Planning Studies

ACTIVE STUDIES: last updated November 16, 2009
Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and Veterans Memorial Highway Livable Centers Initiative
Cobb County Austell Road Access Management Study
Cobb County Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Plan
Cobb Freedom Voucher Program

Regional Studies
Atlanta to Chattanooga High Speed Ground Transportation Study (GDOT HSGT Study)

ACTIVE STUDIES:

Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and Veterans Memorial Highway
Livable Centers Initiative
The City of Atlanta Bureau of Planning and the Cobb County Department of Transportation were awarded a Livable Centers Initiative grant for Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway and Veterans Memorial Highway.
What is the LCI program? The Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) is a program offered by the Atlanta Regional Commission that encourages local jurisdictions to plan and implement strategies that link transportation improvements with land use development strategies to create sustainable, livable communities consistent with regional development policies.
What are the primary goals of the program?
1. Encourage a diversity of mixed-income residential neighborhoods, employment, shopping and recreation choices at the activity center, town center, and corridor level;
2. Provide access to a range of travel modes including transit, roadways, walking and biking to enable access to all uses within the study area;
3. Develop an outreach process that promotes the involvement of all stakeholders
What are the study boundaries? The study area encompasses an area of approximately 4 miles in length and 1/4 mile in width on either side of the corridor. The eastern boundary of study area is Commercial Avenue, just east of the intersection of DL Hollowell and James Jackson Parkway. The western boundary is Buckner Road in Cobb County. Click here to view map of study area. (PDF)
What is the purpose of the study? The City of Atlanta and Cobb County are seeking to balance growth and development within the DL Hollowell Pkwy/ Veterans Memorial Highway corridor. The purpose of the study is to develop strategies to encourage redevelopment of underutilized commercial, some light industrial uses and public housing developments into vibrant mixed use centers; to strengthen existing industrial uses; to provide a variety of opportunities for housing, services, amenities and jobs that are desirable to the existing and growing residential community and existing employers in the area; to improve mobility and accessibility to all modes of transportation within the corridor to people of all ages and income levels; to minimize potential land use conflict with industrial uses and truck traffic.
Who will be conducting the study? The City of Atlanta and Cobb County selected a consultant team lead by Sizemore Group to conduct the planning process. The team consists of:
Sizemore Group - Planning and Urban Design, Huntley Partners Inc - Market Study, Kimley Horn – Transportation, Bowler Engineers - Transportation, PEQ Inc- Public Participation, The Integral Group – Development Strategies
What is the time frame for the study? The planning process will start in September 2009 and conclude by March 2010. Adoption is anticipated by June 2010.
How can someone participate in the planning process? There will be many opportunities to participate in the planning process. PEQ is preparing a Public Involvement Plan. An Advisory Committee will be created to solicit and provide input prior to the community meetings. In addition, there will be several community meetings. The planning process will start with a kick-off meeting, a visual preference survey will be conducted, and a design workshop will also be held. The first and final draft of the plan will be presented at community meetings. Anyone interested in participating in the Advisory Committee or in attending the community meetings, can contact the Bureau of Planning.
Additional Questions? If you would like additional information or have questions, please contact Jessica Lavandier at the COA Bureau of Planning at 404-865-8522 or Laraine Vance at the Cobb County Department of Transportation at 770-528-1650.

Cobb Freedom Voucher Program
The Cobb County Department of Transportation, in partnership with Cobb Senior Services (CSS) and Cobb Community Transit (CCT), has initiated a new transportation program whose focus is to provide Cobb County's senior citizens the ability to access transportation services that are beyond waht is currently available through CCT and CSS. Citizens targeted for the program are seniors age 60 and older who qualify for CCT Paratransit services but live outside of the CCT Paratransit service area and are currently no served by CSS.

Click here for the Cobb Freedom website.

Status: In Progress
Completion Date: On going

Atlanta to Chattanooga High Speed Ground Transportation Study
website: www.atl-chatt.org
GDOT newsletter: Spring 2008

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has contracted with Long Beach, CA-based firm Earth Tech to conduct a 30-month environmental impact and preliminary engineering analysis for the rail line, which would span approximately 110 miles between Atlanta 's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Chattanooga 's Lovell Field. As in the study conducted by ARC, this study will consider maglev technology along with two steel wheel technology alternatives. Funding for the study is provided by a $7.5 million federal grant that requires a local match of approximately 20 percent. Matching funds of approximately $875,000 have been provided respectively by the Cumberland Community Improvement District (CID), a quasi-governmental conglomerate of corporate entities based in the Cumberland/Galleria area of Cobb County , and a coalition of entities lead by the State of Tennessee and the City of Chattanooga .

Sponsoring Agency: Georgia Department of Transportation

Contact Person:
Susan Knudson/ Georgia Department of Transportation, Project Manager
(404) 699-4407
susan.knudson@dot.state.ga.us

Status: In Progress
Completion Date: Spring 2010