Woodstock Transportation Projects Get ARC Funding

WOODSTOCK, GA — The Atlanta Regional Commission Board last month approved allocating $5.4 million in transportation projects in Woodstock through 2023. One of the key projects backed by the ARC is the proposal to extend the city's Noonday Creek Trail from Highway 92 into Cobb County to connect with Noonday Creek Park and that county's trail network.

The ARC also provided funds to address mobility and congestion along Highway 92 by funding dual left turn lanes on Trickum Road at the Ga. 92 intersection. Interstate 575 won't be left out in the cold, as ARC has contributed money towards study to address congestion and safety issues at the Ridgewalk Parkway and Towne Lake Parkway interchanges.

ARC notes the Noonday Creek Trail would provide an important regional connection and a viable alternative transportation route that would support both bicycles and pedestrians. The 1.8-mile extension, according to the ARC, would close about half of the roughly four-mile gap between the Noonday Creek Trailhead on Highway 92 near Moe's Southwest Grill and the Noonday Creek Bells Ferry Trailhead in Cobb County.

According to ARC documents, the project could cost $3.16 million, with the feds contributing about $2.5 million and the local entity funding $633,668. City Manager Jeff Moon said the ARC will spread its funding over three years. It will fund engineering costs in 2019, right-of-way acquisition in 2021 and utility work and construction in 2022. Woodstock has set aside its match of the project.

Cherokee County is taking the lead with the Trickum Road project and the studies for the two I-575 interchanges. Public Works Director Geoff Morton said the county will receive $3.2 million in federal funds as part of the ARC's plan. That breaks down to:

• Design (fiscal year 2018): $500,000 local (county SPLOST funds)
• Right-of-way acquisition (FY 2020): $1 million from feds and $400,000 local (county SPLOST funds)
• Construction (FY 2022): $2,000,000 in federal funding and $550,000 local (county SPLOST funds)

The project, set to cost $4.6 million, includes the installation of dual left-lanes and receiving lanes on both Trickum Road approaches to S.R. 92 and on the westbound approach of S.R. 92 to Trickum Road. Morton said dedicated right-turn lanes on both approaches of Trickum Road to S.R. 92 will also be included. The project limits on Trickum Road will begin at Sycamore Lane to the south and extend north to Gunnin Road.

Morton told Patch the intersection of Trickum Road at Gunnin Road is also proposed to be realigned with the project and a roundabout planned for that location. Cherokee County is currently advertising for proposals for design consultants for the project and hopes to award the design in September of this year.

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The Towne Lake Parkway interchange improvement study will receive $352,788 in federal funds in the 2018-2023 Atlanta Region TIP, or Transportation Improvement Program. The feds will contribute its share during fiscal year 2018. Cherokee County's share, $88,197, will be funded with local SPLOST dollars.

Morton notes this part is the initial phase of the project to finalize the concept and to determine an accurate project scope, schedule and budget for requesting additional funding for the final design and construction. The preliminary concept calls for the installing dual left-turn lanes from eastbound Towne Lake Parkway to the northbound 575 entrance ramp and widening that ramp. Also included are the widening of the 575 southbound exit ramp to westbound Towne Lake Parkway to include dual right-turn lanes and minor widening of Towne Lake Parkway.

Morton said a free-flow right-turn lane from eastbound Towne Lake Parkway to the southbound 575 entrance ramp and a dedicated right-turn lane from westbound Towne Lake Parkway to the northbound 575 entrance ramp are also proposed. Towne Lake Parkway is also designated to be widened between Woodstock Parkway and Mill Street. The county is advertising for proposals for design consultants for this project and hopes to award the design in September of this year.

The I-575 at Ridgewalk parkway improvements will receive $295,917 in federal funds in the 2018-2023 Atlanta Regions TIP, which will be allocated in fiscal year 2018. The county's share will be $73,980, for a total cost of $369,897. This project will also finalize the concept for improvements to the county's newest interchange.

The preliminary concept calls for the realignment of the existing lanes on the Ridgewalk Parkway bridge over 575 to provide for dual left-turn lanes for westbound Ridgewalk Parkway to the southbound 575 entrance ramp and widening of the entrance ramp. The northbound 575 exit ramp from 575 to Ridgewalk Parkway eastbound would be widened to accommodate dual right-turn lanes and the southbound 575 exit ramp from 575 to Ridgewalk Parkway eastbound would be widened to accommodate dual left-turn lanes. Also included would be a right-turn lane from Ridgewalk Parkway eastbound to the 575 southbound ramp and a right-turn lane from Ridgewalk Parkway westbound to the 575 northbound ramp. The project intent is to improve the operation of the interchange.

Morton said Cherokee County is also advertising for proposals for design consultants for this project and hopes to award the design in September of this year.

ARC developed the project list in close consultation with Cherokee County governments to meet the community’s greatest needs. All projects are scheduled to be under construction by 2023, with funding from federal, state, and local sources. The 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.

“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.”

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.

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