GDOT proposes change to North Peachtree Road on 285 Express Lane plans that are not in the best interest of Dunwoody or Chamblee Citizens @GDOTATL

Intergovernmental agreement between GDOT & Dunwoody for Express Lanes

Monday Night the Dunwoody City Council Meeting was filled with heavy / controversial conversations regarding Flock License Plate Readers, City Charter Changes, including an item on taxation, Google Fiber infrastructure construction, Rooftop Solar on city buildings, Homecoming Park development plans, sidewalk construction, and then towards the very end of the evening was a discussion on an "Agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation for Top End 285 East Express Lanes Enhancements". 

We the City and your elected representatives have been worried about the negative impacts that the Top End 285 Express Lanes will have on our city therefore we have been heavily involved from day one, studied various proposals, made suggestions and met with GDOT representatives in person in order to stress what we believe would be best for our community.

Six years ago, Mayor Deutsch and I wrote separate suggestions to GDOT regarding the project, requesting turn around lanes at both North Peachtree & Chamblee Dunwoody.   Then two years later in 2022, Public Works Director Michael Smith, Councilman Tom Lambert and myself met with the GDOT management team that is overseeing the Top End I-285 Express Lane project, they answered our questions during our conversation and then they followed up with a detailed reply.   In the letter from Mr. Tim Matthews, the Express Lane Administrator for GDOT, copying Mr. Kevin Abel, State Transportation Board Vice Chairman and Mr. Russell McMurry, GDOT Commissioner, the GDOT letter stated that the current project scope includes a return access lane from Savoy to Cotillion at North Peachtree Road.

Buried in the 134 page IGA document we discussed on Monday, on page 91 were three statements from GDOT that the City of Dunwoody is suppose to agree to in order to get specific concessions or "enhancements" as part of the express lane project.  In case you are not aware, as part of the express lane project there is also a State plan to one way both Cotillion (west bound) and Savoy (east bound) as both streets are State Maintained (outside Dunwoody & Chamblee's control) to improve traffic efficiency.  Changing the streets to one way will completely change the dynamics of traffic flow forcing everyone to go to one side or the other depending on direction, increasing traffic and therefore putting a big strain on the intersections operational through put.   We thought we had infrastructure improvements where needed but it appears that the GDOT has changed their mind.

The photo at the top of this post clearly shows GDOT will be building us a 10 foot wide trail along Cotillion.  They will also be building shared paths meeting Federal AASHTO standards (10 foot wide) under 285 at both North Peachtree & North Shallowford.   Unfortunately in order to get these trail perks we have to be willing to forgo the dedicated vehicle return access lane between Savoy & Cotillion.    This is not Dunwoody's best interest in my opinion because without that lane the current infrastructure will not be able to handle the additional traffic.  We need GDOT to stick with the original plans even if other "enhancements" are deleted.

Inside 285 along Savoy, the City of Chamblee has plans for large scale mixed use that could add 100's of apartments, office and retail spaces on what is now vacant and under utilized land.   Here is a link to the planned express lanes which details the local improvements and with close examination you can see that the express lane plans look to have both entrance and exit ramps along Cotillion and Savoy which will add numerous vehicles to the crowded streets as drivers from near and far will be using these entrances and exits.   Not having a dedicated vehicle return lane from Savoy to Cotillion at North Peachtree is very short sighted and if not returned it will negatively both the cities of Dunwoody & Chamblee.

The Chamblee Dunwoody Bridge over 285 is going to replaced as part of the express lane project, it will be widened, improved for pedestrians and will include a dedicated return access lane for vehicles to travel from Cotillion to Savoy without stopping.   Looking at the photo below you can see Cotillion and the top going Westbound and there is a return lane on the far right side returning to Savoy, this is still in the current plan.

Unfortunately the latest proposed IGA deletes the plans for a dedicated vehicle return lane at North Peachtree in order to replace that needed traffic lane with a 10 foot pedestrian trail.   I would much rather have the originally proposed vehicle return lane at North Peachtree with a small sidewalk and allow the larger path elsewhere.  Looking below you can see the return lane on North Peachtree (left side of street) taking cars from Westbound Savoy to Eastbound Cotillion.

Not having a dedicated vehicle return lane from Savoy to Cotillion at North Peachtree is very short sighted as the lights and stacking are barely adequate today and if the dedicated turn lane is not returned I believe it will negatively impact both the cities of Dunwoody & Chamblee because of the one way reconfiguration and higher vehicle traffic numbers.