Gwinnett to Study Transportation Alternatives

About $1.1 million will be spent over 18 months studying transportation alternatives and opportunities in the I-85 corridor from I-285 to the Gwinnett Center in Duluth.

Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash said the study would include public hearings with advisory committees on policies, technical issues and community concerns. “Gwinnett’s population has increased so much over the last few decades,” Nash said in the announcement. “Today’s commuters need more transportation options.” The Gwinnett County Commission recently approved funds for the study.

Atkins North America Inc. was commissioned to spearhead the study in collaboration with the Gwinnett Place and Gwinnett Village Community Improvement Districts as well as the Federal Transit Administration, according to an announcement by Gwinnett County, Fifty percent of the funding will come from the 2009 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and 50 percent from a Federal Transit Administration grant.

“We’re pleased to collaborate with the county, regional and federal transportation officials to pursue this much-needed transit alternative analysis and are committed to improving access throughout the greater Gwinnett Place area,” said Gwinnett Place CID Chairman Leo Wiener in the announcement.

“This project has been a major priority for businesses in the CID for the past several years," said Chuck Warbington, executive director of the Gwinnett Village CID," in the announcement. "We can improve the southern core of Gwinnett by increasing transportation options and providing a significant economic development boost.” 

Officials said the study will compare no-build, baseline/transportation system management, express bus, bus rapid transit, light rail and commuter rail options and look at their respective effects on traffic, travel patterns, the environment and land use. It will include estimates of capital and maintenance costs for each option as well as proposed operation plans, ridership forecasts, cost-effectiveness analysis, and an overall evaluation of options.