The Aerotropolis CIDs Digest 3rd Edition

MAY

2019 | ISSUE 3

THE AEROTROPOLIS CIDS DIGEST The official newsletter of the Aerotropolis Community

AACIDS WINS $350,000 LCI GRANT BREAKING NEWS: The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) today (5/6/19) announced that it has awarded $1.6 million in Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) study grants to help 10 metro Atlanta communities develop plans and polices to create more vibrant, walkable, and connected places.

Once the planning studies are complete, these communities will become eligible to receive federal transportation funding for projects, such as

Other stories you might like: DDI Update Automated Bus Demo The SMART Corridor Transit Feasibility Study

sidewalks, multi-use trails, and intersection improvements, to bring their visions to life.

“The LCI program is an innovative way to help transform communities and improve quality of life across the Atlanta region,” said ARC Executive Director Doug Hooker. “So many of us today want to live and work in dynamic, lively places where you can walk or bike to get your errands done, grab a meal, or visit with friends.

These investments will help foster these kinds of spaces throughout metro Atlanta.”

The Aerotropolis Atlanta Community Improvement Districts was humbled to to receive $350,000 of this grant amount. The Aerotropolis Atlanta CIDs in cooperation with the cities of East Point, Forest Park, Hapeville, South Fulton, Union City, and Clayton County Government will continue the work of the Aerotropolis Greenway Plan by developing concepts within the jurisdictions to implement their “Model Miles”.

Read the Full Press Release

MAY 2019, ISSUE 3

AEROTROPOLIS JOINS THE MARTA TEAM TO APPLY FOR US DOT AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM DEMONSTRATION GRANT The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is leading an effort to potentially bring groundbreaking transportation to Aerotropolis Atlanta. MARTA is partnering with the Atlanta-based Center for Transportation and Environment (CTE), HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA), the AACIDs, New Flyer of America, Inc. (New Flyer), Georgia Power, and others on a U.S. Department of Transportation Automated Driving System (ADS) Demonstration Grant proposal. If awarded, this project would deploy automated 40-foot battery-electric heavy-duty transit buses on public roads in Aerotropolis Atlanta, providing service to employees, travelers, and residents between

READ THE FULL

MARTA’s College Park Station and the Airport’s

PRESS RELEASE

International Terminal.

MAY 2019, ISSUE 3

VIRGINIA AVENUE SMART CORRIDOR SURVEY RESULTS The AACIDs hosted a public meeting for the Virginia Avenue Smart Corridor on March 14, 2019 at the Virginia Crossing Development on Virginia Avenue. The meeting was shared via Facebook Live and a public survey went live on the project website and social media. They survey’s intent was to solicit feedback on how to prioritize the projects based on a set of criteria. We asked respondents to rank them by importance. Overall, we heard from the public that mobility options, safety and environment and public health are the top three criteria, followed by return on investment and stakeholder input. The weighting below will be used during the prioritization process to rank recommended projects. Our 2nd public meeting will be held in August of this year.

Visit the Smart Corridor Website

AEROTROPOLIS COMPLETES THE TRANSIT FEASIBILITY STUDY The AACIDs recently completed the Transit Feasibility Study. They partnered with VHB and Nelson Nygaard to take a deeper look at transportation needs around Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It recognizes the hard work of other counties and cities by incorporating already identified solutions and builds upon them to create a transit ecosystem filling the gaps in Aerotropolis.

Special thanks to all of the city and stakeholders, MARTA, Atlanta Regional Commission, The Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority for your valuable input in the process. We are already gearing up to start the implementation. Be on the lookout for more updates to come.

Click Here For More Information

MAY 2019, ISSUE 3

DDI UPDATE The Georgia Department of Transportation is on schedule to complete the interchange project by the end of 2019. A lot of progress has been made thus far including the north side of the bridge expansion and utilities. Over the next month, motorists can expect to see the following improvements: Traffic will shift towards the north side of the bridge to allow workers to start on the south side bridge expansion.

Travel lane widths will be reduced slightly (please watch out beside you) Travel lanes will increase across the bridge, 4 thru lanes and 2 left turn lanes to access the interstate.

Please remember to drive safely and watch out for works in the road.

PHOENIX BOULEVARD IMPROVEMENTS The AACIDs wants to give a HUGE thank you to College Park and Clayton County for repaving Phoenix Boulevard from West Fayetteville Road to Riverdale Road. The new asphalt makes an enormous difference to the wear and tear on vehicles, but the look and feel of this beautiful office park corridor. We are also excited to announce that the AACIDs, College Park and Clayton County are partnering to install a new sidewalk along West Fayetteville Road and a portion of Phoenix Boulevard and installing a new bus shelter. This bus stop location sees some of the highest ridership of the bus route and is in dire need of shelter for MARTA patrons.

We expect these improvements to be completed by mid-summer.

MAY 2019, ISSUE 3

AEROTROPOLIS BEGINS TURF PROGRAM The AACIDs partners with Russell Landscape Group to provide on-going landscape maintenance and new landscape installation. We’ve been hard at work over the past couple of years trying to beautify the area. In Fall 2018, we began a new turf program on Camp Creek between North Commerce Drive and Centre Parkway to test a treatment to reduce weeds to promote healthy grass growth. The results have been incredible, transforming the area from predominately weeds to grass. The AACIDs are expanding this program along Camp Creek from US 29 (Roosevelt Hwy) in College Park, through East Point to Enon Road in South Fulton.

You can expect to see some browning and bare spots in the process, but this time next year, expect to amazing changes to the medians.

AEROTROPOLIS KICKS OFF FREIGHT CLUSTER PLAN The Aerotropolis Atlanta Freight Cluster Plan (FCP) formally held its kick off Thursday, April 18, 2019 with a Steering Committee meeting and bus tour. The Steering Committee met at the Aerotropolis headquarters for a briefing and background and then toured the Aerotropolis area, focusing on freight corridors and activity.

The FCP study is being led by Aerotropolis Atlanta Community Improvement Districts (AACIDs) and partners, including the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), the Aerotropolis Alliance, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Fulton and Clayton Counties, and the cities of Hapeville, East Point, College Park, South Fulton and Forest Park. The study will examine the existing and projected future conditions of freight movement around the airport and recommend improvements that will aid in the continued movement of cargo in and through the airport area. The FCP area was estimated to be $313 billion more than five years ago and has seen double-digit expansion since the last study was done. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

ARC FREIGHT ADVISORY TASK

Date:

Monday, May 20, 2019

Time:

8:30 – 10:00 AM [8:00-8:30 Arrival/Networking; 8:30-10:00 Mtg.]

Location: ARC Harry West Conference Center 229 Peachtree Street NE Peachtree Center International Tower Suite 100 Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Advance Atlanta VIP Reception

State of Fulton

State of Fulton

Clayton County HOA Meet & Greet Brunch

Celebrating the City of East Point

Photo by Desitaa Lipscomb

Photo by Desitaa Lipscomb

Photo by Desitaa Lipscomb