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The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), in partnership with the Chatham Urban Transportation Study, the eight municipalities within Chatham County, and various stakeholders, is conducting a study of the existing Interstate transportation network for Chatham County and developing a list of proposed improvements to this system. This study will consider congestion, the impact of development, truck and freight traffic, port access, and the impacts any proposed alternatives will have on the historic, community, and natural resources in Chatham County.
Where is the Study Area?The study area for this project is completely contained within Chatham County on the southeast coast of Georgia. The study will be limited to the areas in the county near the existing interstate facilities and will not include the coastal areas in the eastern edge of the county. A map of the study area is provided below.
Study Area Map Why is this study needed?Growth in Chatham County and the increase in freight volumes passing through Georgia ports are placing ever more strain on the existing interstate system. Travel up and down the I-95 corridor is experiencing strains from growth all along the east coast. Chatham County is the next to the last southern transfer hub between east-west and north-south interstate routes. The relatively uncongested status of I-16 is expected to draw ever-increasing traffic volumes trying to avoid the delays along I-95 and I-10.
Current ActivitiesThe two primary activities currently being undertaken by the project team are data collection and development of base year and future year traffic projections. The data being collected for this effort not only includes traffic data such as traffic counts, percentage of truck traffic, and turn movements, but also physical characteristics of the interstate system such as the number of lanes, an inventory of existing bridges, and the surface quality of the roadways. Other data being collected includes environmental and land use data that will be used later in the study to assess the impacts of potential improvements that are considered to the interstate network as a result of this study. The ongoing traffic projection activities will primarily entail examining the travel forecasting modeling tool used by GDOT to determine future traffic levels on the roadway network and identifying needed model refinements based on recent development trends.
Next StepsCollectively, the data collection and traffic forecasting efforts will be evaluated to develop an overall list of current and future needs for the interstate system. Upon completion of the needs assessment, GDOT will hold a public meeting to gather input into verifying and prioritizing the severity of these needs, as well as to provide further briefing on the progress of the study.
Study PartnersThe study will be a cooperative effort between GDOT, Chatham Urban Transportation Study, Chatham County, the City of Savannah, the Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority, and the Georgia Ports Authority. All of these stakeholders will be involved in the process through a series of meetings on technical and policy issues, as well as outreach to the general public.
Project ScheduleThe project will last from approximately January, 2006 to November, 2007. This 23-month time period will see the work performed as a series of specific tasks that build on the previous work accomplished. Data collection and documentation will be ongoing throughout the process whereas the development and evaluation of specific transportation alternatives will be performed between June 2006 and June 2007.
How will people be involved?There will be various ways in which people can stay involved with the Chatham County Interstate Needs Analysis and Prioritization Plan. There will be public meetings throughout the study at key milestones, as well as the formation of an advisory committee that will provide ongoing guidance to the study team. The project web page will be placed on the GDOT website detailing the upcoming meetings and milestones. Stay tuned for further information on this and other outreach activities. If you would like get on the project mailing list, please contact any of the names below.
Who can I contact with suggestions and questions?Radney Simpson PEQ, INC. Grady Smith
Updated April 13, 2006. 15:19 © 2003-2007 Georgia Department of Transportation |
