right-of-way acquisition, $80,000 in utility relocation and $716,394 towards construction costs.

No cost or funding details have been provided by the ARC for the Peachtree Dunwoody Road trail project, other than it would help fund a portion of the proposed 20-mile Perimeter CID trail from Hammond Drive to Crestline Parkway. The project would include a protected cycle track, sidewalks, crosswalks and pedestrian islands.

City of Sandy Springs spokesperson Sharon Kraun said both projects are in the design phase, and no construction timetable has been set.

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ARC has also pitched in to help the city of Johns Creek improve a segment of Barnwell Road. The ARC approved funding to install dual left turn lanes on Barnwell Road at its intersection with Holcomb Bridge Road. According to documents provided by the ARC, the project is slated to cost $7.3 million. The federal government will provide about $5.8 million in funding while the local match will be around $1.4 million.

In South Fulton, there are also plans to study potential improvements to the intersection of Camp Creek Parkway and Welcome All Road as well as enhancements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure around and connecting to the College Park MARTA station.

ARC developed the project list by working closely with local governments to meet the greatest transportation needs around Fulton County. All projects are scheduled to be under construction or complete by 2023, with funding from federal, state, and local sources.

The Fulton projects are among more than 100 across the region funded as part of an update to the short-term portion of ARC's Regional Transportation Plan, The Atlanta Region's Plan, at a total cost of $400 million. The ARC board approved the update on June 27.

The $400 million project list is part of $7 billion dollars of improvements that are already planned or under construction through 2023. Many of these are large freeway projects, such as Express lanes on I-75 and I-575 in Cobb and Cherokee counties, and a massive rebuild of the I-285/Ga. 400 interchange.

"These projects address some of the most significant local transportation needs and will help people get where they need to go safely and efficiently," said Doug Hooker, ARC executive director. "This will provide more options for many residents and will strengthen our economic competitiveness."

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