The Atlanta Regional Commission, responsible for regional planning in the metropolitan Atlanta area, is asking residents for their input on the quadrennial update to the regional transportation plan (RTP). The public comment period is open until Friday, December 13.
The RTP serves as the long-range planning document for transportation projects in a metropolitan area. In Atlanta’s case, the RTP includes projects across a twenty-county area. Projects must be included within the plan for consideration towards federal transportation funding.
Projects of the highest priority are included in what’s known as the transportation improvement program (TIP). The TIP covers the upcoming six fiscal years whereas the RTP extends over several decades. The current plan update will extend Atlanta’s planning horizon from year 2040 to 2050.
Henry County has thirty-five projects proposed within the RTP that are either partially or wholly located within the county. Twenty-four projects are roadway widening projects while another five projects propose new roadways. In addition, there are two bridge replacement projects, two greenway trail projects, I-75 commercial vehicle lanes (CVL), and one proposed interchange.
Highlights from the proposed projects include widening the following roadways:
- Georgia 20 / 81 in McDonough,
- Georgia 42 between McDonough and Stockbridge, from SR 138 to I-675, and in downtown Locust Grove;
- Georgia 81 between McDonough and Keys Ferry Road in Ola,
- Georgia 138 between Millers Mill Road and GA 155 (long range) in Woodland,
- Georgia 155 between Hampton-Locust Grove Road and GA 42,
- Bill Gardner Parkway between I-75 and GA 155,
- East Atlanta Road between Valley Hill Road and Fairview Road,
- Jonesboro Road between I-75 and US 19 / 41 (long range),
- Rock Quarry Road between Eagle’s Landing Parkway and GA 138,
- Fairview Road between Panola Road and Patillo Road, and
- West Village Parkway between the Clayton County line and Fairview Road.
New roadways include the western parallel connector between Hudson Bridge Road and Jonesboro Road, an eastern segment of the McDonough Parkway connecting GA 20 and GA 81, the Rock Quarry Road extension in Stockbridge, and extending Tanger Blvd over I-75 to connect to Strong Rock Parkway in Locust Grove.
In total, the planned investment into major projects in Henry County over the next three decades, excluding the I-75 CVL project, equals approximately $918.8 million dollars. This includes federal, state, and local funding sources estimated to be allocated towards projects.
Public comments must be received by ARC by Friday, December 13, in order to be considered as part of the official record associated with the plan update. Comments may be addressed to John Orr, manager of the transportation access & mobility group at ARC, and may be submitted via email to opinion [at] atlantaregional [dot] org. More information about how to submit comments and the full plan update are available on the Atlanta Region’s Plan website.
