I live off Mt. Vernon Hwy just barely inside the perimeter on Highland Valley Court. We have always heard 285 noise, but it seems like in the last year or so we hear it much more than we used to. Who can I talk to about making the wall taller so there is less noise in and around my home?
It is GDOT policy to consider building sound barrier walls as part of a larger project when they are warranted. GDOT is working on the revive285 top end Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) which will include a detailed noise analysis. This noise analysis will then be used to determine the locations where sound barrier walls are warranted along the corridor or where adjustments to existing sound barrier walls may be necessary.
The DEIS is expected to be complete in the fall of 2012.
Once the draft has been reviewed and commented on by the general public and state and federal agencies, GDOT will begin the Final Environmental Impact Statement and seek approval from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration in early 2013. Design and construction of a project that would include sound barrier walls along that portion of I-285 isn’t expected until after 2013.
A public outreach strategy specific to the issue of sound barrier walls will be developed for revive285 top end. It is anticipated that public outreach for sound barrier walls along the top end of I-285 will occur along with the development of the Final Environmental Impact Statement in early 2013. Feel free to contact the Department if have you questions or desire additional information: http://dot.ga.gov/misc/Pages/ContactUs.aspx.
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Revive285 recently referenced new project work due to "Historic sections/houses”? What does this mean? Where on the I-285 corridor are these places?
Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Historic sections/houses, more commonly referred to as "Historic or Cultural Resources", must meet the following criteria: (1) it must be of national, state, or local significance (A resource is considered significant if it is on or eligible for the National Register Historic Properties; Property that is impacted within a historical or archeological district must either be significant in itself or significant in the overall historical context of the district in order to qualify for NEPA Section 4(f) protection ); (2) if it is not on or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, its project must be considered appropriate by the Federal Highway Administration.
The three areas identified in the I-285 top end corridor are Allen Park in Sandy Springs, Carver Hill Historic District/Happy Valley Historic District located on both sides of I-285 near Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, and the GM Plant.
If the newly discovered historic obstructions had been known earlier in the project, might Alternatives 6a and 6b have been discarded in favor of others?
At this time, the project team is not revisiting any of the discarded alternatives. However, previous alternatives all consisted of some combination of the same components as Alts. 6A and 6B so there would have been similar impacts.
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To help alleviate traffic, could you add more alternate routes to I-285? Say fix/expand Jimmy Carter, Holcomb Bridge, Pleasant Hill, Old Milton, State Bridge, and North Druid Hills to Paces Ferry?
In addition to work on I-285, the alternatives do include measures to reduce traffic at interchanges and ramps within the project corridor. However, the project is limited to the corridor, and several of the roads you mention are outside project scope. That said, there are projects being planned by other entities that involve some of the roads you mention. Learn more about GDOT projects @ http://bit.ly/rmRUKz.
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I hear talk of the revive285 proposed light rail station at Doraville being moved to some new multi-modal station near Norcross? What’s up?
At this time the proposed future station location for the east end point of the transit component (potentially light rail) remains the Doraville MARTA station. However, the nearby GM Plant has been identified as a potential historic site and the project team is looking at ways to avoid impacts to it. This could include moving the station to another location.
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My house is located very near I-285 top-end. Please advise where to obtain the plot/map/plan of the future I-285 expansion.
We have created an interactive mapping tool on the project website that virtually maps, in detail, each of four alternatives currently under consideration to address travel and traffic issues on I-285’s top end. With the mapping tool, you are able to zoom in and out, and should be able to view where the project impact is in relation to your property. Visit the interactive mapping tool at http://www.revive285.com/mappingtool.html.
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What portion of the revive285 project will be put on the TSPLOST list?
The projects involved with revive285 alternatives involve numerous local governments. These individual governments recently submitted 437 projects to be considered for the list. These projects were gathered and refined by the Atlanta Regional Commission and have been sent to the GDOT Director of Planning for the potential unconstrained (no costs) list. The Director will review and refine the list based on regionally adopted criteria. He will present the information to the Regional Transportation Roundtable Executive Committee which will then develop a constrained (with costs) list. Regional government will review this list and share it with the general public via public hearings. Following these hearings, if the Regional Transportation Roundtable approves the projects, it will go to GDOT and then to regional ballots. A final constrained project list should be available by early fall 2011.
My community is located inside I-285 across from Ray's on the River. Since the revive285 project will have a huge impact on the residents, can a speaker come address our residents?
Yes, a project team member would be happy to speak with residents, business owners, etc. that live/work/play along this vital corridor. Submit requests online, or by email at info@revive285.com.
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How about adding bike lanes or trails to help people get out of cars? This issue is both along the I-285 corridor, and for those people who want to cross this man-made barrier. Many people who bike feel that existing I-285 crossings (Ashford-Dunwoody?) are completely unsafe for cycling and/or walking!
The revive285 top end initiative addresses improving the top end of I-285 specifically. Bike and pedestrian improvements are being considered along the corridor where appropriate. Visit the ARC's website for bicycle and pedestrian planning in the Atlanta Region. The link below will direct you to the Atlanta Region Bicycle Transportation and Pedestrian Walkways Plan: http://www.atlantaregional.com/transportation/bicycle--pedestrian.
Visit the Perimeter CID website for biking in the Perimeter area and for information regarding improvements to the Ashford Dunwoody/I-285 interchange. http://www.perimetercid.org/
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I live only a block from the I-285 corridor. How will the noise be addressed?
Noise impact assessments will be completed as part of the environmental process. Areas that will have an increase in noise that exceeds the threshold for impacts will be analyzed for barrier construction or other methods for decreasing noise impacts, such as landscaping/earth berms.
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What is ROW?
Right-of-Way (ROW): An area that usually holds public utilities (both overhead and underground) and acts as a buffer between transportation infrastructure (e.g., road or rail) and private property.
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How can I ensure that noise buffers are erected throughout the revive285 project? I live in a community that backs up to I-285, and there are currently no noise barriers.
It is GDOT policy to consider building sound barrier walls as part of a larger project when they are warranted. The revive285 top end initiative is required to complete a detailed noise analysis, which will then be used to determine the locations where sound barrier walls are warranted along the corridor. The DEIS is expected to be complete in 2012. Once the draft has been reviewed and commented on by the general public and state and federal agencies, GDOT will begin the Final Environmental Impact Statement and seek approval from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. Design and construction of a project that would include sound barrier walls along that portion of I-285 isn’t expected until after 2013.
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I drive Atlanta Rd. to Roswell Rd. on 285 daily. It seems to me that the only true solution is an elevated roadway used as an express path with limited exits plus rapid transit down the middle. Why was this option given no consideration?
All options/configurations of lanes, including double-decking, were investigated based on desirable design criteria and depending on the severity of the associated environmental and property impacts including reduced shoulder widths, reduced lane widths, etc. to minimize impacts. It is the project team’s intent to provide a facility that is the least intrusive to the environmental and adjacent properties, provides a cost effective design and provides much needed congestion relief thru the corridor. Unfortunately, double-decking as a lane configuration did not BEST meet desired design criteria.
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What is the role of a Community Improvement District?
A CID is responsible for a geographically defined district in which commercial/industrial property owners vote to self-tax to fund improvements. Residential/agricultural properties are included in CID boundaries, but not taxed. Revenue generated is used to implement projects and programs to benefit the area. Transportation projects are usually an emphasis.
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What is meant by “reserve future right-of-way?”
One aspect of Alternatives 6A and 6B is “reserve future right-of-way” for transit. This means that GDOT and/or GRTA would acquire the portion of land along the corridor which would be necessary for the construction of a future fixed guideway transit line and stations parallel to I-285.
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What is the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) and its purpose?
The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is a group of leaders from neighborhoods and local organizations which have an interest in or may be affected by the revive285 project. They are regularly invited to project debriefings and are tasked with representing their constituents and communicating what they have learned and discussed to them. The CAC provides an open format for more detailed discussion on a regular basis. CAC debriefings and meeting notes are available for review and archived online in the documents section of the revive285 Web site. The CAC’s opinions and input are valued by the partner agencies, and the committee serves as an advisor to those responsible for making the final project decisions. That said, the CAC itself is not a decision-making body.
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A Marietta Daily Journal opinion piece recently stated that if managed lanes were implemented on I-285 that operational and safety improvements would never be implemented due to financial constraints. Is this true?
No.Financial constraints are a reality for any transportation project, especially one of this magnitude.The reality is managed lanes may be able to be implemented more quickly than other components of an alternative that includes them.It gets down to the funding options that are available for different aspects of that solution.While the project has not yet advanced to the point of determining exactly how any of the proposed solutions would be funded, managed lanes on I-285 may be able to be delivered through a public private partnership, or P3.In October 2011, the managed lanes on I-85 (a P3 project) opened, and a similar effort is underway on I-75 and I-575 right now.Because tolled managed lanes provide an investment opportunity for private developers, there is the potential to utilize a P3 to fund construction and make it feasible to deliver this aspect of a solution sooner than other aspects.But, that doesn’t mean that operational and safety improvements will be ignored, or go unimplemented.
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I recently read an opinion piece in the Marietta Daily Journal claiming the revive285 project might actually make traffic worse if managed lanes are implemented. Is this true?
No.All build alternatives under consideration will improve traffic flow. You can review the projected impact of managed lanes and the other alternatives on I-285 traffic here.It is important to understand that the need and purpose statement for this project, as required by federal regulations,specifically states that any alternative chosen must address the identified criteria: improve mobility options, create safer travel conditions, better manage and improve traffic congestion, and maintain or improve system linkages.Simply put, no alternative will secure approval from the Federal Highway Administration if it doesn’t address these criteria.
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Who is a member of the revive285 Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)?
Many organizations have been invited to participate in CAC, including: East Cobb Civic Assoc., Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods, Ashford Alliance Comm. Assoc., Vinings HOA, Protect Cobb, Inc., Murphy Candler HOA, Main St. Alliance, Cobb County PEDS, Catholic Charities of Atlanta, NAACP-DeKalb Branch, Latin American Association, Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, NAACP-Atlanta Branch, Citizens for Progressive Transit, Dunwoody Homeowners Association, Georgians for Better Transportation, Ashford Alliance Community Association, Clean Air Campaign, Doraville Business Alliance, Inc., Atlanta Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Motor Trucking Association, Georgia Conservancy, Southern Environmental Law Center, and others.
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How can I compare the alternatives’ effects on traffic flow side-by-side?
Why don’t people want the current transit system expanded or have light-rail introduced?
With the revive285 initiative, Alternatives 6A and 6B include environmental clearing and purchase of land for the addition of a fixed-guide-way transit system in the future (Bus Rapid Transit or Light Rail Transit) that would connect to the existing MARTA system. Express Bus service would be implemented in the existing lanes on I-285 in the interim. Check out modeled transit lines and stations on our interactive map.
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What is a diamond lane?
A Diamond Lane is a term used to refer to high-occupancy vehicle lanes in some regions of the U.S. because of the diamond symbol on signing and pavement markings.
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Questions about the Interim Ashford Dunwoody and Roswell Road intersection projects? What is being proposed as part of these projects? Is there no requirement for public hearings? What process is involved to assure pedestrian, bike, and MARTA transit service use of these facilities are improved or -- at minimum -- not negatively impacted?
A Public Information Open House (PIOH) was held for the Roswell Road interim improvement project in January 2010 and a PIOH was held for the Ashford-Dunwoody interim project was held in November 2010. Transit and pedestrian facilities are being considered in the development of these projects.
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Which Alternative has the smallest overall footprint/area of impact?
Alt.1 is equal to making no changes at all to the corridor and will preserve the existing footprint. The next smallest footprint belongs to Alt. 4 which does not add any additional lanes or shoulders. Third is Alt. 6B. One lane is added, but there is no barrier between managed and general lanes. Therefore, no additional shoulders are required. Alt. 6A adds two lanes and shoulders and requires the largest footprint.
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Are there any plans for improvement of the bottleneck on I-285 at Chamblee Dunwoody Rd.?
Operational improvements along I-285 extending as far west as Ashford Dunwoody Road are proposed as part of revive285 top end to improve the flow of traffic from I-285 to I-85. However, some improvements to I-85 North as part of a separate project may be required to totally address the bottleneck. The operational improvements at the Chamblee Dunwoody interchange include: eliminating the weaving on I-285 westbound between Chamblee Dunwoody Road and Ashford Dunwoody Road, building a collector distributor system between Chamblee Dunwoody and Ashford Dunwoody, and improving ramp operations (traffic flow) at I-285 Chamblee Dunwoody eastbound and I-285 New Peachtree Road westbound off ramps. Check out the interactive mapping tool for info on this and other specific interchanges.
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Why doesn’t Georgia just expand MARTA service in the I-285 corridor?
Note that while GDOT is a Georgia state entity, MARTA is not, nor does it receive operations funding from the state. MARTA is funded primarily by a 1% sales tax levied in its service area (Fulton and DeKalb counties and City of Atlanta) and passenger revenue. MARTA is a public authority operated by a board of directors appointed by the city of Atlanta and Fulton and DeKalb counties. Neighboring counties (Cobb, Gwinnett, and Clayton) have chosen not to support MARTA service in their counties, and each is responsible for its own independent transit system. For questions regarding MARTA expansion, please visit http://www.itsmarta.com/planning.aspx.
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Why does GDOT concentrate on more asphalt and do nothing related to mass transit in the I-285 corridor?
Transit improvements are included in the alternatives development. Review the alternatives here.
