Northern Connector Study

Policy Committee MeetingAugust 11, 2009

GHMPOGHMPOGainesville-Hall Metropolitan Planning Organization

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Study Process

Data CollectionStakeholder and MPO Meetings

Conducted 3 Stakeholder MeetingsEstablish and Verify NeedIdentify Corridor AlternativesComplete Needs Assessment

Study Area

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Old Study Area

New Study Area

What about Growth?

Between the years 2005 and 2030Estimated population growth up by “155%” to 395,460Estimated employment growth up by “331%” to 280,000

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Source: Hall County Comprehensive Plan Minor Update (2009) and2030 GHMPO Long Range Transportation Plan Update (2007)

What about Growth? (contd.)

Traffic volumes on SR 365 have increased “61%” between 1992 and 2002. Traffic volumes are forecasted to increase “126%” by 2030 on SR 365.

2002 traffic – 32,0572030 traffic – 72,448

Hall County is implementing a plan to extend sewer service along the SR 365 corridor north of Gainesville.

Source: GDOT SR 365 Corridor Study (2009)

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SARDIS RD

CONNECTOR

Traffic Count Locations

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Traffic Counts

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Traffic Counts at Specific Locations in the Study Area

2007 2008 2030 E+C

White Sulphur Rd 4,550 4,440 15,862

SR 365 30,050 28,580 58,828

Lula Rd 5,700 4,410 15,160

Clarks Bridge Rd 8,080 7,880 19,400

Cleveland Hwy 16,120 15,870 26,860

Mt Vernon Rd 7,650 7,460 15,200

Thompson Bridge Rd 19,510 19,210 69,570

Dawsonville Hwy 24,720 24,340 53,100

Jesse Jewel Pkwy 26,020 25,610 57,540

EE Butler Pkwy 32,770 31,950 41,780

Identifying Alternatives

Stakeholder and MPO InputAlignment Alternative Research Tool

Defensible ProcessInclusive ProcessStandardized ProcessReasonable alternatives based on ranking process

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Northern Connector Logical Termini

Western terminus will be at Thompson Bridge Road (Sardis Road Connector)Eastern terminus will be on SR 365

Whitehall RoadWhite Sulphur Road

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Potential Alternatives

AART determined reasonable alignmentsBased on data layer rankings

1A - White Sulphur Road to Thompson Bridge Road2A - White Sulphur Road to Thompson Bridge Road with 250 foot buffer around buildings1B - Whitehall Road to Thompson Bridge Road2B - Whitehall Road to Thompson Bridge Road with a 250 foot buffer around buildings

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Potential Alternatives

1A

2A

1B

2B

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Potential Alternatives Modeled

2A - White Sulphur Road to Thompson Bridge Road with a 250 foot buffer around buildings 2B - Whitehall Road to Thompson Bridge Road with 250 foot buffer around buildings

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Potential Alternatives Modeled

2A

2B

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2007 2008 2030 E+C2030 E+C

Scen APercent Change

2030 E+C Scen B

Percent Change

White Sulphur Rd 4,550 4,440 15,862 18,408 16.05% 14,200 -10.48%SR 365 30,050 28,580 58,828 56,418 -4.10% 50,380 -14.36%Lula Rd 5,700 4,410 15,160 13,558 -10.57% 14,042 -7.37%Clarks Bridge Rd 8,080 7,880 19,400 15,724 -18.95% 12,994 -33.02%Cleveland Hwy 16,120 15,870 26,860 28,400 5.73% 22,808 -15.09%Mt Vernon Rd 7,650 7,460 15,200 10,902 -28.28% 9,580 -36.97%Thompson Bridge Rd 19,510 19,210 69,570 64,722 -6.97% 63,025 -9.41%Dawsonville Hwy 24,720 24,340 53,100 50,656 -4.60% 52,256 -1.59%Jesse Jewel Pkwy 26,020 25,610 57,540 57,858 0.55% 50,006 -13.09%EE Butler Pkwy 32,770 31,950 41,780 33,052 -20.89% 33,642 -19.48%Northern Connector n/a n/a n/a 33,036 n/a 22,324 n/a

Road Name

Traffic Counts at Specific Locations in the Study Area

Traffic Counts

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Potential Alternatives ImpactsPotential Alternative 2A 2B Termini White Sulphur Rd. to

Thompson Bridge Road Whitehall Road to Thompson

Bridge Road Length 7.5 miles 9.2 miles Area of 250’ Corridor 228.27 acres 281.23 acres

Wetlands Acres Impacted Lake 21.49 11.39 Freshwater Emergent 0.94 0.72 Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland 0 0.72 Total Non-Lake 0.94 1.44 Total 22.73 12.83

Rare Species Broadleaf White Spirea (plant) 1 (potential) 1 (potential) Indian Olive (plant) 1 (potential) 1 (potential)

Total 2 (potential) 2 (potential)

Conservation Opportunity Areas Acres Impacted Class 2 (patches greater than 100 hectares and including terrestrial vertebrate species habitat) 0 27.12 Total 0 27.12

Conservation Opportunity Areas Acres Impacted Don Carter State Park 0 0.04 Total 0 0.04

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Potential Alternatives Impacts

Potential Alternative 2A 2B

Flood Zone Acres Impacted In Flood Zone 29.88 25.76 Total 29.88 25.76

Number of Stream Crossings Intermittent 3 5 Perennial 2 3 Other 15 11 Total 20 19

Future Land Use Acres Impacted Suburban Low Density 157.81 145.11 Industrial 9.18 12.52 Institutional/Public 5.59 2.77 Mixed-Use Transitional 6.48 0.99 Retail Commercial 11.84 3.85 Parks/Recreation/Conservation 37.37 29.45 Rural Medium Density 0 86.54 Total 228.27 281.23

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Potential Alternatives ImpactsPotential Alternative 2A 2B

Parcel Land Class Acres Impacted No Code 36.71 32.80 A 22.61 28.93 C (commercial) 0.40 0.28 E 5.69 2.81 R (residential) 99.22 76.77 V (vacant) 56.77 126.87 Total 221.39* 268.46*

Number of Buildings Impacted Building 43 35 Shed 6 6

Total 49 41 Number of Railroad Crossings

Norfolk Southern 1 1 Total 1 1

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Potential Alternatives Impacts Potential Alternative 2A 2B

Number of Road Crossings Autry Road Local 0 1 Bill Minor Road Private 0 1 Buffington Farm Road Local 1 0 Cagle Road Local 1 1 Clarks Bridge Road State 1 1 Cleveland Highway State 1 1 Clubhouse Drive Private 0 1 Cornelia Highway State 1 1 Destitute Way Private 2 1 Forest Cove Road Local 1 0 Hidden Valley Road Local 1 0 Highland Circle Local 0 1 Highland Ridge Run Local 1 0 Highland Road Local 1 1 Hillcrest Drive Private 1 0 Honeysuckle Road Local 0 2 Indian Trail Local 1 0 Jack Wilson Road Private 1 1 Johnathan Way Local 1 0 Laurel Lane Local 1 0 Mount Vernon Road State 1 1 Shirley Road Local 1 1 Simpson Road Local 0 1 Thompson Bridge Road State 1 1 Tradition Drive Local 1 1 Water Lily Drive Local 1 0 Whitehall Road Local 1 0 Wishing Well Terrace Local 1 0 Total 23 18 GHMPO

Alternative Comparisons

Alternative 2030 E+C 2APercent Change 2B

Percent Change

System Vehicle Miles Traveled 8,165,444 8,147,605 -0.22% 8,241,534 0.92%

Jesse Jewel Parkway 197,324 161,746 -18.03% 169,345 -16.52%E.E. Butler 98,858 97,563 -1.31% 97,820 -1.06%White Sulphur Road 76,215 87,572 14.90% 79,924 4.64%Clarks Bridge Road 141,545 136,790 -3.36% 146,832 3.60%Cleveland Highway 319,719 324,149 1.39% 322,745 0.94%Mount Vernon 108,608 105,969 -2.43% 96,983 -11.99%Thompson Bridge 517,813 597,511 15.39% 510,249 -1.48%Dawsonville Highway 353,300 321,733 -8.94% 327,152 -7.99%

Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)

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ConclusionsDespite the fact that alignment 2B is 1.7 miles longer than alignment 2A, the impacts of both alignments are similar. The greatest differences occur in the conservation opportunity areas, future land use and parcel land use categories. Because alignment 2B lies further north and in more rural areas, it lies in 27 acres of potential species of concern habitat. Alignment 2B also impacts nearly 87 acres of future land use designated as rural medium density, while alignment 2A has no impacts in this category. Analysis of the existing parcel land use reveals that alignment 2A impacts more residential parcels while alignment 2B’s main impacts are on vacant parcels.

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Conclusions

Overall VMT is slightly lower under Alternative 2AJesse Jewel Parkway and E.E. Butler VMT is reduced under both 2A and 2BNorthern Connector reduces traffic volumes on key arterialsNorthern Connector improves travel times and mobilityNorthern Connector will be further evaluated during the 2040 LRTP planning process using updated socioeconomic data included in the travel demand model

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Questions and Comments

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