December 05, 2007
Traffic is the main concern for many Johns Creek residents, as in many other surrounding communities.
The city is not only taking traffic congestion into consideration but also air quality as a result of the high number of cars on the roadway.
Johns Creek will be applying to the Ga. Department of Transportation (GDOT) for a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant, in an effort to reduce emissions and traffic congestion.
The grant will enable the city to include an adaptive signal timing system along Medlock Bridge Road and State Bridge Road and will allow the installation of a Traffic Control Center.
Johns Creek will have to match 20 percent of the cost, or $175,000, in fiscal years 2009 and 2010.
The $1.4 million dollar grant request will cost the city $50,000 this year for start-up costs, which will require a budget amendment.
"The key ways to take care of or mitigate is through signal timing," said Tom Udell, traffic services manager for Johns Creek.
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With the adaptive signal timing, Udell said the "democratic program" will continually count cars traveling down the road.
"No matter what traffic does…the signal will adapt to heavy traffic," he said. "We have to make sure the signals are up to date. We feel we're pretty well-seeded to implement a program."
Step two of the program, a fully-operational traffic control center, will allow for all traffic information to be examined from the center. Traffic personnel can also reset signals or fix problems from the center within a matter of minutes, said Udell.
"What we're trying to do is cutting edge [in traffic mitigation]," said Udell. "We can let everyone know what's going on within minutes."
He said the city will look to partner with GDOT to expand the system down the state routes, Gwinnett County for example, and eventually would like to expand the system throughout the entire city.
"This at least gets us into the business," said John Kachmar, city manager. "There are public safety side benefits to this. It's a very, very good system."
Kachmar said the system would be beneficial for emergency situations because of the larger area it encompasses.
"The city's trying very hard to work with a problem," said Kachmar. "This doesn't solve all problems, but it's a real, real good start."
The city is expected to apply for the CMAQ grant by Dec. 21. Johns Creek will find out if the grant is approved in January or February, according to Ken Hildebrandt, Public Works director.
"I honestly believe traffic is our number one issue," said Mayor Mike Bodker. "I've been waiting for a project for us like this. I hope we have good luck on this."
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