Plans call for a cross-Hall County connector road.

1. Northern Connector Study
Policy Committee Meeting
August 11, 2009
GHMPO
Gainesville-Hall Metropolitan Planning Organization
GHM PO

2. Study Process
Data Collection
Stakeholder and MPO Meetings
Conducted 3 Stakeholder Meetings
Establish and Verify Need
Identify Corridor Alternatives
Complete Needs Assessment
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3. Study Area
Old Study Area
New Study Area
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4. What about Growth?
Between the years 2005 and 2030
Estimated population growth up by
“155%” to 395,460
Estimated employment growth up by
“331%” to 280,000
Source:
Hall County Comprehensive Plan Minor Update (2009) and
2030 GHMPO Long Range Transportation Plan Update (2007)
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5. 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 – 32,057
2030 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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6. GHM PO
RD
S OR
I T
RD EC
SA NN
CO
Traffic Count
Locations

7. Traffic Counts
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
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8. Identifying Alternatives
Stakeholder and MPO Input
Alignment Alternative Research Tool
Defensible Process
Inclusive Process
Standardized Process
Reasonable alternatives based on ranking
process
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9. Northern Connector
Logical Termini
Western terminus will be at Thompson
Bridge Road (Sardis Road Connector)
Eastern terminus will be on SR 365
Whitehall Road
White Sulphur Road
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10. Potential Alternatives
AART determined reasonable alignments
Based on data layer rankings
1A - White Sulphur Road to Thompson Bridge Road
2A - White Sulphur Road to Thompson Bridge Road
with 250 foot buffer around buildings
1B - Whitehall Road to Thompson Bridge Road
2B - Whitehall Road to Thompson Bridge Road with
a 250 foot buffer around buildings
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11. Potential Alternatives
2B
1B
2A
1A
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12. 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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13. Potential Alternatives Modeled
2B
2A
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14. Traffic Counts
Traffic Counts at Specific Locations in the Study Area
2030 E+C Percent 2030 E+C Percent
Road Name 2007 2008 2030 E+C Scen A Change Scen B 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
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15. Potential Alternatives Impacts
Potential Alternative 2A 2B
Termini White Sulphur Rd. to Whitehall Road to Thompson
Thompson Bridge Road 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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16. 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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17. Potential Alternatives Impacts
Potential 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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18. 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
Total
Local 1
23
0
18
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19. Alternative Comparisons
Percent Percent
Alternative 2030 E+C 2A Change 2B Change
System Vehicle Miles Traveled 8,165,444 8,147,605 -0.22% 8,241,534 0.92%
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
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%
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20. Conclusions
Despite 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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21. Conclusions
Overall VMT is slightly lower under Alternative 2A
Jesse Jewel Parkway and E.E. Butler VMT is
reduced under both 2A and 2B
Northern Connector reduces traffic volumes on key
arterials
Northern Connector improves travel times and
mobility
Northern 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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22. Questions and Comments
GHM PO