GDOT Funds Alpharetta's Bicycle Expressway Plan

Alpharetta can begin designing its bicycle expressway planned to parallel GA 400 with the approval of $500,000 in funding from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

Brandon Beach, the Sixth District GDOT board representative, approved the grant funding for the city.

Community Development Director Diana Wheeler had explained to City Council in December 2010 that bikers would be far from the highway, with the trail built within the 120-foot tree-filled buffer that is entirely outside the highway's right of way. At that time council approved a grant application for up to $1 million in GDOT funding.

"I just think anytime we can get people using different modes of transportation, it's a plus," Beach said on May 26, the day Transportation Enhancement funding was announced.

Beach originally wasn't sold on alternate forms of transportation when he was on Alpharetta City Council.

"When we built those sidewalks on Mid Broadwell, I was skeptical," he said.

He didn't think anyone would walk on them. But now they are used by people walking and running.

"And I know our has been such a success. So I think now this bicycle expressway will be a huge success once it's been built," Beach said.

The bicycle expressway will be a nice amenity to have, providing a different mode of transportation and adding to quality of life, giving residents something they'd like to have, he said.

James Drinkard, Alpharetta's assistant city administrator, said the bicycle expressway concept has its origins within the North Point Livable Communities Initiative, which had proposed a bike-pedestrian trail on the west side of GA 400.

"We haven't gone too far into design beyond the very basic concept at this point," he said.

With Diana Wheeler out of the office this week, Drinkard said the city will need to get her group and Engineering Director Pete Sewzwicz's group together so they can nail down some of those concepts and get into the design phase.

"Certainly anytime that we can get assistance and support for any sort of transportation improvement for Alpharetta, that's always a great thing," Drinkard said.

"We are always grateful for GDOT's support of Alpharetta and of North Fulton in general," he said. "We know we have to have alternatives, so it's a good thing."