The PPI Process and NBCA's Concerns

Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Public-Private Initiatives (PPI)

GDOT has recently been authorized by the Georgia Legislature to work with private investors and contractors to construct projects financed through tolls in an expedited manner.  GDOT’s role would be minimized and State financing would not be required.  Currently there are 4 such PPIs in various stages of discussion:

• The Georgia   316 project between Lawrenceville and Athens (currently stalled)

• The I -75 / I-575 Northwest Corridor Project.  (this was recently approved)

• The West I-285 TOT (truck-only-toll) project (recently proposed)

• The Georgia 400 Project (currently under increased discussions). 

Details about the PPI and the projects are on the GDOT web page at www.dot.state.ga.us/ppi/.

The Georgia 400 project directly affects our neighborhood and our Board has expressed concerns.  The project potentially extends from I-85 to GA 20 in Cumming, Forsyth County.  The project capital cost has been estimated at $1.4 Billion.  So far the GDOT has only briefed the Board on the Public Participation Process in very general terms.  Because of discussions that the southern terminus may be moved northward to I-285, our concern is that this project will not resolve the traffic problems at the GA 400 – I-85 junction.  The Board believes that increased capacity north of I-285 will only worsen the problem with the poorly designed junction.  Inclusion of the intersection in the PPI is very important to our neighborhood. The second concern is the status of the toll.  Rather than terminating the toll in a few years, the plan talks about maintaining it or even increasing it to 75 cents.

For more information about the GA 400 PPI, see the GDOT page for the "GA 400 Crossroads Region" proposal and the proposal Executive Summary.
 

NBCA's Letter to the GDOT

Updated 6/5
What are NBCA's Specific Concerns?

1. Enlarging the capacity of GA 400 north of I-285 without dealing with the capacity of AG 400 south of I-285 and without completing the I-85 interchange will make today's problems much worse.  In other words, enlarging a pipe that is constricted at the end, doesn't make sense, unless the constriction at the end is also fixed.    

2. The GA 400/I-85 Interchange was never completed. 

• The southbound merge with I-85 frequently causes significant backups all the way to the Buckhead Loop, greatly increasing surface street congestion in Buckhead.
• There is no way to go from southbound GA 400 to northbound I-85 without using surface streets.
• There is no way to go from southbound I-85 to northbound GA 400 without using surface streets.
• There is no way to go from Sidney Marcus Drive to GA 400 to I-85.
• Atlantic Station traffic and all Midtown traffic entering the expressway system north of North Avenue must use Sidney Marcus to reach GA 400 -- the Buford Highway extension doesn't intersect GA 400 as I-85 does.  The northern-most entrance to I-85 that connects to GA 400 is Linden Avenue, near Emory Crawford Long Hospital.

3. Some of the sound fencing through North Buckhead and other neighborhoods along GA 400 is either absent or inadequate.   

4. GA 400 Toll Gates lighting spills into the neighborhood and affects nearby residents.

New 6/5
NBCA Press Release

Link to NBCA's January 2007 Letter on GA 400 PPI