I-285 Strategic Implementation Plan
Background
The Georgia Department of Transportation is developing a Strategic Implementation Plan for I-285, metropolitan Atlanta’s heavily traveled perimeter highway. I-285 has been widened twice since its completion in 1969, initially to eight lanes in 1989 and later to ten lanes along its northern quadrant in 1996, as a result of intense development along the corridor. The Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Mobility 2030 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) has identified several new capital improvements for I-285, including the addition of HOV lanes and the reconstruction of several existing interchanges. While these large scale improvements will require extensive engineering, intense public outreach, and significant right-of-way and construction costs, their independent and combined future impact on the operation of I-285 is unknown. The Department has thus undertaken this strategic planning project to fulfill its mission to maintain the safe and efficient operation of this corridor. As part of the analysis, simulation tools are being developed and utilized to interface the urban transportation model with detailed characteristics of the operation of I-285 and its connecting freeways and arterial roadways. The result of this effort will be a Strategic Implementation Plan for I-285 that both refines the recommendations from ARC’s RTP and identifies a variety of projects to ensure I-285’s safe and efficient operation in the future.
Project Work Scope and Schedule
The I-285 Strategic Implementation Plan began in late October, 2004. First year tasks included the review of other large scale simulation projects and the development of a transportation model to holistically simulate traffic conditions on I-285. Second year efforts are focused on developing several improvement scenarios and using the transportation model to test these scenarios. The final product, anticipated in December, 2006, will be a Strategic Implementation Plan designed to meet the goals and objectives necessary to ensure the safe and efficient operation of I-285.
What’s Happening Now?
The Department and consultant team completed the development and calibration of the micro-simulation model designed specifically for this study. Several initial concepts have been developed for evaluation using the new transportation model. The initial concepts are focused on operational improvements on I-285 including the addition of ATMS, collector and distributor roads along with interchange modifications, and the construction of new interchanges. Other concepts will be tested to provide improvement to the overall transportation system including High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV), truck only lanes and bus rapid transit (BRT). The process of evaluating the concepts will involve applying various design options to each simulation looking for viable improvement alternatives. The study’s Stakeholder Advisory Group met in October 2005, May 2006, and September 2006 to provide input and policy guidance to facilitate the analysis effort. The first round of Public Information Meetings will be conducted during October, 2006. Results from this study will serve as valuable input into the Department’s Revive I-285 study which is focused on the further development of improvement alternatives for the northern section of I-285 between I-75 and I-85.
Review of Data
Click on the data button below to review some of the data that has been assembled for this study.
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Thursday, October 5, 2006 Cobb Galleria Centre 4PM to 7PM Two Galleria Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339 |
Tuesday, October 10, 2006 Chamblee Civic Center 4PM to 7PM 3540 Broad Street Chamblee, GA 30341 |
Tuesday, October 17, 2006 Ramada Inn Atlanta Airport 4PM to 7PM 1551 Phoenix Boulevard College Park 30349 |
Telephone: (404) 656-5360
E-mail: Daryl.Cranford@dot.state.ga.us
1 November 2006