Commitment and Ability to Implement

The TCA CID has a long and established working relationship with Cobb County. In fact, based on TCA RoadMap recommendations, Cobb County is already initiating changes to its Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map. Cobb County will continue to play a role in each and every planning effort the TCA undertakes. Cobb County will be a key participant of the LCI study project team and the steering committee to ensure recommendations from this study are feasible and will be initiated after completion of the study. Attachment D contains a letter from Cobb County demonstrating its full support of this application.

Previous Initiatives

The TCA CID and Cobb County are already actively pursuing several smart growth initiatives. Listed below are specific projects, concepts, and regulations that have been funded, implemented, and/or adopted by the TCA CID. In most cases, these ventures support the best development practices outlined in the RDP. The proposed LCI study will include an analysis of each of these programs/policies and provide recommendations on how to coordinate each of these into the comprehensive plan of action needed to further promote a livable center in the TCA.

The TCA CID has undertaken the following projects to promote a more livable town center:

• Initiated a strategic plan for the entire CID that analyzes transportation, land use, marketing, and implementation.

• Formed a public-private partnership with Cobb County Department of Transportation (CCDOT), Cobb Community Transit (CCT), and CobbRides to provide a free area circulator, a 10-week demonstration project called the Zipper.

• Formed a Transportation Management Association (TMA), CobbRides, to address traffic congestion and air quality issues in the area. Funding of the TMA has been provided in part by the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) grant, ARC’s Commute Connections program, and the Georgia DOT.

• Mobilized the business community to support recommendations and to change commuting behavior.

• Promoted alternative modes of transportation via carpool, vanpool, flex time, and teleworking commuter programs.

• Generated public awareness about transportation issues and alternatives to single-occupancy travel.

• Contracted with UrbanTrans to conduct a comprehensive study of employee and employer commuter attitudes toward transportation in the TCA area. The study was completed in November 2002.

• Expanded the purposes of the CID to include parks and recreational areas and facilities, as well as the planning, development, and improvement of such areas consistent with Cobb County’s coordinated and comprehensive planning.

• Funded the Northwest Corridor Transportation Study in conjunction with the Cumberland CID. The $3.4 million study expands on the transit system for the corridor listed in the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and builds upon other studies performed for the area.

• Funded a $36,000 Pedestrian/Bike Study to develop a comprehensive sidewalk, green area, and bike path plan in 1998.

• Funded the engineering and 20 percent local match for construction of a comprehensive sidewalk program to connect sidewalks where there are gaps, and to provide sidewalks on at least one side of every major artery in the CID area.

• Participated in the local share of Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds to complete a comprehensive sidewalk program from 2000 to 2003, at an estimated cost of $1 million.

• Funded the engineering for the widening of northbound I-75 exit 269 to four lanes with two lanes turning east and the others turning west. The construction of these lanes is currently under way.

• Funded a study and completed an application for signalization and lane alignment on Chastain Road and Ernest Barrett Parkway at $92,000.

• Funded the study and conceptual design of the Noonday Creek Greenspace Path at an estimated cost of $128,000. The estimated cost of implementation is $5 million.

• Funded a study to determine the feasibility of an HOV exit/entrance near exit 271. Future plans for HOV lanes are shown from 1-285 to exit 271 at I-75.

• Promoted alternative modes of transportation via carpool, vanpool, flex time, and teleworking commuter programs.

• Generated public awareness about transportation issues and alternatives to single-occupancy travel.

• Funded a traffic study, concept analysis, and preliminary design for an east/west connector to cross Barrett Lakes Boulevard and 1-75 to relieve congestion on Ernest Barrett Parkway and Chastain Road for $710,000.

• Encouraged the development of Barrett Place, Ridenour, and Shiloh Valley.

• Proactively stimulated the redevelopment of less desirable properties by working with property owners on vacancies.

• Mobilized the business community to support recommendations and to change commuting behavior.

• Funded a study to determine the feasibility of a bus circulator for the TCA area to encourage ridesharing. Circulator would be in partnership with CCT and would operate midday Monday through Friday. The study is complete and in the hands of CCT and the Cobb County Board of Commissioners.