Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Parsons Brinckerhoff

November 2014

Draft Report Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... I 1 INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW ...... 1-1 2 DEMOGRAPHICS – HISTORICAL & FORECAST ...... 2-1 2.1 Historic Population Growth ...... 2-2 2.1.1 Historical Population Growth Comparison ...... 2-3 2.1.2 Post-Recession Growth ...... 2-4 2.1.3 Summary of Historical Population Growth ...... 2-4 2.2 Current Demographic Statistics ...... 2-5 2.2.1 Population Density and Distribution ...... 2-5 2.2.2 Age ...... 2-6 2.2.3 Average Household Size ...... 2-8 2.3 Environmental Justice Populations ...... 2-8 2.3.1 Race ...... 2-9 2.3.2 Household Income ...... 2-11 2.3.3 Poverty Status ...... 2-12 2.3.4 Environmental Justice Maps ...... 2-15 2.4 Future Population Projections ...... 2-18 2.4.1 Population ...... 2-18 2.4.2 Number of Households ...... 2-20 2.4.3 Average Household Size ...... 2-22 2.4.4 Summary of Forecasted Population Growth ...... 2-24 2.5 Employment Data ...... 2-24 2.5.1 Existing Employment Base ...... 2-25 2.5.2 Future Employment Projections ...... 2-28 2.5.3 Summary of Forecasted Employment Growth ...... 2-36 2.6 Urban Versus Rural ...... 2-37 3 EXISTING CONDITIONS ...... 3-1 3.1 Land Use and Development ...... 3-1 3.1.1 Existing Land Use Characteristics ...... 3-1 3.1.2 Future Land Use Characteristics ...... 3-6

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3.1.3 Community Resources ...... 3-6 3.1.4 Developments of Regional Impact ...... 3-11 3.2 Previous Planning Studies and Programs ...... 3-12 3.2.1 ARC FY2014-2019 Regional Transportation Improvement Program ...... 3-13 3.2.2 ARC Plan2040 Regional Transportation Plan...... 3-15 3.2.3 ARC Strategic Regional Thoroughfare Plan ...... 3-20 3.2.4 Cherokee County Comprehensive Plan ...... 3-21 3.2.5 Municipal Comprehensive Plans ...... 3-24 3.2.6 Large-Scale Development Plans ...... 3-26 3.2.7 LCIs ...... 3-32 3.2.8 SPLOST Projects ...... 3-37 3.3 Public Transportation ...... 3-38 3.3.1 CATS Local Transit Services ...... 3-39 3.3.2 GRTA Regional Services ...... 3-41 3.3.3 Cherokee County Senior Services ...... 3-42 3.3.4 Commuter Rail ...... 3-43 3.4 Commuter Patterns and Transportation Options ...... 3-43 3.4.1 Work & Home Locations ...... 3-43 3.4.2 Commute Statistics ...... 3-46 3.5 Freight Movement ...... 3-47 3.5.1 Freight Rail Facilities ...... 3-48 3.5.2 Over-the-Road Freight Facilities ...... 3-48 3.5.3 Georgia Statewide Freight & Logistics Plan 2010-2050 ...... 3-49 3.5.4 ARC Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan ...... 3-50 3.5.5 ARC ASTRoMaP ...... 3-50 3.6 Rail Crossings ...... 3-51 3.6.1 Rail Accident Prediction ...... 3-52 3.7 Airport Facilities ...... 3-53 3.8 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities ...... 3-55 3.8.1 Existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Network ...... 3-56 3.8.2 Existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans ...... 3-56 3.8.3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Crash Data ...... 3-59

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3.8.4 Existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Studies ...... 3-62 3.9 Bridges ...... 3-64 3.9.1 Inventory of Existing Bridges ...... 3-65 3.9.2 East-West Mobility & I-575 Bridges ...... 3-70 3.10 Safety ...... 3-70 3.10.1 Active Crash Road Segments ...... 3-70 3.10.2 Active Crash Intersections ...... 3-72 3.11 Roadway Characteristics ...... 3-74 3.11.1 Functional Classification ...... 3-74 3.11.2 Lanes ...... 3-77 3.11.3 Surface Type ...... 3-78

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TABLE OF TABLES

Table 2.1 General Demographic Characteristics of Cherokee County ...... 2-1 Table 2.2 Historical Population of Cherokee County (1980-2010) ...... 2-2 Table 2.3 Comparison of Historical Population Growth Rates (1980-2010) ...... 2-3 Table 2.4 Comparison of Recent Population Growth Rates (2010-2012) ...... 2-4 Table 2.5 Comparison of Population Density ...... 2-5 Table 2.6 Comparison of Age Distribution ...... 2-7 Table 2.7 Cherokee County Race Statistics ...... 2-9 Table 2.8 Cherokee County Hispanic Population ...... 2-10 Table 2.9 Cherokee County Asian Population ...... 2-11 Table 2.10 Cherokee County Household Income ...... 2-12 Table 2.11 US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines...... 2-13 Table 2.12 Cherokee County Poverty Status by Age Group ...... 2-13 Table 2.13 Comparison of Poverty Status by Age Group ...... 2-15 Table 2.14 Cherokee County Projected Population Change (2010-2040) ...... 2-18 Table 2.15 Comparison of Projected Population Change (2010-2040) ...... 2-20 Table 2.16 Cherokee County Projected Change in Households (2010-2040) ...... 2-21 Table 2.17 Comparison of Projected Change in Households (2010-2040) ...... 2-22 Table 2.18 Cherokee County Projected Change in Average Household Size (2010-2040) .....2-23 Table 2.19 Comparison of Projected Change in Average Household Size (2010-2040) ...... 2-23 Table 2.20 Comparison of Employment Status (2013 Annual Average) ...... 2-25 Table 2.21 Comparison of Employment by Industry (Q1 2014) ...... 2-26 Table 2.22 Comparison of Employment by Employer Type ...... 2-27 Table 2.23 Major Employment Sites in Cherokee County ...... 2-27 Table 2.24 Cherokee County Projected Change in Employment (2010-2040) ...... 2-29 Table 2.25 Comparison of Projected Change in Employment (2010-2040) ...... 2-30 Table 2.26 Cherokee County Projected Change in High Paying Jobs (2010-2040) ...... 2-31 Table 2.27 Comparison of Change in High Paying Jobs (2010-2040) ...... 2-32 Table 2.28 Cherokee County Projected Change in Low Paying Jobs (2010-2040) ...... 2-33 Table 2.29 Comparison of Change in Low Paying Jobs (2010-2040) ...... 2-34 Table 2.30 Cherokee County Projected Change in High-to-Low Paying Jobs Ratio (2010-2040) ...... 2-35 Table 2.31 Comparison of Projected Change in High-to-Low Paying Jobs (2010-2040) ...... 2-36 Table 3.1 Location of Public Schools in Cherokee County ...... 3-8 Table 3.2 Cherokee County Landmarks Listed in the National Register of Historic Places ...3-10 Table 3.3 State Historical Sites in Cherokee County ...... 3-10 Table 3.4 Recent Development of Regional Impact Studies ...... 3-11 Table 3.5 Cherokee County Projects in the FY2014-2019 TIP ...... 3-14 Table 3.6 Summary of TIP Project Sponsors ...... 3-15 Table 3.7 Cherokee County Projects in the RTP ...... 3-16 Table 3.8 Summary of RTP Project Types ...... 3-19 Table 3.9 Summary of RTP Project Sponsors ...... 3-19

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Table 3.10 Cherokee County Regional Thoroughfare Network (RTN) Facilities ...... 3-20 Table 3.11 GRTA Routes Serving Cherokee County ...... 3-41 Table 3.12 Cherokee County Residents – Workplace Locations ...... 3-44 Table 3.13 Cherokee County Workforce – County of Residence ...... 3-44 Table 3.14 Comparison of Means to Work for Residents ...... 3-46 Table 3.15 Comparison of Commute Time Distribution for Residents ...... 3-47 Table 3.16 Comparison of Average Commute Time for Residents ...... 3-47 Table 3.17 Cherokee County At-Grade Rail Crossings with Highest ADT ...... 3-52 Table 3.18 FRA Web Based Accident Prediction System – Top Ranking Predicted Collision Locations in Cherokee County ...... 3-53 Table 3.19 Summary of Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes in Cherokee County (2011 – 2013) ..3-59 Table 3.20 Cherokee County Bicycle Improvement Projects Listed in the 2007 BikePed Plan ...... 3-64 Table 3.21 Cherokee County Bridge Inventory ...... 3-65 Table 3.22 Existing Bridge Improvement Projects in Cherokee County ...... 3-68 Table 3.23 Active Crash Intersections – Cherokee County ...... 3-72 Table 3.24 Summary of Functional Classification of Roadways in Cherokee County ...... 3-75 Table 3.25 Existing Mileage and Vehicle Miles Traveled (Paved Road) ...... 3-75

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TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1 Graph of Historical Population Growth for Cherokee County (1980-2010) ...... 2-3 Figure 2.2 Graphical Comparison of Historical Population Growth Rates (1980-2010) ...... 2-4 Figure 2.3 Population Density of Cherokee County ...... 2-6 Figure 2.4 Geographic Distribution of Seniors in Cherokee County ...... 2-8 Figure 2.5 Cherokee County Minority Population Distribution ...... 2-10 Figure 2.6 Cherokee County Poverty Distribution ...... 2-14 Figure 2.7 Cherokee County Poverty-Minority Distribution ...... 2-16 Figure 2.8 Cherokee County Environmental Justice Areas ...... 2-17 Figure 2.9 Cherokee County Population Projections (2010-2040) ...... 2-19 Figure 2.10 Comparison of Projected Population Growth Rates (2010-2040) ...... 2-20 Figure 2.11 Cherokee County Projected Growth in Households (2010-2040) ...... 2-21 Figure 2.12 Comparison of Projected Household Growth Rates (2010-2040) ...... 2-22 Figure 2.13 Cherokee County Projected Decline in Average Household Size ...... 2-23 Figure 2.14 Comparison of Projected Change in Average Household Size Growth Rates (2010- 2040) ...... 2-24 Figure 2.15 Cherokee County Projected Employment Growth (2010-2040) ...... 2-29 Figure 2.16 Projected Change in Employment Growth Rate (2010-2040) ...... 2-30 Figure 2.17 Cherokee County Projected Growth in High Paying Jobs (2010-2040) ...... 2-31 Figure 2.18 Comparison of Projected Change in High Paying Jobs Growth Rates (2010-2040) ...... 2-32 Figure 2.19 Cherokee County Projected Growth in Low Paying Jobs (2010-2040) ...... 2-33 Figure 2.20 Comparison of Low Paying Jobs Growth Rate (2010-2040) ...... 2-34 Figure 2.21 Cherokee County Projected Growth in High-to-Low Paying Jobs Ratio (2010-2040) ...... 2-35 Figure 2.22 Comparison of Projected Rate of Change in High-to-Low Paying Jobs (2010-2040) ...... 2-36 Figure 3.1 Cherokee County Land Use Map ...... 3-3 Figure 3.2 Cherokee County in the ARC Unified Growth Policy Map ...... 3-5 Figure 3.3 Cherokee County Future Development Map ...... 3-6 Figure 3.4 Cherokee County Community Resources Map ...... 3-7 Figure 3.5 Regional Thoroughfare Network Map ...... 3-21 Figure 3.6 Comprehensive Plan Future Development Map ...... 3-23 Figure 3.7 Technology Ridge Opportunity Zone Map ...... 3-28 Figure 3.8 SR-92 Opportunity Zone Map ...... 3-28 Figure 3.9 Technology Ridge Development Map ...... 3-29 Figure 3.10 The Bluffs at Technology Park Development Map ...... 3-30 Figure 3.11 Oak Grove Development Map ...... 3-31 Figure 3.12 Cherokee County LCI Sites ...... 3-32 Figure 3.13 Canton River Mill District Map ...... 3-34 Figure 3.14 Holly Springs Town Center Map ...... 3-35 Figure 3.15 Woodstock Town Center Map ...... 3-37

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Figure 3.16 Cherokee County Public Transit Services Map ...... 3-40 Figure 3.17 Cherokee County GRTA Route Ridership (FY 2014) ...... 3-42 Figure 3.18 Cherokee County Commuter Flows ...... 3-45 Figure 3.19 Freight Transportation Facilities in Cherokee County ...... 3-49 Figure 3.20 Cherokee County Airport Facilities Map ...... 3-54 Figure 3.21 Airport Area Master Plan Development Map ...... 3-55 Figure 3.22 Holly Springs Multi-Use Trail Master Plan Map ...... 3-57 Figure 3.23 Woodstock Greenprints Trail Plan Connectivity Priority Map ...... 3-58 Figure 3.24 Cherokee County Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes (2011 – 2013) ...... 3-61 Figure 3.25 ARC Strategic Bicycle Corridors ...... 3-63 Figure 3.26 Cherokee County Bridges for Potential Maintenance or Rehabilitation ...... 3-69 Figure 3.27 Cherokee County Existing Interstate Crossings over I-575 ...... 3-70 Figure 3.28 Cherokee County Roadway Crash Density ...... 3-71 Figure 3.29 Cherokee County Roadway Functional Classification ...... 3-76 Figure 3.30 Cherokee County Roadway Number of Lanes ...... 3-77 Figure 3.31 Cherokee County Roadway Pavement Status ...... 3-79

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Executive Summary

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

1 INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW Body text

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2 DEMOGRAPHICS – HISTORICAL & FORECAST In order to provide an overview of the area in which future transportation improvements will be recommended, this chapter presents historical, current and future projections data related to the demographic and employment characteristics of Cherokee County. A variety of factors influences the demand and need for transportation services within a given area. Using the 2008-2012 American Community Survey (ACS) Five-Year Estimate dataset published by the US Census Bureau, the most recent data available, Table 2.1 presents a brief summary of key demographic variables that potentially impact the mobility of residents and workers in the County.

Table 2.1 General Demographic Characteristics of Cherokee County

2008-2012 ACS Demographic Five-Year Estimate

Total Population 215,014

Median Age 36.4

Average Household Size 2.83

Total Population in Occupied Housing Units 213,838 (99.5%)

Occupied Housing Units 75,937 (92.2%)

Owner-Occupied Housing Units 60,644 (79.9%)

Renter-Occupied Housing Units 15,293 (20.1%)

Percentage of Family Households 76.7%

Percentage of Nonfamily Households 23.3% Percent High School Graduate or Higher (Age 88.9% 25+) In Labor Force (Age 16+) 114,489 (70.6%)

Unemployment Rate 7.5%

Median Household Income $67,928

Poverty Rate 8.4%

Total Disabled Population (Age 5+) 18,632 (9.3%) Percent of Workers (Age 16+) with No Car 1.7% Available Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

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The demographics section is organized as follows:

 Historic Population Growth;  Current Demographic Statistics;  Environmental Justice Populations;  Future Population Projections;  Existing Employment Base; and  Future Employment Projections.

2.1 Historic Population Growth In order to understand the County’s anticipated growth trajectory, historical population data for Cherokee County was retrieved from the US Census DP-1 table for the years 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010. The DP-1 table contains demographic profile data, including general population and housing characteristics for a given geography. Table 2.2 presents the County’s total population at the start of each decade and also provides a calculation of the magnitude and percentage change in the area’s population between decades.

Table 2.2 Historical Population of Cherokee County (1980-2010) 1980 1990 2000 2010 Population 51,699 90,204 141,903 214,346 Change over Decade 38,505 51,699 72,443

Percent Change over Decade 74.48% 57.31% 51.05% Source: 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 US Census

During the 30-year period between 1980 and 2010, the population of Cherokee County grew by nearly 315% at a compound annual growth rate of 4.85%. While the percentages decline due to a larger overall population base, the County continues to add more people than it did in the previous decade. Figure 2.1 charts the absolute growth in Cherokee’s population over the 30-year period.

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Figure 2.1 Graph of Historical Population Growth for Cherokee County (1980-2010)

Source: 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 US Census

2.1.1 Historical Population Growth Comparison In order to place Cherokee’s rapid growth within the context of its surroundings, population totals were also retrieved for the 20-County Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) planning region, hereafter referred to as the “ARC 20-County Region”, and the State of Georgia using the US Census DP-1 tables. Table 2.3 displays the decade-to-decade percentage change in total population for each of the three geographic areas from 1980 to 2010.

Table 2.3 Comparison of Historical Population Growth Rates (1980-2010) 1980 - 1990 1990 - 2000 2000 - 2010 1980 - 2010 Cherokee County 74.5% 57.3% 51.1% 314.6% ARC 20-County Region 32.4% 39.1% 24.4% 129.0% State of Georgia 18.6% 26.4% 18.3% 77.3% Source: 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 US Census

The County’s percentage change from decade to decade is dramatically above the growth observed for the State of Georgia and is even significantly higher than that of the metro Atlanta area. In the 30-year period between 1980 and 2010 the County quadrupled in size, growing at a rate roughly four times that of the state and almost three times that of the ARC planning region. Figure 2.2 provides a comparison of the decade-to-decade growth for each of the three geographic units between 1980 and 2010.

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Figure 2.2 Graphical Comparison of Historical Population Growth Rates (1980-2010)

Source: 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 US Census

2.1.2 Post-Recession Growth In order to better measure the impact of the recent recession on Cherokee’s growth, the same ACS dataset was utilized. Table 2.4 displays the 2010 Census counts and the recent estimates of population for Cherokee County, the ARC region, the State of Georgia, and the United States as a whole.

Table 2.4 Comparison of Recent Population Growth Rates (2010-2012) Geography 2010 Census 2008-2012 ACS Estimate % Change 2010 - 2012 Cherokee County 214,346 215,014 0.31% ARC 20-County Region 5,260,436 5,285,119 0.47% Georgia 9,687,653 9,714,569 0.28% United States of America 308,745,538 309,138,711 0.13% Source: 2010 US Census / 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

During the two-year period between the 2010 Census count and the 2012 ACS estimate, the Census estimates that Cherokee County added around 700 residents. While this seems low compared to the historical growth rates noted above, the County’s rate of addition is above that of the United States and Georgia. Although Cherokee may not have recovered (e.g. continued to grow its base of residents) as swiftly as some of the region’s other counties, its current estimated growth rate is, nevertheless, on par with wider trends across the state.

2.1.3 Summary of Historical Population Growth In summary, Cherokee County has experienced tremendous growth since 1980. Although the decade-to-decade growth rate peaked from 1980 to 1990, the County has consistently added new residents and the absolute magnitude of these increases have continued to rise. Growth rates from 1980 to 2010 for the County are significantly higher than both the ARC planning

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan region and the state as a whole. Additionally, the most recent estimates of growth still have Cherokee County growing at a rate faster than the nation and the state. As people have continued to migrate to the area, demand for transportation facilities and services within the area has steadily increased since the County began its population boom in the 1970s.

2.2 Current Demographic Statistics In order to get a better understanding of the composition of Cherokee County, demographic data was retrieved from the US Census’ 2008-2012 ACS 5-Year Estimate dataset. Each of the tables within this section offers a look at a particular variable of interest across Cherokee County, the ARC 20-County region and the State of Georgia as a whole.

2.2.1 Population Density and Distribution Given that Cherokee County’s land area remains fixed and the fact that the County has experienced significant growth in recent history, the population density within the area has accordingly increased at a steady rate. Table 2.5 provides 2012 population and household density data for the County and the other geographies.

Table 2.5 Comparison of Population Density Amount ARC 20- Category Cherokee State of County County Georgia Region Area (sq. miles) 422 6,257 57,513 Total Population 215,014 5,285,119 9,714,569 Number of Households 75,937 1,894,096 3,508,477 Population Density (per sq. mile) 509.9 844.7 168.9 Household Density (per sq. mile) 180.1 302.7 61.0 Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Cherokee County’s population density is above the state’s overall concentration but is substantially less than that of the ARC planning region. This implies that Cherokee County is undergoing a transition from a traditionally rural area to one that is more urban. Figure 2.3 provides a visual representation of how the County’s population is distributed across its area.

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Figure 2.3 Population Density of Cherokee County

Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

As expected, the portion of the County that is adjacent to its border with Cobb and Fulton counties is home to the highest concentration of its residents. Census tracts that fall within the top 10% of the County’s population density are primarily clustered around the City of Woodstock and in the southeastern portion of the County. In general, the population density decreases as one moves northward through the County away from the region’s center. Almost all areas north of Canton were in the bottom 10% of population density. In terms of transportation facilities abutting high density regions, significant concentrations of residents are found near the intersection of I-575 and SR-92 and along SR-92 in general.

2.2.2 Age Table 2.6 provides a glimpse at the distribution of age across the three geographies’ populations. As is typical for a suburban county, Cherokee has a higher proportion of children (ages 17 and under) but has a relatively lower proportion of young adults (ages 18-24 and 25- 34). The County has a relatively higher proportion of persons between the ages of 35 and 64 than metro Atlanta and the state as a whole. In terms of seniors, the suburban County has relatively more individuals ages 65 and over than metro Atlanta, but the proportion of seniors is mostly consistent with the numbers for the state.

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Table 2.6 Comparison of Age Distribution Amount Relative Percentage ARC 20- ARC 20- Category Cherokee State of Cherokee State of County County County Georgia County Georgia Region Region Under 5 Years 15,788 383,002 685,245 7.34% 7.25% 7.05% 5 to 9 Years 17,833 396,648 697,499 8.29% 7.50% 7.18% 10 to 14 Years 15,816 387,710 685,318 7.36% 7.34% 7.05% 15 to 17 Years 9,190 232,932 416,889 4.27% 4.41% 4.29% 18 to 24 Years 16,733 489,799 987,110 7.78% 9.27% 10.16% 25 to 34 Years 27,563 769,340 1,335,594 12.82% 14.56% 13.75% 35 to 44 Years 35,390 834,363 1,405,189 16.46% 15.79% 14.46% 45 to 54 Years 32,695 767,425 1,382,109 15.21% 14.52% 14.23% 55 to 64 Years 23,752 549,638 1,072,990 11.05% 10.40% 11.05% 65 to 74 Years 12,980 284,834 617,602 6.04% 5.39% 6.36% 75 to 84 Years 5,599 137,767 313,881 2.60% 2.61% 3.23% 85 Years and over 1,675 51,661 115,143 0.78% 0.98% 1.19% Total Population 215,014 5,285,119 9,714,569 100.0% 100.00% 100.00% Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

2.2.2.1 Distribution of Elderly Population As seniors age, their level of personal mobility decreases but their need to travel often stays constant and can even increase due to increased time available for social activities and frequent medical visits. The distribution of seniors across Cherokee County is depicted in Figure 2.4. The general trend is that higher concentrations of seniors occur as one moves northward away from the region’s center. As seen in the map, Census tracts with a significant proportion of seniors include the northern half of the County, particularly the eastern and western corners near the municipalities of Waleska, Nelson and Ball Ground, and also in Woodstock along the eastside of I-575 near Cobb County and SR-92.

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Figure 2.4 Geographic Distribution of Seniors in Cherokee County

Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

2.2.3 Average Household Size In terms of average household size, Cherokee’s statistic of 2.83 persons per household is in line with the 20-County region’s average of 2.83 persons per household and slightly above the statewide average of 2.70 persons per household.

2.3 Environmental Justice Populations Executive Order 12898 defines Environmental Justice (EJ) populations as persons belonging to any of the following groups:

 Black;  Hispanic;  Asian America;  American Indian or Alaskan Native; and  Low-Income – a person who household income is at or below the poverty guidelines established by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

The concept of environmental justice recognizes that minority and low-income populations have historically been underrepresented in the transportation planning process. Therefore, the purpose of the EJ order is to ensure that these groups are not disproportionately impacted as a result of transportation improvements. The intent of EJ analysis is to locate

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan these populations and to involve them early and continuously throughout the transportation planning decision making process in order to minimize and mitigate potential impacts to these population groups. The geographic data analysis then allows decision makers to assess whether or not a disproportionate impact to these traditionally underrepresented communities is likely to occur given the nature and location of a specific improvement recommendation. All analyses within this section relied on the US Census 2008-2012 ACS 5- Year Estimate dataset.

2.3.1 Race Table 2.7 presents a comparison of race distribution for Cherokee County, the ARC 20-County region, and the State of Georgia. Compared to both the region and the state, Cherokee County has a high proportion of persons who identify themselves as “White Alone” (56% greater than the metro Atlanta proportion), as well as those identifying as “American Indian and Alaska Native Alone” (70% higher than the metro Atlanta average). Aside from the American Indian and Alaska Native group, the County has a relatively low proportion of minorities, especially those who identify themselves as Black (about 82% less than the proportion for metro Atlanta), Asian (roughly 66% less than the average for the ARC region), and Some Other Race (nearly 43% less than the rate for metro Atlanta).

Table 2.7 Cherokee County Race Statistics Amount Relative Percentage ARC 20- ARC 20- Category Cherokee State of Cherokee State of County County County Georgia County Georgia Region Region White Alone 188,736 2,977,451 5,903,173 87.78% 56.34% 60.77% Black or African American 12,306 1,700,647 2,970,481 5.72% 32.18% 30.58% Alone American Indian and Alaska 995 14,501 24,937 0.46% 0.27% 0.26% Native Alone Asian Alone 3,573 261,122 318,530 1.66% 4.94% 3.28% Native Hawaiian and Other 46 2,394 4,498 0.02% 0.05% 0.05% Pacific Islander Alone Some Other Race Alone 5,195 223,634 314,447 2.42% 4.23% 3.24% Two or More races 4,163 105,370 178,503 1.94% 1.99% 1.84% Total Population 215,014 5,285,119 9,714,569 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Figure 2.5 provides a visual representation of the distribution of minorities across Cherokee County. Areas with the highest proportion of minority individuals include the City of Canton and in Woodstock just west of I-575 near the Cobb County border. Other areas with a high proportion of minorities include parts of central Canton and areas east of I-575 outside of the Canton city limits.

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Figure 2.5 Cherokee County Minority Population Distribution

Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

2.3.1.1 Hispanic or Latino Table 2.8 presents a comparison of the proportion of those identifying themselves as Hispanic or Latino across Cherokee County, the ARC region and the state. The County’s proportion of Hispanics is 9% higher than the statewide average but 14% less than the regional average.

Table 2.8 Cherokee County Hispanic Population Amount Relative Percentage ARC 20- ARC 20- Category Cherokee State of Cherokee State of County County County Georgia County Georgia Region Region Hispanic or Latino 20,670 589,028 853,602 9.61% 11.15% 8.79% Not Hispanic or Latino 194,344 4,696,091 8,860,967 90.39% 88.85% 91.21% Total Population 215,014 5,285,119 9,714,569 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

2.3.1.2 Asian Table 2.9 presents a comparison of the proportion of those identifying themselves as “Asian Alone” across the three geographies. Given the relatively low proportion of Asians identified in the first table, the County proportion of most Asian groups is lower than the regional and statewide averages. However, Cherokee County does have a relatively high proportion of

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Filipinos, with a rate that is 226% higher than metro Atlanta and 135% greater than the State of Georgia.

Table 2.9 Cherokee County Asian Population Amount Relative Percentage ARC 20- ARC 20- Category Cherokee State of Cherokee State of County County County Georgia County Georgia Region Region Asian Indian 914 77,191 92,835 25.58% 29.56% 29.14% Bangladeshi 0 4,596 4,694 0.00% 1.76% 1.47% Cambodian 0 4,035 4,287 0.00% 1.55% 1.35% Chinese, except Taiwanese 418 39,063 46,600 11.70% 14.96% 14.63% Filipino 536 12,014 20,316 15.00% 4.60% 6.38% Hmong 0 3,009 3,710 0.00% 1.15% 1.16% Indonesian 16 1,198 1,323 0.45% 0.46% 0.42% Japanese 152 5,646 8,200 4.25% 2.16% 2.57% Korean 540 46,734 55,451 15.11% 17.90% 17.41% Laotian 216 4,367 5,752 6.05% 1.67% 1.81% Malaysian 14 499 532 0.39% 0.19% 0.17% Pakistani 0 7,156 8,474 0.00% 2.74% 2.66% Sri Lankan 73 768 829 2.04% 0.29% 0.26% Taiwanese 100 2,220 2,395 2.80% 0.85% 0.75% Thai 65 2,790 4,210 1.82% 1.07% 1.32% Vietnamese 470 39,575 46,352 13.15% 15.16% 14.55% Other Asian 24 6,904 8,223 0.67% 2.64% 2.58% Other Asian, not specified 35 3,357 4,347 0.98% 1.29% 1.36% Total Asian Alone Population 3,573 261,122 318,530 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

2.3.2 Household Income In addition to race, environmental justice analysis focuses on the impact of transportation improvements relative to low-income households. Table 2.10 presents the ACS data on household income for Cherokee County, the ARC region and the State of Georgia as a whole. In terms of low-income EJ households, the County has a significantly lower proportion of households for each income group up to $34,999 relative to both the region and the state. Roughly 23% of the County households earn less than $35,000, compared to 30% and 36% for the ARC region and the state, respectively. The County’s proportion of households earning between $35,000 and $74,999 is comparable to both the statewide and regional averages. Compared to the other geographies, Cherokee County has a significantly larger proportion of high-income households earning $75,000 or more. Around 46% of the County’s households earn $75,000 or more, compared to 38% for metro Atlanta and 31% for the state. All of these

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan trends are consistent with Cherokee County’s current status as a suburban area within the metro Atlanta region.

Table 2.10 Cherokee County Household Income Amount Relative Percentage ARC 20- ARC 20- Category Cherokee State of Cherokee State of County County County Georgia County Georgia Region Region Less than $10,000 2,578 126,109 300,205 3.39% 6.66% 8.56% $10,000 to $14,999 2,256 82,884 203,659 2.97% 4.38% 5.80% $15,000 to $19,999 3,197 84,188 195,501 4.21% 4.44% 5.57% $20,000 to $24,999 2,887 88,939 197,798 3.80% 4.70% 5.64% $25,000 to $29,999 2,991 89,176 188,911 3.94% 4.71% 5.38% $30,000 to $34,999 3,210 96,058 190,885 4.23% 5.07% 5.44% $35,000 to $39,999 3,346 85,913 171,324 4.41% 4.54% 4.88% $40,000 to $44,999 3,288 89,975 170,137 4.33% 4.75% 4.85% $45,000 to $49,999 3,138 78,217 147,333 4.13% 4.13% 4.20% $50,000 to $59,999 6,401 156,063 286,790 8.43% 8.24% 8.17% $60,000 to $74,999 7,896 199,777 355,974 10.40% 10.55% 10.15% $75,000 to $99,999 11,763 240,464 407,370 15.49% 12.70% 11.61% $100,000 to 7,727 165,797 259,715 10.18% 8.75% 7.40% $124,999 $125,000 to 5,573 100,426 148,815 7.34% 5.30% 4.24% $149,999 $150,000 to 5,754 105,921 146,285 7.58% 5.59% 4.17% $199,999 $200,000 or More 3,932 104,189 137,775 5.18% 5.50% 3.93% 3,508,47 100.00 Households 75,937 1,894,096 100.00% 100.00% 7 % Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

2.3.3 Poverty Status Guidance from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) directs transportation planners to use the US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) poverty guidelines to define low- income populations. For FTA EJ purposes, “low-income” is defined as the population within an area whose median household income, based on household size, is at or below the HHS poverty guidelines. Income data for the 2010 Census is estimated annually through the American Community Survey (ACS) in 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year rolling periods at the Census Tract level and above. The ACS data are then compared to the HHS poverty guidelines to help determine where low-income populations may be located. The ACS reporting period from 2008-2012 was used for this analysis.

Poverty guidelines released by HHS in January 2012, which appear below in Table 2.11, correlate to the ACS median household income data reported through the end of 2012.

November 2014 2-12 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

However, as ACS also provides estimates of population under the poverty threshold for each Census Tract, this estimate was used to calculate the percentage of population below the poverty line.

Table 2.11 US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines Number of Persons in Low-Income Household Household Poverty Threshold 1 $11,170 2 $15,130 3 $19,090 4 $23,050 5 $27,010 6 $30,970 7 $34,930 8 $38,890 Source: 2012 HHS Poverty Guidelines, US Department of Health and Human Services

Table 2.12 displays the poverty status of Cherokee County residents based on age range. Comparing across the age categories, individuals residing in the County who are under 18 are relatively more at-risk for poverty status than the average Cherokee citizen and seniors are the least at-risk.

Table 2.12 Cherokee County Poverty Status by Age Group Population At or Above Total Poverty Living in Poverty Segment Poverty Level Population Rate Under 18 Years of Age 5,851 52,560 58,411 10.0% Between 18 and 64 10,600 124,706 135,306 7.8% Ages 65 and Older 1,404 18,596 20,000 7.0% Overall 17,855 195,862 213,717 8.4% Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Figure 2.6 provides a map of the locations where there is a high proportion of poverty. As seen in the map, there are a significant number of households below the poverty line within the City of Canton and its adjacent areas. Additionally, there are slightly lower, yet still significant, concentrations of poverty on either side of the I-575 corridor from Canton southward to the Cobb County Line.

November 2014 2-13 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Figure 2.6 Cherokee County Poverty Distribution

Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

In order to provide context for the County’s poverty rates, Table 2.13 provides a comparison of the poverty rates across the three age ranges for the County, the ARC region and the state as a whole. Cherokee County’s overall poverty rate is almost 42% less than that of the 20- County region and nearly 52% less than the statewide poverty rate. For each of the three age ranges provided, the County’s poverty rate is substantially lower than those of the region and state, especially for persons under 18.

November 2014 2-14 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 2.13 Comparison of Poverty Status by Age Group Population Cherokee ARC 20-County State of Segment County Region Georgia Under 18 Years of Age 10.0% 20.1% 24.1% Between 18 and 64 7.8% 12.8% 15.7% Ages 65 and Older 7.0% 9.7% 11.3% Overall Poverty Rate 8.4% 14.5% 17.4% Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

2.3.4 Environmental Justice Maps While aggregate statistics provide a quick method of comparison across different geographies of interest, the power of EJ analysis lies in the mapping of these statistics to specific points within the area. Figure 2.7 provides an overlay map of poverty rates, which are captured via colored shapes, and minority presence which are reflected as dots.

Figure 2.8 provides a map of the percentage of minorities below the poverty level across the 26 Census tracts within the County. Tracts containing minority poverty percentages greater than 23.5% will be considered as Environmental Justice areas within this plan. As seen in the map the highest proportion of EJ households occurs in central Canton and adjacent areas east of I-575 that lie outside of the city’s borders. Additionally, the areas directly north and south of the high EJ district, as well as a large swath of land extending from the district east toward the Forsyth County line, contain a relatively high presence of environmental justice households. In terms of environmental justice households, Cherokee County is a typical suburban county in that the area is relatively affluent (e.g. small presence of low-income households) and its population predominantly consists of non-minorities (e.g. small proportion of minorities present).

November 2014 2-15 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Figure 2.7 Cherokee County Poverty-Minority Distribution

Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

November 2014 2-16 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Figure 2.8 Cherokee County Environmental Justice Areas

Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

November 2014 2-17 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

2.4 Future Population Projections In order to get a sense of the level of demand that is likely to be placed upon the County’s transportation system, forecasts for future population, number of households and average household size through the year 2040 were obtained from ARC. It should be noted that ARC’s population and number of households estimates for the base year 2010 are different from the official 2010 US Census counts. This is likely due to ARC performing the forecasting effort prior to the official release of the Census counts in 2011. The ARC forecast base year population in 2010 was 207,338 persons compared to the 2010 Census count of 214,346 persons. The ARC forecast base year number of households in 2010 was 75,687 households compared to the 2010 Census count of 75,936. Since we are working with the Cherokee County portion of the ARC transportation model, we will be using the ARC estimates in the model to be consistent with the recent work done on transportation plans in neighboring counties.

2.4.1 Population Table 2.14 displays the anticipated growth for Cherokee County for the years 2020, 2030 and 2040. Although ARC forecasts that the County will continue to grow, the estimated percentage change in population between each 10-year period is lower than during the periods noted above. Thus, Cherokee County is expected to grow at a less rapid rate than it experienced over the period from 2000-2010. In terms of total population, ARC forecasts that the County will experience its highest rate of increase during the current decade and then will continue to grow at a slower rate. Figure 2.9 displays the County’s projected population figures through the year 2040.

Table 2.14 Cherokee County Projected Population Change (2010-2040) 2010 2020 2030 2040 Population 207,388 276,798 341,201 401,558 Change over Decade 69,410 64,403 60,357

Percent Change over Decade 33.5% 23.3% 17.7% Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

November 2014 2-18 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Figure 2.9 Cherokee County Population Projections (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

In order to provide a comparison between the growth rate anticipated for Cherokee County and the overall growth rate of metro Atlanta, Table 2.15 displays ARC’s population forecasts for the two geographies, as well as Cherokee’s projected share of the 20-County region’s overall population. While the region is expected to grow by 57%, Cherokee County is anticipated to nearly double its population between 2010 and 2040. As seen in the bottom row of the table, although in 2010 the County accounted for less than four percent of the region’s total population, Cherokee County’s share of the region’s overall population is expected to increase through the year 2040. In 2040 Cherokee is forecasted to account for nearly five percent of the 20-County area’s residents which would represent a 23% increase in its relative share of all residents in metro Atlanta. Thus, it is expected that, from a regional perspective, relatively more traffic will be dispersed along the County’s transportation system than current levels. Figure 2.10 provides a visual comparison between the projected growth rates for the County and the ARC region over the three decades.

November 2014 2-19 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 2.15 Comparison of Projected Population Change (2010-2040) Total Population Percent Change 2010 - 2020 - 2030 - 2010 - 2010 2020 2030 2040 2020 2030 2040 2040 Cherokee 207,388 276,798 341,201 401,558 33.5% 23.3% 17.7% 93.6% County ARC 20- County 5,254,399 6,453,347 7,377,950 8,256,323 22.8% 14.3% 11.9% 57.1% Region Cherokee’s Share of 3.95% 4.29% 4.62% 4.86% 8.7% 7.8% 5.2% 23.2% Regional Population Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Figure 2.10 Comparison of Projected Population Growth Rates (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

2.4.2 Number of Households Table 2.16 displays ARC’s forecast data for the number of households anticipated in Cherokee County through 2040. A household is defined by the Census as a group of people who live under a common structure and utilize the same cooking equipment. The trend for number of households is closely aligned with the trend previously observed above for total population, with the highest rate of growth occurring in the current decade. Figure 2.11 provides a visual representation of the household growth in Cherokee County as forecasted by ARC.

November 2014 2-20 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 2.16 Cherokee County Projected Change in Households (2010-2040) 2010 2020 2030 2040 Number of Households 75,687 102,167 127,784 152,285 Change over Decade 26,480 25,617 24,501

Percent Change over Decade 35.0% 25.1% 19.2% Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Figure 2.11 Cherokee County Projected Growth in Households (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Table 2.17 provides a comparison between the total number of households in Cherokee County and the metro Atlanta region over each decade through 2040. Similar to the comparative trend noted for total population, the number of households in Cherokee County is expected to grow at a more rapid pace than the ARC region as a whole. During the 30-year period Cherokee is anticipated to double its number of households and steadily increase its share of the total households in the metro Atlanta region. By 2040 ARC predicts that residents of Cherokee County will account for nearly five percent of the region’s total households which would reflect a 25% increase in the County’s share of all households within metro Atlanta. Figure 2.12 offers a visual comparison of the household growth rates between the County and the region for each of the three decades.

November 2014 2-21 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 2.17 Comparison of Projected Change in Households (2010-2040) Total Households Percent Change 2010 - 2020 - 2030 - 2010 - 2010 2020 2030 2040 2020 2030 2040 2040 Cherokee 75,687 102,167 127,784 152,285 35.0% 25.1% 19.2% 101.2% County ARC 20- County 1,953,185 2,372,577 2,762,007 3,142,952 21.5% 16.4% 13.8% 60.9% Region Cherokee’s Share of 3.88% 4.31% 4.63% 4.85% 11.1% 7.4% 4.7% 25.0% Regional Households Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Figure 2.12 Comparison of Projected Household Growth Rates (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

2.4.3 Average Household Size Using the ARC forecasts for total population and number of households, an estimate for average household size was derived. Household size is an influential factor in the overall number of trips made by individuals. For instance, a group of three people living together is likely to make relatively fewer trips per person than would be made by each of the three individuals were they living separately due to the ability to chain common trips together and pool resources (e.g. make fewer shopping/maintenance trips). Furthermore, those living in households with more than one individual are likely to have relatively higher access to personal vehicles.

November 2014 2-22 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 2.18 displays ARC forecast data for Cherokee County and shows that average household size is expected to steadily decrease through 2040. Figure 2.13 provides a visual representation of the County’s anticipated decline in average household size.

Table 2.18 Cherokee County Projected Change in Average Household Size (2010-2040) 2010 2020 2030 2040 Average Household Size 2.74 2.71 2.67 2.64 Change over Decade -0.03 -0.04 -0.03

Percent Change over Decade -1.1% -1.4% -1.2% Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Figure 2.13 Cherokee County Projected Decline in Average Household Size

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Although the average household size in Cherokee County is expected to decrease over the period, this trend is consistent with wider trends throughout the 20-County Metro Atlanta region. Table 2.19 displays the absolute and percentage change in average household size through 2040. Figure 2.14 depicts ARC’s forecasted declining growth rates in average household size.

Table 2.19 Comparison of Projected Change in Average Household Size (2010-2040) Average Household Size Percent Change 2010 - 2020 - 2030 - 2010 - 2010 2020 2030 2040 2020 2030 2040 2040 Cherokee County 2.74 2.71 2.67 2.64 -1.1% -1.4% -1.2% -3.8% ARC 20-County Region 2.69 2.72 2.67 2.63 1.1% -1.8% -1.7% -2.4% Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

November 2014 2-23 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Figure 2.14 Comparison of Projected Change in Average Household Size Growth Rates (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

2.4.4 Summary of Forecasted Population Growth In summary, Cherokee County is expected to grow at a more rapid rate than the 20-County ARC planning region in terms of both total population and number of households. Both of these trends point to a likely increase in absolute demand for transportation facilities and services within the County. Furthermore, as the County continues to increase its relative share of the metro Atlanta region’s populations and households, there will probably be a growth in the relative demand for transportation facilities and services within the County. Although the decrease in average household size is small in absolute terms, this trend of shrinking households is likely to put additional demand on the transportation system as the likelihood of trip chaining and vehicle sharing decreases. All of these trends suggest that relatively more demands will be placed upon the County’s transportation network than have been in the past, as the County continues to grow in absolute terms and steadily heightens its presence within metro Atlanta.

2.5 Employment Data According to the 2009 National Household Travel Survey, trips made to and from work, as well as trips due to work-related business, accounted for 25% of annual person miles traveled and 19% of all person trips. Thus, in addition to the number of housing units provided, the presence of employment sites within an area is a significant contributor to overall traffic. This section analyzes current employment data, provided by the Georgia Department of Labor, to understand the nature of current employment opportunities within Cherokee County. Additionally, the latter half of this section includes forecast employment data provided by ARC that should offer a basis for determining future impacts to the transportation system due to increases in employment within the County.

November 2014 2-24 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

2.5.1 Existing Employment Base As the US Census’ ACS employment data reflects employment of Cherokee residents, not employment within Cherokee County, statistics from the Georgia Department of Labor (GDL) were used to provide a sense of the unemployment rate, industry mix and employer types for jobs located within Cherokee County. In addition to Cherokee County itself, the GDL defines the “Cherokee Area” as consisting of residents from the following neighboring counties: Bartow, Cobb, Dawson, Forsyth, Fulton, Gordon, and Pickens.

2.5.1.1 Employment Status Table 2.20 was populated using the GDL’s 2013 Annual Averages. The unemployment rate for residents of Cherokee County is 15% less than the unemployment rate for the surrounding Cherokee Area. Furthermore, relative to the State of Georgia, the County’s unemployment rate is 21% lower than the statewide average. While a low unemployment rate is good for the County in general, the need for most residents to travel to an employment site puts additional pressure on the County’s transportation network and facilities.

Table 2.20 Comparison of Employment Status (2013 Annual Average) Cherokee Cherokee State of Metric County Area Georgia Labor Force 114,225 1,151,932 4,767,323 Employed 106,815 1,063,816 4,378,029 Unemployed 7,410 88,116 389,294 Unemployment Rate 6.49% 7.65% 8.17% Source: Georgia Department of Labor, 2013 Annual Averages

2.5.1.2 Number of Jobs by Industry Table 2.21 provides employment by industry within Cherokee County using the GDL averages from the first quarter of 2014. Within Cherokee County there were 48,353 jobs housed within 5,533 firms. The County is responsible for 3.89% of all employment within the eight-county Cherokee Area. Relative to its neighbors, the percentage of jobs housed within goods- producing industries in the County is 54% greater than the surrounding area and Manufacturing makes up the majority of the County’s positions within this industry classification. As the production of goods entails the eventual movement of goods, the County should provide adequate facilities to facilitate freight movements that are critical to the local economy. In terms of service-providing industries, the County’s relative percentage of jobs within the Retail Trade sector is 84% higher than the eight-county area and retail jobs account for almost 18% of all positions within the County. As the majority of suburban retail uses occur in large lot developments along arterials that are not readily accessible by foot or the County’s transit services, this high rate of retail employment likely contributes to additional traffic along the County’s road system.

November 2014 2-25 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 2.21 Comparison of Employment by Industry (Q1 2014)

Cherokee County Cherokee Area INDUSTRY Employment Weekly Employment Weekly # of Firms # of Firms Number Percent Wage Number Percent Wage Goods -Producing 932 7,139 14.8% $847 7,431 118,692 9.6% $1,362 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and 30 116 0.3% $591 170 1,244 0.1% $1,295 mining Construction 722 3,117 6.4% $813 5,063 44,533 3.6% $1,076 Manufacturing 180 3,906 8.1% $881 2,198 72,916 5.9% $1,538 Service-Providing 4,116 33,254 68.8% $640 67,504 967,081 77.8% $1,333 Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 104 837 1.7% $741 1,595 51,775 4.2% $1,759 Wholesale Trade 426 1,796 3.7% $1,268 6,354 71,351 5.7% $1,763 Retail Trade 537 8,543 17.7% $483 7,436 119,497 9.6% $604 Information 90 559 1.2% $949 1,857 56,060 4.5% $2,711 Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental 510 1,992 4.2% $1,142 9,156 91,692 7.4% $2,498 and leasing Professional, scientific, and management, and 1,215 5,392 11.1% $757 20,467 262,548 21.1% $1,518 administrative and waste management services Educational services, and health care and social 478 5,742 11.9% $798 7,837 146,571 11.8% $957 assistance Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and 389 6,846 14.1% $279 6,522 134,609 10.8% $433 accommodation and food services Other Services (except Public Administration) 367 1,546 3.2% $576 6,280 32,981 2.7% $673 Public Administration 96 7,605 15.7% $792 1,255 151,745 12.2% $985 Unclassified - Industry Not Assigned 389 356 0.7% $908 5,860 5,186 0.4% $1,210 ALL INDUSTRIES 5,533 48,353 100.0% $697 82,050 1,242,704 100.0% $1,293 ALL INDUSTRIES - GEORGIA 280,189 3,944,624 0.0% $972 Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Q1 2014 Averages

November 2014 2-26 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

2.5.1.3 Jobs by Employer Type Table 2.22 presents GDL Average data related to the employment within Cherokee County and the Cherokee County Area based on employer type from the 1st Quarter of 2014. The County has more jobs located within the public sector than the areawide average. Regardless of employer type, average weekly wages for employees in Cherokee County are substantially lower than those of the surrounding areas.

Table 2.22 Comparison of Employment by Employer Type

Cherokee County Cherokee Area INDUSTRY # of Employment Weekly # of Employment Weekly Firms Number Percent Wage Firms Number Percent Wage Total - Private Sector 5,437 40,749 84.3% $679 80,795 1,090,959 87.8% $1,336 Total - Government 96 7,605 15.7% $792 1,255 151,745 12.2% $985 Federal Government 13 281 0.6% $1,148 317 25,861 2.1% $1,541 State Government 24 339 0.7% $580 305 37,692 3.0% $1,012 Local Government 59 6,985 14.4% $788 633 88,192 7.1% $810 ALL INDUSTRIES 5,533 48,353 100.0% $697 82,050 1,242,704 100.0% $1,293 ALL INDUSTRIES - 280,189 3,944,624 100.0% $972 GEORGIA Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Q1 2014 Averages

2.5.1.4 Top Employers in Cherokee County Table 2.23 provides a listing of some of the major employers in Cherokee County. Aside from retail stores, such as Walmart and Publix, notable employers include Pilgrim’s Pride, Ak Steel, Chart Industries, Northside Hospital, two government agencies and a law firm.

Table 2.23 Major Employment Sites in Cherokee County Estimated Zip Employer Name Street City Number of Code Employees Pilgrim's Pride Corp. Univeter Rd Canton 30115 500-999 Walmart Supercenter Highway 92 Woodstock 30188 500-999 Ak Steel Corp. Colonial Dr Woodstock 30189 250-499 Walmart Supercenter Bells Ferry Rd Woodstock 30189 250-499 Walmart Supercenter Riverstone Pkwy Canton 30114 250-499 Chart Industries Inc. Airport Dr Ball Ground 30107 250-499 Northside Hospital Oakside Ln Canton 30114 250-499 Publix Super Market Towne Lake Pkwy Woodstock 30189 250-499 Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Chattin Dr Canton 30115 250-499 Austin & Associates Law Firm Creekstone Ridge Woodstock 30188 250-499 Cherokee County Board of Academy St Canton 30114 250-499 Education Life Time Fitness Highway 92 Woodstock 30188 250-499 Piolax Corp. Etowah Industrial Ct Canton 30114 100-249

November 2014 2-27 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Estimated Zip Employer Name Street City Number of Code Employees Towne Lake Hills Woodstock High School Woodstock 30189 100-249 South Dr Reinhardt University Reinhardt Cir Waleska 30183 100-249 Cherokee County Detention Center Chattin Dr Canton 30115 100-249 Cherokee High School Marietta Hwy Canton 30114 100-249 Home Depot Holly Springs Pkwy Canton 30115 100-249 Kroger Towne Lake Pkwy Woodstock 30189 100-249 Meyn America LLC Evenflo Dr Ball Ground 30107 100-249 Woodstock Square Super Target Woodstock 30189 100-249 Ave Super Target Cumming Hwy Canton 30115 100-249 First Baptist Church Woodstock Neese Rd Woodstock 30188 100-249 Cherokee County Water Authority W Main St Canton 30114 100-249 Hennessy Honda of Woodstock Highway 92 Woodstock 30189 100-249 Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Q1 2014 Averages

2.5.2 Future Employment Projections Based on the most recent ARC forecast data for employment, the following section presents a comparison between Cherokee County’s growth rates for total jobs, high paying jobs and low paying jobs and those of the 20-County Metro Atlanta region through the year 2040. It should be noted that, like the GDL data, the ARC forecast data represents the number of jobs located within a given jurisdiction.

ARC was careful to note that the high versus low paying job classifications are not strict. In other words, for any given job within a specific industry sector, one cannot determine the position’s compensation rate solely based on the industry’s classification as high or low paying. However, these industry sector distinctions serve as a general proxy for overall job quality. The forecasters also pointed out that a job which is classified as high paying in 2010 may very well become a low paying job by 2040. ARC did not attempt to predict how wages would change within sectors over time (e.g. the pay classification is static for all industries).

2.5.2.1 Total Employment Table 2.24 presents ARC’s forecast data for total employment within Cherokee County through the year 2040. Similar to the forecast trends within the population section, employment within the County is expected to grow significantly over the next decade and then continue to grow at a smaller rate. Comparing the employment and population forecasts provided by ARC, the rate of job growth within the County exceeds the rate of population growth for each decade covered by the forecast. Figure 2.15 provides a visual representation of ARC’s forecasted growth for total employment within Cherokee County.

November 2014 2-28 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 2.24 Cherokee County Projected Change in Employment (2010-2040) 2010 2020 2030 2040 Total Jobs 43,620 71,978 92,071 116,148 Change over Decade 28,358 20,093 24,077 Percent Change over Decade 65.0% 27.9% 26.2% Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Figure 2.15 Cherokee County Projected Employment Growth (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Table 2.25 provides a comparison between the County’s anticipated job growth rates and those of the 20-County ARC region. The employment growth rate for Cherokee County is significantly higher than that of the metro Atlanta region during all periods covered by the forecast. Overall, ARC anticipates that the County will increase job opportunities by 166% during the 30-year period, with a job growth rate that is 145% greater than the regional average through 2040. Figure 2.16 provides a comparison of the ten-year growth rates for the County and the ARC region.

November 2014 2-29 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 2.25 Comparison of Projected Change in Employment (2010-2040) Cherokee 20-County Metric Period County ARC Region 2010 43,620 2,173,573 2020 71,978 2,740,322 Total Jobs 2030 92,071 3,153,244 2040 116,148 3,651,353 2010 - 2020 65.0% 26.1% 2020 - 2030 27.9% 15.1% Percent Change 2030 - 2040 26.2% 15.8% 2010 - 2040 166.3% 68.0% Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Figure 2.16 Projected Change in Employment Growth Rate (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

2.5.2.2 High Paying Jobs The ARC defined “High Paying Jobs” as any position within the following sectors: Finance, Information, Professional/Scientific/Technical Services, Wholesale Trade, and Management. Table 2.26 provides projections for future growth in high paying sectors. ARC expects that within the next decade the amount of high paying jobs located in Cherokee County will more than double. Figure 2.17 provides a chart of Cherokee County’s employment growth rate within the high paying sectors.

November 2014 2-30 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 2.26 Cherokee County Projected Change in High Paying Jobs (2010-2040) 2010 2020 2030 2040

High Paying Jobs 5,622 13,128 17,535 21,780 Change over Decade 7,506 4,407 4,245 Percent Change over Decade 133.5% 33.6% 24.2% Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Figure 2.17 Cherokee County Projected Growth in High Paying Jobs (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Table 2.27 provides a comparison between the County’s expected high jobs growth rate and those of the ARC region as a whole. For every period covered in the table, the County’s anticipated growth within the high paying sectors is nearly three times as large as the rate for the region. While the metro Atlanta area is projected to increase high paying jobs by almost 65% over the 30-year period, Cherokee County is expected to nearly quadruple its number of high paying jobs. Thus, the County’s percentage change in high paying jobs during the 30-year period is 345% greater than the ARC aggregate percentage change. As was noted in previous forecast analyses, the highest growth rate in high paying jobs within Cherokee is expected to occur in the current decade. Figure 2.18 provides a visual comparison of the percentage change in high paying jobs for the two geographies during each of the 10-year periods.

November 2014 2-31 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 2.27 Comparison of Change in High Paying Jobs (2010-2040) Cherokee 20-County Metric Period County ARC Region 2010 5,622 495,333 2020 13,128 670,121 High Paying Jobs 2030 17,535 745,790 2040 21,780 815,370 2010 - 2020 133.5% 35.3% 2020 - 2030 33.6% 11.3% Percent Change 2030 - 2040 24.2% 9.3% 2010 - 2040 287.4% 64.6% Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Figure 2.18 Comparison of Projected Change in High Paying Jobs Growth Rates (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

2.5.2.3 Low Paying Jobs The ARC defined “Low Paying Jobs” as any job in the Retail Trade, Accommodation/Food Services, Administrative and Waste Management, Education, or Arts/Entertainment sectors. Table 2.28 provides a look at the anticipated job growth within the low paying sectors through 2040. As was the case for total employment and high paying jobs, the County is expected to significantly increase its number of low paying jobs within the next decade and then continue adding positions at a reduced rate. Figure 2.19 offers a graph of the County’s projected increase in low paying jobs.

November 2014 2-32 Draft Report

Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 2.28 Cherokee County Projected Change in Low Paying Jobs (2010-2040) 2010 2020 2030 2040 Low Paying Jobs 22,525 33,618 40,630 49,575 Change over Decade 11,093 7,012 8,945 Percent Change over Decade 49.2% 20.9% 22.0% Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Figure 2.19 Cherokee County Projected Growth in Low Paying Jobs (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Table 2.29 provides a comparison of low paying job growth for Cherokee County and the 20- County Metro Atlanta region. For every period covered in the table, the County’s anticipated growth within the low paying sectors is nearly double the regional rate. While the metro Atlanta area is projected to increase low paying jobs by almost 58% over the 30-year period, Cherokee County is expected to more than double its number of low paying jobs. Thus, the County’s percentage change in low paying jobs during the 30-year period is 106% greater than the ARC aggregate percentage change. As was noted in previous forecast analyses, the highest growth rate in low paying jobs within Cherokee is expected to occur in the current decade. Figure 2.20 provides a visual comparison of the low paying jobs growth rates over each decade for Cherokee County and the ARC region.

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Table 2.29 Comparison of Change in Low Paying Jobs (2010-2040) Cherokee 20-County Metric Period County ARC Region 2010 22,525 842,819 2020 33,618 1,046,233 Low Paying Jobs 2030 40,630 1,176,610 2040 49,575 1,328,687 2010 - 2020 49.2% 24.1% 2020 - 2030 20.9% 12.5% Percent Change 2030 - 2040 22.0% 12.9% 2010 - 2040 120.1% 57.6% Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Figure 2.20 Comparison of Low Paying Jobs Growth Rate (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

2.5.2.4 Ratio of High to Low Paying Jobs An important factor in determining the projected employment growth’s impact on Cherokee’s transportation system is the ratio of high to low paying jobs. Table 2.30 provides a summary of the high-to-low ratio through the year 2040. Currently there is approximately one high paying job for every four low paying jobs within Cherokee County. Over the course of the next decade, ARC forecasts that, in terms of proportions, there will be significantly more high paying jobs added than low paying jobs. Although the County is projected to continue increasing its relative share of high paying jobs, this differential rate of increase is expected to taper off substantially beyond the year 2020. ARC anticipates that by 2040 there will be roughly 9 high paying jobs for every 20 low paying jobs. Figure 2.21 displays the increase in the County’s relative share of high paying jobs through 2040.

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 2.30 Cherokee County Projected Change in High-to-Low Paying Jobs Ratio (2010-2040) 2010 2020 2030 2040 Ratio of High to Low Paying Jobs 0.25 0.39 0.43 0.44 Change over Decade 0.14 0.04 0.01 Percent Change over Decade 56.5% 10.5% 1.8% Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Figure 2.21 Cherokee County Projected Growth in High-to-Low Paying Jobs Ratio (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Table 2.31 provides a comparison between the ratio of high-to-low paying jobs for Cherokee County, the metro Atlanta region, and the County’s neighbor, Forsyth County. For every period covered in the table, the County’s anticipated growth for this ratio is orders of magnitude greater than the regional increase, with Cherokee’s rate varying anywhere from three to ten times as high as that of the metro Atlanta area. While the ARC region is projected to increase its high-to-low paying jobs ratio by four percent over the 30-year period, Cherokee County is expected to increase its ratio by 76%. Thus, the County’s percentage change in the high-to-low ratio is 17 times greater than the ARC aggregate percentage change in the ratio. As was noted in previous forecast analyses, the County’s highest growth rate for this ratio is expected to occur in the current decade. Forsyth County was included within the table as a proxy in order to gauge the significance of Cherokee’s growth rate for the ratio relative to other suburban counties in the region. Forsyth’s percentage change figures are similar in magnitude to those of the 20-County region. Figure 2.22 provides a visual comparison of the ratio growth rate for Cherokee County and the ARC region.

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Table 2.31 Comparison of Projected Change in High-to-Low Paying Jobs (2010-2040) Cherokee 20-County Forsyth Metric Period County ARC Region County 2010 0.25 0.59 0.54 Ratio of High to 2020 0.39 0.64 0.60 Low Paying Jobs 2030 0.43 0.63 0.61 2040 0.44 0.61 0.60 2010 - 2020 56.5% 9.0% 9.0% 2020 - 2030 10.5% -1.0% 1.9% Percent Change 2030 - 2040 1.8% -3.2% -0.1% 2010 - 2040 76.0% 4.4% 10.9% Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

Figure 2.22 Comparison of Projected Rate of Change in High-to-Low Paying Jobs (2010-2040)

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2010-2040 Population & Employment Projections

2.5.3 Summary of Forecasted Employment Growth ARC projects that, through the year 2040, Cherokee County will substantially increase its overall employment opportunities. From 2010 to 2040, the County’s overall employment is forecasted to grow by 166%, high paying jobs by 287%, low paying jobs by 120% and the ratio of high-to-low paying jobs by 76% through the year 2040. For the first three classifications of employment growth, Cherokee County outpaces the regional percentage change from 2010- 2040 by at least a factor of two and even up to a factor of four. Relative to other areas, Cherokee County is forecasted to significantly expand its employment opportunities within the high paying sectors of Finance, Information, Professional/Scientific/Technical Services, Wholesale Trade, and Management while also adding jobs within the low paying sectors.

In terms of growth in total employment within Cherokee County, the trend suggests that there is a potential opportunity for more of Cherokee’s residents to find employment locally,

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan which would result in a relative reduction in demand on the County and regional transportation systems by decreasing the average commuting distance for residents. Although there is the potential for additional internal employment opportunities, the sheer magnitude of expected job growth will necessitate the migration of additional laborers into the County from areas throughout the region, putting a further strain on the County’s transportation system.

In general, household income is inversely related to the use of alternative modes of transportation (e.g. as income increases, use of transit/bike/walk decreases). While the growth rate for high paying jobs is, on the whole, a positive sign for the County, this trend will likely contribute to a relative increase in personal vehicle travel along the local transportation network. Conversely, the growth in low paying jobs could present the County with an opportunity to further establish its transit user base and potentially reduce the future demand for the County’s transportation facilities.

In terms of the high-to-low paying jobs ratio, the percentage change increase in this ratio is negative from 2020 to 2040 for the region, but the change remains positive for the County during the same period. Furthermore, the relative difference between Cherokee County and the metro Atlanta region’s overall ratio from 2010 to 2040 is staggering. Given that neighboring Forsyth County’s percentage change numbers are similar in magnitude to those of the 20-County region, it appears that the growth in the ratio for Cherokee County is not simply a result of a general trend reflecting an exodus of high paying jobs to suburban areas. Rather the County’s increase in the high-to-low paying jobs ratio points to a significant localized increase in the provision of new jobs within high paying sectors.

2.6 Urban Versus Rural Cherokee County has traditionally been considered a rural area on the outskirts of metro Atlanta. Thus, its needs relative to transportation have been mainly oriented towards facilitating internal circulation and, when necessary, providing a connection to surrounding urban areas. While the County has enjoyed its status as a quiet, rural community tucked away from the congestion of Atlanta, the trends in population and employment growth suggest that the area will continue to transition from a rural area to one that is more urban. The transportation needs of an urban area differ from those of rural areas in that the urban places, in addition to offering means of internal circulation, must also provide additional connections to outlying areas in order to continue thriving as centers of business. Given that ARC forecasts that the highest growth rates for both employment and population will occur from now until 2020, the County should focus on enhancing connectivity between the rural and urban elements of its existing transportation system in the near-term in order to adequately serve the rapid growth expected.

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

3 EXISTING CONDITIONS In addition to analyzing current and future data related to demographics, population and employment, a review of the existing conditions within Cherokee County was conducted in order to assess potential areas for improvement. This chapter presents information related to both the current transportation system, as well as the broader land use, development and planning environments in which the system is housed. The list below provides an outline of the sections contained within this chapter:

 Land Use and Development;  Previous Planning Studies and Programs;  Public Transportation;  Commuter Patterns and Transportation Options;  Freight Movement;  Rail Crossings;  Airport Facilities;  Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities;  Bridges;  Safety; and  Roadway Characteristics.

3.1 Land Use and Development Transportation is considered a derived demand which means that people use transportation as a means to move from an origin to a particular destination, not simply as an end in and of itself. Therefore, the function of a particular transportation facility or, more generally, the transportation system itself, is inextricably linked with the activities that take place along the facility’s periphery. Thus, an analysis of current and future land uses, the location of community resources, and developments of regional impact is critical to the assessment of existing transportation network conditions and fundamental to the forecasting of future operating conditions. Sites where conflicts between land use and transportation exist should serve as focus areas for potential improvements.

3.1.1 Existing Land Use Characteristics In order to analyze the relationship between existing land uses and the County’s transportation system, an inventory of the following area types was conducted for Cherokee County: major residential areas, key activity centers, key employment centers, ARC’s Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) areas, and primary travel corridors. The list below provides an outline of the key features within the County that influence the function of the local transportation system.

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Key Activity Centers  City of Woodstock  City of Canton  City of Holly Springs  Shopping centers along I-575 – Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta, Woodstock Square, Riverstone Plaza, and Canton Marketplace

Key Employment Centers  Pilgrim’s Pride Poultry Processing Facility  Industrial areas surrounding the airport  Woodstock Square Shopping Center  Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta  Canton Marketplace Shopping Center

LCI Centers  Bells Ferry Corridor  Canton River Mill District  Holly Springs Town Center  Woodstock Town Center

Primary Travel Corridors  Interstate 575  Interstate 75  SR-92  Towne Lake Pkwy  Bells Ferry Rd  Canton Rd / Main St / Holly Springs Pkwy  SR-20 – Cumming Hwy / Knox Bridge Hwy  SR-140 – Marietta Hwy / Waleska Rd / Hickory Flat Hwy  Ball Ground Hwy / Riverstone Pkwy

Figure 3.1 provides a map of Cherokee County’s current land use. As seen in the map, the two dominant land uses, in terms of acreage, are Residential (21%) and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (62%), with the latter category consisting primarily of undeveloped land and does not currently have an active use. While the southern portion of the County is dominated by parcels dedicated to Residential land uses, the central and northern portions of the western half of the County remain relatively undeveloped. Large land holdings by the US General Services Administration and Georgia Power make up the majority of the Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation land use classification which accounts for around nine percent of the County’s land area.

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Figure 3.1 Cherokee County Land Use Map

Source: Cherokee County GIS Department

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

As expected, Commercial land uses (two percent) are clustered primarily around major roadways, including I-575, SR-92, SR-20, SR-140, Towne Lake Pkwy, Bells Ferry Rd and Holly Springs Pkwy. Institutional uses (two percent), which consist primarily of government and education facilities, are spread throughout the County, with the largest parcel being Reinhardt University in the City of Waleksa, followed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs/Veterans Cemetery on the westside of the County north of SR-20. Industrial uses (one percent) can be found along the I-575, Holly Springs Pkwy, Ball Ground Hwy and SR-92 corridors, as well as in the areas surrounding the County’s public airport and the historic downtown districts of Woodstock, Holy Springs, Canton and Ball Ground. Transportation and Utilities (one percent) land uses tend to occur in the northeastern quadrant of the County and mainly consist of landfills (Pine Bluff) or facilities owned by Atlanta Gas Light and the Cobb County Water Authority. Mining and Extraction land uses are relatively uncommon at the County level (less than one percent), but the category accounts for a substantial portion of the total land contained within the City of Ball Ground. The remaining two percent of Cherokee’s total land area consists of uses that are classified as “Other” or have not yet been determined.

The latest version of ARC’s Unified Growth Policy Map (UGPM), which was adopted in 2012 and is reprinted in Figure 3.2, sets forth a variety of character areas that serve to prescribe the nature of future development throughout the metro Atlanta region. According to the map, virtually all areas north of the Etowah River, Lake Allatoona and SR-20 are considered rural areas that contain “regionally important resources.” The UGPM denotes the southeast quadrant of the County, bounded by SR-20 and SR-140, as a developing rural area. The municipalities of Canton, Holly Springs and Woodstock are all classified as established suburbs while the remainder of the County is classified as developing suburbs.

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Figure 3.2 Cherokee County in the ARC Unified Growth Policy Map

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2012 Unified Growth Policy Map

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

3.1.2 Future Land Use Characteristics Figure 3.3 provides a look at the future development plan for Cherokee County. Comparing Figure 3.2 and Figure 3.3, the future development map for Cherokee has several areas with different designated future development types. First, there Suburban Growth character areas have been designated for all parcels in the northwest, including Waleska, that were not previously identified as Rural Areas with Regionally Important Resources in the 2012 ARC UGPM. Similarly, there are newly designated patches of future Suburban Growth in the eastern section of the County near SR-20 and in areas surrounding Ball Ground. Four regional Workplace Centers are identified depicted in turquoise in the map below, including the Technology Ridge District near the Cherokee County Regional Airport, Univeter Rd at I-575 near Holly Springs, SR-92 west of I-575 in Woodstock, and Northpoint Pkwy at I-75 near the Cobb County line.

Figure 3.3 Cherokee County Future Development Map

Source: Cherokee County GIS Department

3.1.3 Community Resources The provision of ready access to community facilities and natural resources is important to the overall success of a given area and its quality of life. In order to identify elements of the transportation network that facilitate access to public facilities and services, a map of Cherokee County’s current community resources, including schools, libraries, hospitals, parks, and emergency services (e.g. police and fire stations) is provided in Figure 3.4.

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Figure 3.4 Cherokee County Community Resources Map

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, Community Facilities

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

3.1.3.1 Schools As seen in the map, few Cherokee County public schools are located directly adjacent to major transportation facilities (e.g. interstates and state routes). Therefore, the potential for safety incidents involving school-age children walking or riding their bicycles along these high- speed, high volume thoroughfares is relatively low. However, the majority of schools are located along County roadways and these facilities often lack adequate sidewalks and bike lanes. Thus, children not riding with their parents often lack a safe route to school. In order to create a safer environment for children en route to their education site, future non- motorized transportation improvements could be oriented towards providing safe, accessible connection between public schools and adjacent residential communities.

Schools are major destinations within the County and are often the site of localized traffic congestion in the morning and mid-afternoon periods. School accessibility and connectivity within attendance areas is therefore a consideration in transportation planning.

Table 3.1 lists the locations of all public schools within the County and was created using the most recent data available provided by the Cherokee County School District.

Table 3.1 Location of Public Schools in Cherokee County

School Address Municipality Type Oak Grove Pre-School 6118 Woodstock Road Acworth Pre-School Little River Pres-School 3170 Trickum Road Canton Pre-School Ralph Bunche Center School 400 Belletta Drive Canton Pre-School Clark Creek Elementary School 3219 Hunt Road Acworth Elementary Oak Grove Elementary School 6118 Woodstock Road Acworth Elementary Ball Ground Elementary School 321 Valley Street Ball Ground Elementary Avery Elementary School 6391 East Cherokee Drive Canton Elementary Canton Elementary School 712 Marietta Hwy. Canton Elementary Clayton Elementary School 221 Upper Burris Road Canton Elementary Free Home Elementary School 12525 Cumming Highway Canton Elementary Hasty Elementary School 205 Brown Industrial Parkway Canton Elementary Hickory Flat Elementary School 2755 East Cherokee Drive Canton Elementary Holly Springs Elementary School 1965 Hickory Road Canton Elementary Indian Knoll Elementary School 3635 Univeter Road Canton Elementary Knox Elementary School 151 River Bend Way Canton Elementary Liberty Elementary School 10500 Bells Ferry Road Canton Elementary Little River Elementary School 3170 Trickum Road Canton Elementary Macedonia Elementary School 10370 East Cherokee Drive Canton Elementary Sixes Elementary School 20 Ridge Road Canton Elementary R.M. Moore Elementary School 1375 Puckett Road Waleska Elementary Arnold Mill Elementary School 710 Arnold Mill Road Woodstock Elementary Bascomb Elementary School 1335 Wyngate Parkway Woodstock Elementary Boston Elementary School 105 Othello Drive Woodstock Elementary Carmel Elementary School 2275 Bascomb Carmel Road Woodstock Elementary Johnston Elementary School 2031 East Cherokee Drive Woodstock Elementary Mountain Road Elementary School 615 Mountain Road Woodstock Elementary Woodstock Elementary School 230 Rope Mill Road Woodstock Elementary Creekland Middle School 1555 Owens Store Road Canton Middle Dean Rusk Middle School 4695 Hickory Road Canton Middle Freedom Middle School 10550 Bells Ferry Road Canton Middle

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

School Address Municipality Type Teasley Middle School 151 Hickory Log Drive Canton Middle E.T. Booth Middle School 6550 Putnam Ford Road Woodstock Middle Mill Creek Middle School 442 Arnold Mill Road Woodstock Middle Woodstock Middle School 2000 Towne Lake Hills South Drive Woodstock Middle Cherokee High School 930 Marietta Hwy. Canton High Creekview High School 1550 Owens Store Road Canton High Sequoyah High School 4485 Hickory Rd Canton High Etowah High School 6565 Putnam Ford Road Woodstock High River Ridge High School 400 Arnold Mill Road Woodstock High Woodstock High School 2010 Towne Lake Hills South Drive Woodstock High ACE Academy 8871 Knox Bridge Hwy Canton Middle & High C3 Academy P.O. Box 769 Canton Online L.R. Tippens Education Center 8 Glenwood Street Canton Special Needs Polaris Evening Program 2010 Towne Lake Hills South Drive Woodstock Open Campus Source: Cherokee County School District

3.1.3.2 Hospitals The County is home to a single hospital, Northside Hospital - Cherokee, which is located in downtown Canton. Local streets that provide access to the hospital include Marietta Hwy, Riverstone Pkwy / Ball Ground Hwy, Waleska St / Main St, and Waleska Rd. From I-575, there are three potential exits that can be used to access this medical facility – Exit 20 (Riverstone Pkwy / Ball Ground Hwy), Exit 19 (SR-20 / Cumming Hwy / Main St / Waleska St) and Exit 16 (SR-140 / Marietta Hwy / Hickory Flat Hwy). As the fate of patients requiring immediate emergency medical treatment can depend on reliable and efficient access to the hospital, it is important to effectively manage congestion along the roadways abutting the facility and to potentially construct minor facility improvements that allow for enhanced emergency vehicle access. In 2016 Northside Hospital - Cherokee will be moving to a new facility south of the Canton Marketplace Shopping Center, near the intersection of I-575 and SR-20 (Exit 19 - Cumming Hwy / Main St). The new hospital will be accessed through a new roadway that was recently constructed; Northside-Cherokee Boulevard, that runs between SR-140 (east of Exit 16 – Hickory Flat Hwy) and SR-20 (Exit 19 – Cumming Hwy / Main St).

3.1.3.3 Parks Parks, greenspace and other outdoor recreation areas serve as spaces for both exercise and play. In terms of parklands, the County operates 22 parks or trails that span a total of 2,234 acres. These facilities provide a combination of multi-purpose sporting fields, baseball/softball fields, tennis courts, boat ramps and lake access, playgrounds, pedestrian and bike trails, outdoor meeting spaces, and aquatic activities. Aside from the existing park facilities, the 2013 Annual Report published by the County’s Recreation & Parks Agency notes 14 additional planned future parks or greenspace areas covering a total of 1,944 acres. As some of these amenities facilitate activities that rely on the use of alternative modes of transportation, particularly the trails, the development of future transportation improvements should focus on enhancing non-motorized access to both existing and planned recreational areas.

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

3.1.3.4 Historic Sites Cherokee County is home to nine features that are listed in the US National Parks Service’s National Register of Historic Places. A listing of the six historic sites and the three historic districts is provided in Table 3.2. As the oldest town in the County, the City of Canton is home to the majority of properties listed on the National Register. Additionally, Table 3.3 provides location information for the six state historical markers within the County. Although they have not been formally designated by a federal or regional authority, there is a variety of buildings and sites within the County that are considered as locally important historical resources.

Table 3.2 Cherokee County Landmarks Listed in the National Register of Historic Places NRHP Listing Site Location Description Municipality NRIS ID# Year Ball Ground Old Canton Rd & GA-372 Ball Ground 2009 9001057 Historic District Canton Roughly bounded by Main St, Church Commercial Canton 1984 84000962 St, Archer St. and Marietta St Historic District Canton Cotton 200 Ball Ground Hwy. Canton 2002 2000293 Mills No. 2 Roughly centered on Main St Canton Historic between the Etowah River on the Canton 2010 10000803 District west and Jeanette St on the east Canton Wholesale 15 Main St Canton 1997 97001421 Company Building Cherokee County 100 North St Canton 1981 81000198 Courthouse Crescent GA-5, southeast of GA-140 Canton 1989 89002032 Farm Alfred W. Roberts GA-372 Ball Ground 1985 85002313 House

Woodstock Depot 2 North Main St Woodstock 1995 95000736

Source: National Parks Service, National Register of Historic Places

Table 3.3 State Historical Sites in Cherokee County GA Historical Site Location Description Municipality Marker # On GA-372 in Ball Ground at the Battle of Taliwa Ball Ground 028-1 GNRR railroad tracks Square in front of courthouse in Cherokee County Canton 028-2 Canton Joseph Emerson City Park on Marietta Street in Canton 028-3 Brown Canton Cherokee County Courthouse in Canton Canton 028-4 Gold

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

GA Historical Site Location Description Municipality Marker # Crescent Farm Old Hwy 5 opposite Canton City Hall, Canton 028-5 Rock Barn approximately 1 mile SW of Canton Buffington Elementary School on GA- Fort Buffington Unincorporated 028-6 20, 3 miles E of I-575 Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, Historic Sites

3.1.3.5 Natural Features Cherokee County is home to a wealth of water features, including portions of the Etowah River, Lake Allatoona, various creeks and reservoirs, as well as acres of riparian zones. Environmentally sensitive areas, natural resources, streams and rivers are all precious assets to any community and help to provide a true sense of place to visitors and residents alike. Thus, it is important to ensure that such areas are not adversely impacted by potential improvements to the County’s transportation system.

3.1.4 Developments of Regional Impact The Georgia Planning Act of 1989 granted the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) the ability to establish development review procedures for all large-scale developments that would likely result in regional impacts. The DCA has designated the ARC as the Regional Development Council in charge of reviewing applications for project is within the 20-County Metro Atlanta region that may be potentially classified as a “Development of Regional Impact” (DRI). Five DRI studies, which are summarized in Table 3.4, have been submitted or completed in Cherokee County since the previous CTP was published in 2008. The ARC concluded that three of the projects were “in the best interest of the region and therefore of the state.” The other two projects were either withdrawn due to the impact of the recent recession or were terminated because they were not perceived as a potential DRI by ARC.

Table 3.4 Recent Development of Regional Impact Studies DRI Development Initial Form Project Name County/City Current Status ID# Type Submitted Majestic Realty Co.; 2364 Commercial Cherokee 8/15/2013 Terminated (Not a DRI) Cherokee Village Square "In the best North Point Any other interest of the Ministries; Cherokee / Review 2301 development 9/18/2012 region and Watermark Woodstock Completed types therefore of Church the state" Horizon Group "In the best Properties, Inc.; interest of the Cherokee / Review 2194 The Outlet Commercial 3/24/2011 region and Woodstock Completed Shoppes at therefore of Atlanta the state"

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

DRI Development Initial Form Project Name County/City Current Status ID# Type Submitted Traditional Neighborhood 1812 Development, Mixed Use Cherokee 3/19/2008 Withdrawn LLC.; Mount Pilot Traditional "In the best Neighborhood interest of the Review 1811 Development, Mixed Use Cherokee 3/19/2008 region and Completed LLC.; therefore of Mount Pilot the state" Source: Georgia Department of Community Affairs, DRI Submissions 3.2 Previous Planning Studies and Programs A review of previous planning efforts and studies was conducted in order to ensure continuity between planning documents and to provide for a package of goals, objectives and recommended projects that are consistent with the community’s vision for the area. Several previous studies and planning documents have contributed to the community’s established vision and existing work program for Cherokee County. The following list documents the planning studies and programs that were considered as part of the development of this CTP:

 Transportation Planning Documents o ARC FY2014-2019 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) o ARC Plan2040 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) o ARC Strategic Regional Thoroughfare Plan (2011)  Comprehensive Planning Documents o Joint Comprehensive Plan for Cherokee County Ball Ground and Waleska (2008) o Horizon 2030 City of Canton Comprehensive Plan (2010) o Holly Springs Community Agenda (2006) o Woodstock Community Agenda (2007)  Large-Scale Development Plans o Technology Ridge Urban Redevelopment Plan (2011) o The Bluffs at Technology Park o Oak Grove Master Plan (2006)  Livable Centers Initiative Update Documents o Bells Ferry Corridor (2010) o Canton River Mill District (2010) o Holly Springs (2009) o Woodstock Town Center (2013)  S.P.L.O.S.T. Projects

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

3.2.1 ARC FY2014-2019 Regional Transportation Improvement Program Cherokee County is the site of several planned and programmed improvements listed within the ARC’s FY2014-2019 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The following list provides an outline of the types of projects to be developed in the County as part of the TIP package:

 Bridge Upgrades;  General Purpose Roadway Capacity;  Managed Lanes;  Roadway Operations & Safety;  Pedestrian Facilities; and  Federal Formula Funds for Transit

To bring the regional document into a local context, a review of the TIP’s list of projects impacting Cherokee County and its adjacent areas was conducted. Table 3.5 displays a list of all programmed projects included in the FY2014-2019 TIP that are related to Cherokee County. Out of the 16 projects included within the TIP, five improvements focus on enhancing roadway capacity, four involve bridge upgrades, three improve pedestrian facilities, two provide money for local transit services, one improves the safety and operation of the local roadway system, and one constructs new managed lanes along both I-75 and I-575 (e.g. Northwest Corridor Managed Lanes), with the I-575 portion running from I-75 to Sixes Rd.

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Table 3.5 Cherokee County Projects in the FY2014-2019 TIP

ARC ID Project Type Description From To Sponsor Cost Year FTA 5307/5340 Federal Transit Cherokee AR-5307-CH N/A N/A $6,613,352 N/A Formula Funds Operations Funding County FTA 5339 Federal Transit Cherokee AR-5339-CH N/A N/A $640,836 N/A Program Funds Capital Funding County Managed Northwest Corridor I-75: From Akers Mill Rd I-575: From I-75 to AR-ML-930 GDOT $1,061,656,043 2018 Lanes Managed Lanes to Hickory Grove Rd Sixes Rd General Purpose Bells Ferry Rd Cherokee CH-010A2 Southfork Way Victoria Rd $52,041,164 2017 Roadway Capacity Widening County Bridge Bells Ferry Rd @ CH-010B N/A N/A GDOT $9,238,000 2017 Upgrade Little River General Purpose SR-20 (Cumming Hwy) CH-020A3 I-575 Scott Rd GDOT $14,003,947 2016 Roadway Capacity Widening General Purpose SR-20 (Cumming Hwy) SR-369 CH-020B Scott Rd GDOT $59,997,050 Unknown Roadway Capacity Widening (Hightower Rd) SR-372 (Ball Ground Rd) @ CH-204 Bridge Upgrade N/A N/A GDOT $4,843,555 2016 Etowah River General Purpose Industrial Dr City of CH-215 Holly Springs Pkwy Hickory Rd $8,089,200 Unknown Roadway Capacity Extension Holly Springs Pedestrian Downtown Pedestrian City of CH-218 Holly Springs Pkwy Hickory Rd $1,730,945 2015 Facility Network Improvements Holly Springs Bridge SR-369 (Hightower Rd) @ CH-225 N/A N/A GDOT $5,022,054 2016 Upgrade Board Tree Creek Pedestrian ACE City of CH-226 Holly Springs Pkwy Pinecrest Rd $852,700 2016 Facility Academy Holly Springs Pedestrian Cherokee CH-227 Canton Rd Cobb County Line Stockwood Dr $1,022,255 2017 Facility County Roadway Countywide Signal Cherokee CH-228 N/A N/A $1,000,000 2019 Operations & Safety Timing Project County Bridge SR-140 (Houze Rd) @ FN-232B N/A N/A GDOT $8,952,850 2017 Upgrade Little River General Purpose SR-20 (Canton/Cumming Hwy) SR-369 SR-371 FT-061A GDOT $765,304,999 2019 Roadway Capacity Widening (Hightower Rd) (Post Rd) ALL PROJECTS $2,001,008,950 Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2014-2019 Transportation Improvement Program

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 3.6 presents a funding breakdown by project sponsor for all of the 16 projects included within the FY2014-2019 TIP project list. It should be noted that the project with the largest cost, the Northwest Corridor Managed Lanes effort, includes improvements along I-575 in Cherokee County. However, the majority of the corridor is housed along I-75 in Cobb County. Additionally, the SR-20 widening project from SR-369 to SR-371 wholly occurs in Forsyth County but runs into Cherokee County. As seen in the table, a significant amount of investment, primarily at the state level through GDOT, is expected to flow into the County’s transportation system over the next five years.

Table 3.6 Summary of TIP Project Sponsors Sponsor # of Projects Cost Cherokee County 5 $61,317,607 City of Holly Springs 3 $10,672,845 GDOT 8 $1,929,018,498 OVERALL 16 $2,001,008,950 Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2014-2019 Transportation Improvement Program

3.2.2 ARC Plan2040 Regional Transportation Plan In order to get a more accurate grasp of the range of transportation improvements that the County can expect over the long-term, Table 3.7 contains all of the projects related to Cherokee County contained within ARC’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), Plan2040. The table is organized by project type, beginning with programmed projects, which have funding set aside and will be implemented as part of the TIP, followed by long-range projects, which have been classified as future regional priorities, and ending with aspirations projects.

November 2014 3-15 Draft Report Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 3.7 Cherokee County Projects in the RTP Network ARC ID Project Type Description From To Sponsor Cost Status Year FTA 5307/5340 Federal Transit Cherokee AR-5307-CH N/A N/A $6,613,352 Programmed 2020 Formula Funds Operations Funding County FTA 5339 Federal Transit Cherokee AR-5339-CH N/A N/A $640,836 Programmed 2020 Program Funds Capital Funding County I-75: I-575: Managed Northwest Corridor AR-ML-930 From Akers Mill Rd to From I-75 to GDOT $1,061,656,043 Programmed 2020 Lanes Managed Lanes Hickory Grove Rd Sixes Rd General Purpose Bells Ferry Rd Cherokee CH-010A2 Southfork Way Victoria Rd $52,041,164 Programmed 2030 Roadway Capacity Widening County Bridge Bells Ferry Rd @ CH-010B N/A N/A GDOT $9,238,000 Programmed 2030 Upgrade Little River General Purpose SR-20 (Cumming Hwy) CH-020A3 I-575 Scott Rd GDOT $14,003,947 Programmed 2020 Roadway Capacity Widening General Purpose SR-20 (Cumming Hwy) SR-369 CH-020B Scott Rd GDOT $59,997,050 Programmed 2030 Roadway Capacity Widening (Hightower Rd) SR-372 (Ball Ground Rd) @ CH-204 Bridge Upgrade N/A N/A GDOT $4,843,555 Programmed 2020 Etowah River City of General Purpose Industrial Dr CH-215 Holly Springs Pkwy Hickory Rd Holly $8,089,200 Programmed 2030 Roadway Capacity Extension Springs City of Pedestrian Downtown Pedestrian CH-218 Holly Springs Pkwy Hickory Rd Holly $1,730,945 Programmed 2020 Facility Network Improvements Springs Bridge SR-369 (Hightower Rd) @ CH-225 N/A N/A GDOT $5,022,054 Programmed 2030 Upgrade Board Tree Creek City of Pedestrian ACE CH-226 Holly Springs Pkwy Pinecrest Rd Holly $852,700 Programmed 2020 Facility Academy Springs Pedestrian Cobb County Cherokee CH-227 Canton Rd Stockwood Dr $1,022,255 Programmed 2020 Facility Line County Roadway Countywide Signal Cherokee CH-228 N/A N/A $1,000,000 Programmed 2020 Operations & Safety Timing Project County Bridge SR-140 (Houze Rd) @ FN-232B N/A N/A GDOT $8,952,850 Programmed 2020 Upgrade Little River General Purpose SR-20 (Canton/Cumming Hwy) SR-369 SR-371 FT-061A GDOT $765,304,999 Programmed 2020 Roadway Capacity Widening (Hightower Rd) (Post Rd)

November 2014 3-16 Draft Report Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Network ARC ID Project Type Description From To Sponsor Cost Status Year Roadway SR-140 Operational & SR-9 AR-300 I-575 GDOT $20,000,000 Long Range 2030 Operations & Safety Safety Improvements (Alpharetta Hwy) General Purpose Bells Ferry Rd: Cherokee CH-010C Victoria Rd Sixes Rd $63,000,000 Long Range 2030 Roadway Capacity Segment 3 County General Purpose SR-20 (Cumming Hwy / SR-108 CH-020A2 I-575 GDOT $185,715,734 Long Range 2040 Roadway Capacity Knox Bridge Hwy) Widening (Fincher Rd) General Purpose Cherokee CH-167 Arnold Mill Rd Extension/Connector Main St Neese Rd $20,000,000 Long Range 2030 Roadway Capacity County SR-5 Business (Canton General Purpose SR-372 Spur SR-372 Cherokee CH-180 Hwy @ Howell Bridge $14,700,000 Long Range 2040 Roadway Capacity (Ball Ground Bypass) (Ball Ground Rd) County Rd) ASP-AR-006 Managed Lanes I-575 Sixes Rd SR-20 N/A $140,000,000 Aspirations N/A ASP-AR-007 Managed Lanes I-575 SR-20 SR-5 Business N/A $25,000,000 Aspirations N/A SR-92 ASP-AR-302 Managed Lanes I-75 North Wade Green Rd N/A $70,000,000 Aspirations N/A (Cherokee Rd) General Purpose SR-140 (Reinhardt College Pkwy) SR-108 ASP-CH-001 Lower Burris Rd N/A $18,200,000 Aspirations N/A Roadway Capacity Widening (Fincher Rd) General Purpose East Cherokee Dr Old SR-5 SR-140 ASP-CH-002 N/A $15,800,000 Aspirations N/A Roadway Capacity Widening (Holly Springs Pkwy) (Hickory Flat Hwy) General Purpose East Cherokee Dr SR-140 SR-20 ASP-CH-003 N/A $23,000,000 Aspirations N/A Roadway Capacity Widening (Hickory Flat Hwy) (Cumming Hwy) General Purpose Canton Hwy ASP-CH-004 Woodstock Bypass SR-20 N/A $42,000,000 Aspirations N/A Roadway Capacity Widening ASP-CH- General Purpose Bells Ferry Rd: Sixes Rd Marietta Hwy N/A $44,000,000 Aspirations N/A 010D Roadway Capacity Segment 4 ASP-CH- General Purpose SR-140 (Reinhardt College Pkwy): SR-5 Business Lower Burris Rd N/A $43,000,000 Aspirations N/A 140C Roadway Capacity Segment 3 (Riverstone Pkwy) ASP-CH- General Purpose SR-140 (Hickory Flat Rd) Widening: I-575 East Cherokee Dr N/A $79,284,056 Aspirations N/A 140D2 Roadway Capacity Segment 4 ASP-CH- General Purpose SR-140 (Hickory Flat Rd) Widening: East Cherokee Dr Mountain Rd N/A $74,944,832 Aspirations N/A 140E3 Roadway Capacity Segment 5 Interchange I-575 At Appalachian Hwy at ASP-CH-222 N/A N/A $23,900,000 Aspirations N/A Capacity New Interchange Pickens County Line General Purpose I-575 SR-140 SR-20 ASP-CH-223 N/A $21,100,000 Aspirations N/A Roadway Capacity Auxiliary Lanes (Hickory Flat Hwy) (Cumming Hwy) General Purpose Canton Hwy ASP-CH-224 Sixes Rd Rabbit Hill Rd N/A $6,600,000 Aspirations N/A Roadway Capacity Widening

November 2014 3-17 Draft Report Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Network ARC ID Project Type Description From To Sponsor Cost Status Year ALL PROJECTS RELATED TO CHEROKEE COUNTY $2,931,253,572 Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, Plan2040 Regional Transportation Plan

November 2014 3-18 Draft Report Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Table 3.8 presents a summary of all 35 projects, organized by project type, related to Cherokee County contained within Plan2040. Out of all the projects formally incorporated into the RTP, the majority of the improvements are set for near-term implementation as part of the current TIP.

Table 3.8 Summary of RTP Project Types Project Type Count Cost Programmed 15 $939,352,907 Northwest Corridor $1,061,656,0431 1 (Programmed) Long Range 5 $303,415,734 Aspirations 14 $626,828,888 OVERALL 35 $2,931,253,572 Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, Plan2040 Regional Transportation Plan

Out of the five long-range projects, four improvements are oriented towards providing additional roadway capacity along Bells Ferry Rd, SR-20, Arnold Mill Rd and SR-372 and one project is aimed at enhancing roadway operations and safety along SR-140. The remaining aspirations projects are focused on adding additional managed lanes along I-575, which would extend from the Northwest Corridor’s termini at Sixes Rd to SR-20 and eventually out to SR-5 Business, and I-75 and enhancing roadway capacity along SR-140 (Reinhardt College Pkwy / Hickory Flat Hwy), Bells Ferry Rd, Canton Hwy and East Cherokee Dr.

Table 3.9 summarizes the RTP projects by project sponsor. As was the case for the TIP projects, the majority of funding for local transportation system improvements is slated to come from GDOT, including over one billion dollars to develop the Northwest Corridor project within both Cobb and Cherokee County. It should be noted that a project sponsor has not been formally identified for any of the 14 aspirations projects.

Table 3.9 Summary of RTP Project Sponsors Sponsor Count Cost City of Holly Springs 3 $10,672,845 Cherokee County 8 $159,017,607 GDOT 9 $1,073,078,189 Northwest Corridor 1 $1,061,656,0431 (GDOT) N/A (Unidentified) 14 $626,828,888 OVERALL 35 $2,931,253,572 Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, Plan2040 Regional Transportation Plan

1 The majority of the project’s extent is contained within Cobb County. Thus, most of the funding listed below would actually be apportioned to improvements along I-75 in Cobb County.

November 2014 3-19 Draft Report Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

3.2.3 ARC Strategic Regional Thoroughfare Plan The Atlanta Regional Commission published the Strategic Regional Thoroughfare Plan (SRTP) in 2011. The purpose of the plan was to provide for more cohesive planning, operations and management of the region’s arterial network in order to increase efficiency in project implementation. The plan developed three levels of classifications for roads that were included in the resulting Regional Thoroughfare Network (RTN) based on a thoroughfare’s ability to move people and goods, connectivity to major regional activity centers, connectivity to other significant facilities in the regional transportation network, and functionality across multiple modes.

Level 1 thoroughfares have a high percentage of both work and freight trips; serve at least five developments listed within ARC’s Unified Growth Policy Map (UGPM); provide freeway-to- freeway connections or serve as interstate connector routes; and are served by premium transit service. Level 2 thoroughfares have a medium share of work and freight trips; serve between three and four UGPM developments; provide connections between freeways and Activity Centers or serve as Town Center connectors; and are served by local transit service. Level 3 thoroughfares have a low share of work and freight trips; serve up to 2 developments included within the UGPM; provide connections between freeways and other limited access, US highway, or other system connector routes; and either are not served by public transit or only offer paratransit service.

Cherokee County is served by several RTN facilities which are outlined in Table 3.10 below.

Table 3.10 Cherokee County Regional Thoroughfare Network (RTN) Facilities RTN Roadway Name From To Classification Level 1 SR-92 Western extent Eastern extent Main St / Holly Springs Level 1 Southern extent SR-20 Pkwy / Marietta Hwy SR-20 & SR-369 Level 1 SR-20 I-575 Split Level 2 Ball Ground Hwy SR-140 Northern extent

Level 2 SR-140 Southern extent I-575 SR-20 & SR-369 Level 2 SR-369 Eastern extent Split SR-20 & SR-369 Level 2 SR-20 Eastern extent Split Level 3 SR-140 / SR-20 Ball Ground Hwy I-575 Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, Strategic Regional Thoroughfare Plan (2011)

Figure 3.5 provides a map of the RTN facilities in Cherokee County. The color red indicates a Level 1, green a Level 2, and blue a Level 3 thoroughfare.

November 2014 3-20 Draft Report Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Figure 3.5 Regional Thoroughfare Network Map

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, Strategic Regional Thoroughfare Plan (2011)

3.2.4 Cherokee County Comprehensive Plan The Joint Comprehensive Plan for Cherokee County, Ball Ground and Waleska offers a comprehensive review and analysis of the major issues and opportunities that will influence the future growth of the area through 2030. The goal of the 2008 plan is to properly accommodate growth via a timely, orderly, and efficient arrangement of land uses, public facilities, infrastructure and services that will respond to the needs of both present and future citizens and businesses within Cherokee County. The plan consists of three parts: a community participation program, a community assessment, and a community agenda. The analysis is based on a review and inventory of existing conditions, land use patterns and character areas, public policies, planned improvements and extensive community feedback that allowed for the establishment of a community vision and the incorporation of citizens’ desires into the planning process.

This report is intended to meet the Standards and Procedures for Local Comprehensive Planning as established by the Georgia DCA on May 1, 2005. Preparation of a Comprehensive Plan in accordance with these standards is required to maintain the County’s status as a Qualified Local Government. This comprehensive plan provides an assessment as to how the local government’s policies and development patterns respond to the objectives set forth by DCA.

November 2014 3-21 Draft Report Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

In terms of transportation within Cherokee County, the plan made the following observations and recommendations:

 Corridors with high traffic volumes include SR-5, SR-92, Bells Ferry Rd, SR-20 and SR- 140  Connectivity is an issue along Bells Ferry Rd, SR-92, Towne Lake Pkwy and Sixes Rd  Coordinate transportation improvements, school locations, parks and open spaces, and other public uses to enhance neighborhoods throughout the County.  Encourage mixed-use village developments to provide for a diversity of economic opportunities in a walkable environment.  Continue to investigate alternative transportation (i.e. transit studies, sidewalk needs assessment, bicycle suitability and connectivity analysis) to lessen congestion within the County  Utilize Context-Sensitive Design for transportation projects to both facilitate travel by alternative modes and properly integrate the road network with adjacent land uses  Pedestrian access and safety should be provided along all routes  Roadways should include bicycle access and safety  Street trees and landscaping should line all public rights-of-way  Utilize open space and trails as buffers from roadways

Figure 3.6 provides a map of the future development patterns as identified in the 2008 Cherokee Comprehensive Plan.

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Figure 3.6 Comprehensive Plan Future Development Map

Source: Joint Comprehensive Plan for Cherokee County, Ball Ground and Waleska (2008), page 38

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

3.2.5 Municipal Comprehensive Plans While Ball Ground and Waleska engaged Cherokee County in a joint comprehensive planning process, the other three municipalities, Canton, Holly Springs, and Woodstock, prepared their own documents.

3.2.5.1 Canton The Horizon 2030 City of Canton Comprehensive Plan provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the major issues and opportunities that will influence the future growth within the city through 2030. The goal of the 2009 plan is to properly accommodate growth via a timely, orderly, and efficient arrangement of land uses, public facilities, infrastructure and services that will respond to the needs of both present and future citizens and businesses within Canton. The plan consists of three parts: a community participation program, a community assessment, and a community agenda. The analysis is based on a review and inventory of existing conditions, land use patterns, public policies, planned improvements and extensive community feedback that allowed for the establishment of a community vision and the incorporation of citizens’ desires into the planning process.

This report is intended to meet the Standards and Procedures for Local Comprehensive Planning as established by the Georgia DCA on May 1, 2005. Preparation of a Comprehensive Plan in accordance with these standards is required to maintain the City’s status as a Qualified Local Government. This comprehensive plan provides an assessment as to how the local government’s policies and development patterns respond to the objectives set forth by DCA.

In terms of transportation within the City of Canton, the plan made the following observations and recommendations:

 Existing portions of the roadway system near the southern and western edges of the city have poor level of service, including Riverstone Pkwy, John Pettit Rd, Knox Bridge Rd, and the portion of I-575 south of the South Canton Connector.  Future congestion problems are expected along Waleska Hwy, John Pettit Rd, SR-5 in South Canton, SR-20 east of I-575 and along Canton/Ball Ground Hwy east of I- 575.  The Etowah River and I-575 both form barriers to connectivity between jobs, housing and services and create bottlenecks.  Many subdivisions only have a single entrance and need an alternate connection to provide relief when the primary route is not usable.  Modal choices are limited and there is minimal public transit, bicycle or pedestrian facilities.  Sidewalks and bikeways are not adequately linked together and do not provide safe, sufficient access to desired destinations.

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

 More walkable neighborhoods and bicycle facilities would help provide an alternative to driving and encourage better health.  Transportation management tools and roadway design have not provided the contextual solutions that are required in these sensitive areas.  Greater use of alternate transportation should be encouraged.  Develop commuter rail access for Canton to Marietta and Atlanta.

3.2.5.2 Holly Springs The City of Holly Springs Community Agenda provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the major issues and opportunities that will influence the future growth within the city through 2027. The goal of the 2006 plan is to encourage growth that will respond to the needs of both present and future citizens and businesses within Holly Springs via conscious land use decisions related to the siting of public facilities, infrastructure and services. The analysis is based on a review and inventory of existing conditions, land use patterns, public policies, planned improvements and extensive community feedback that allowed for the establishment of a community vision and the incorporation of citizens’ desires into the planning process.

This report is intended to meet the Standards and Procedures for Local Comprehensive Planning as established by the Georgia DCA on May 1, 2005. Preparation of a Comprehensive Plan in accordance with these standards is required to maintain the City’s status as a Qualified Local Government. This comprehensive plan provides an assessment as to how the local government’s policies and development patterns respond to the objectives set forth by DCA.

In terms of transportation within the City of Holly Springs, the plan made the following observations and recommendations:

 The demand for bicycle facilities will likely increase as the town center is developed and alternative transportation routes are created  Aesthetically appealing transportation routes are desired, including elements like street trees, street furniture zones and landscaping strips  Improve geometrics at local intersections where safety problems exist  Ensure adequate off-street parking facilities downtown  Improve the network of pedestrian facilities  Develop multi-use trails by providing bike lanes along Hickory Rd, Holly Springs Pkwy, Holly St and the new connector roadway  Make efforts to tie into the regional public transportation system  Increase provision of safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian facilities

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

3.2.5.3 Woodstock The City of Woodstock Community Agenda provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the major issues and opportunities that will influence the future growth within the city through 2030. The goal of the 2007 plan is to maintain Woodstock’s historic character while accommodating new growth by developing mixed-use villages. The analysis is based on a review and inventory of existing conditions, land use patterns, public policies, planned improvements and extensive community feedback that allowed for the establishment of a community vision and the incorporation of citizens’ desires into the planning process.

This report is intended to meet the Standards and Procedures for Local Comprehensive Planning as established by the Georgia DCA on May 1, 2005. Preparation of a Comprehensive Plan in accordance with these standards is required to maintain the City’s status as a Qualified Local Government. This comprehensive plan provides an assessment as to how the local government’s policies and development patterns respond to the objectives set forth by DCA.

In terms of transportation within the City of Woodstock, the plan made the following observations and recommendations:

 Develop an infrastructure environment that is equitable across all modes  Promote the use of alternative modes for non-commute trips.  Provide pedestrian access and safety along routes in densely populated areas.  Incorporate bicycle access and safety considerations into roadway design process.  Implement special dedicated lighting of pedestrian ways to improve visibility between pedestrians and vehicle operators.  Street lighting based on a “Woodstock standard” using various designs that yield identity to and complement the characteristics of specific areas.  Use traffic calming measures to reduce through traffic in neighborhoods.  Include sidewalks and bike lanes as part of mitigation measures and design alternatives.  Establish a downtown grid pattern.  Identify an east-west alternative route through the city.  Provide for a future transit-oriented development near SR-92 and Main St / Canton Rd

3.2.6 Large-Scale Development Plans Several large-scale development or redevelopment projects have been identified along the I-575 corridor between Canton and Ball Ground, as well as at the intersection of SR-92 and Woodstock Rd. The Technology Ridge District runs along I-575 near the County’s regional airport and aims to redevelop the blighted area into a business and logistics powerhouse. The Bluffs at Technology Park would be located within the district and would produce up to five million square feet in new industrial, commercial, retail and residential

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan development. Finally, a new mixed-use village is planned near SR-92 Woodstock Road in the southwest portion of the County, in the Oak Grove community.

It should be noted that two of the three developments is located within an area that has been designated by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) as an “Opportunity Zone”. The Opportunity Zone (OZ) designation is intended to assist local governments in redeveloping and revitalizing declining commercial and industrial areas by granting state income and payroll liability tax incentives to employers who create jobs within the zone. The incentive program is open to both new and existing businesses within a designated area so long as the employer creates two or more new jobs within the district. For each new job created within the OZ, the company is eligible for the State of Georgia’s maximum job tax credit of $3,500. To be considered eligible for designation as an Opportunity Zone, the DCA requires that an area must be “within or adjacent to a census block group with 15% or greater poverty where an enterprise zone or urban redevelopment plan exists”2.

Cherokee County has a total of two Opportunity Zones, one of which is located in central Cherokee while the other is located in the southwestern quadrant of the County near Cobb County. The majority of the area encompassed by the Technology Ridge District is located within the Technology Ridge Opportunity Zone. The Technology Ridge OZ runs along I-575 from Exit 19 (SR-20/Cumming Hwy) in Canton to Exit 27 (Howell Bridge Road) in Ball Ground and includes the Canton-Cherokee Industrial Park, The Bluffs at Technology Park, and Cherokee County Regional Airport. The western half of the planned development within the Oak Grove community would occur within another Opportunity Zone that runs along SR-92 from Woodstock Road to I-75. The boundaries of these Opportunity Zones are outlined in blue Figure 3.7 and Figure 3.8.

2 Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Opportunity Zones, http://www.dca.state.ga.us/economic/DevelopmentTools/programs/opportunityZones.asp

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Figure 3.7 Technology Ridge Opportunity Zone Map

Source: Georgia DCA, http://www.dca.state.ga.us/economic/DevelopmentTools/ programs/documents/CherokeeOZTechRidge.pdf

Figure 3.8 SR-92 Opportunity Zone Map

Source: Georgia DCA, http://www.dca.state.ga.us/economic/DevelopmentTools/programs/documents/ CherokeeOZ2_92overlay.pdf

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

3.2.6.1 Technology Ridge Urban Redevelopment Plan In order to realize one of its recommendations within the Joint Comprehensive Plan, Cherokee County, along with Canton and Ball Ground, issued a Technology Ridge Urban Redevelopment Plan in 2011. The Technology Ridge District refers to the area along I-575 surrounding the County’s regional airport between Ball Ground and Canton and is outlined in dark blue in Figure 3.9.

Figure 3.9 Technology Ridge Development Map

Source: Cherokee County Planning and Land Use Department, Technology Ridge Urban Redevelopment Plan (2011), page B-12

The purpose of the redevelopment project is to leverage significant investment in the County’s airport in order to promote business growth in the blighted industrial areas surrounding the facility. Thus, establishing Cherokee County as the economic hub of the I- 575 corridor and improving the quality of life for residents in the adjacent neighborhoods which have relatively high poverty rates. Additionally, the plan seeks to promote development of Ball Ground’s Howell Bridge Rd area and transform the location into a new focal point of commercial and residential development.

Based on a review of recent aerial imagery available for the area, the Technology Ridge District is far from reaching full build-out. While there are a number of existing industrial establishments along the eastern side of I-575 near the airport, the other areas within the designated redevelopment area still mainly consist of undeveloped greenspace.

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

3.2.6.2 The Bluffs at Technology Park Within the Technology Ridge District, the area between Canton and Ball Ground is expected to grow significantly due to another development effort called The Bluffs at Technology Park. The development is west of I-575 at Exit 20, north of Riverstone Parkway. The Bluffs is part of a 700-acre planned mixed use community and will offer more than five million square feet of office, business, retail and residential space at full build out. A notable feature of the Bluffs is its inclusion of greenspace along the 370-acre Hickory Log Creek Reservoir. In terms of transportation, the Bluffs is significant in its provision of an additional north-south route, Bluffs Pkwy, which traverses Technology Ridge. Figure 3.10 provides a map of the Bluffs Master Plan.

Based on a review of recent aerial imagery available for the area, it appears that The Bluffs at Technology Park has not been fully developed. While the roundabouts along Bluff Pkwy have been constructed, only three commercial developments have been constructed on the site, including the Cherokee County Administration Building and the campus of Chattahoochee Technical College.

Figure 3.10 The Bluffs at Technology Park Development Map

Source: Cherokee County Planning and Land Use Department, Technology Ridge Urban Redevelopment Plan (2011), Photo Survey, page 35

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

3.2.6.3 Oak Grove A notable large-scale development project in the Oak Grove community is also being planned. Oak Grove is centered at the intersection of SR-92 and Woodstock Rd. The vision for the development is create a gateway into Oak Grove from areas south of the Cherokee County line that provides for a mix of land uses, quality traffic flow, and a functioning pedestrian environment which would encourage the use of alternative modes of transportation. A loop road forming the perimeter of the development would be provided as a means to enhance circulation within the development. Figure 3.11 shows the future development map as it appeared in the 2006 Oak Grove Master Plan.

Based on a review of recent aerial imagery available for the area, it appears that the Oak Grove Master Plan has not yet been fully implemented. Although the plots have been cleared, the only developments within the boundaries of the plan are the existing establishments (Dalton Marine and former Lake City Appliance).

Figure 3.11 Oak Grove Development Map

Source: Sizemore Group, Oak Grove Master Plan (2006), page 15

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

3.2.7 LCIs Since 2000, the Atlanta Regional Commission has operated a program called the Livable Centers Initiative that provides competitive grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations seeking to plan and implement enhancements to existing centers and corridors. The program encourages the redevelopment of existing city centers by incorporating mixed use elements and facilities that support the use of alternative modes of transportation (e.g. walking, bicycling, transit, etc.). Cherokee County has utilized this program to support planning in four different areas, the Bells Ferry Corridor, the City of Canton, the City of Holly Springs, and the City of Woodstock. This section describes the transportation and major land use elements of these plans. Figure 3.12 presents a map of the four LCI areas within Cherokee County.

Figure 3.12 Cherokee County LCI Sites

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, Livable Centers Initiative Shapefile

3.2.7.1 Bells Ferry Five-Year Update In 2005 ARC awarded an LCI planning grant to the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners for a study of the Bells Ferry Corridor (GA-92) area. The 2005 study focused on developing comprehensive solutions for future land use elements within the corridor, such as development patterns, transportation and circulation choices, alternative mobility and transportation modes, and included an Action Plan that would serve to guide the implementation of the plan over the next five years. The plan concentrated on

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan redeveloping commercial properties and underutilized parcels to provide for new mixed use developments that enhance the quality of life within the corridor.

In 2006 the Board received an LCI Supplemental Grant from ARC to develop Design Guidelines for the Bells Ferry Corridor. These guidelines eventually became a new Overlay Zoning district (Bells Ferry Community Design District), which was adopted in 2007, and allowed development beyond existing zoning so long as the property was consistent with the corridor’s plan and design guidelines. Finally, in 2010, the Board of Commissioners adopted a Five Year Plan Update which developed goals and objectives, as well as a revised Implementation Plan, that would help the County in continuing to develop a sustainable LCI district.

In terms of transportation, the initial LCI implementation resulted in a variety of projects that serve to supplement the traditional road network along SR-92, Bells Ferry Rd, Robin Rd and Eagle Dr, such as road widening and the construction of retaining walls, as well as pedestrian improvements (introduction of sidewalks, widening of sidewalks, lighting) and streetscape enhancements (decorative paving, median landscaping, etc.). The original plan also called for several planning studies along the corridor, including the completed Bells Ferry and SR-92 Access Management Plan that has been incorporated into the overlay district.

In terms of transportation elements in the updated plan, the recommended project list includes further design modifications of SR-92 and Bells Ferry Rd (i.e. raised medians for safety, planting strips for aesthetics, median breaks and refuges for pedestrian crossings), development of the parallel liner park shared-use path along Bells Ferry Rd, further implementation of the Bells Ferry and SR-92 Access Management Plan and the development of the Wade Green Access Management Study.

In terms of public lands updates, the updated plan notes that the County has pre-qualified for additional ARC LCI transportation funding which would support the construction of a parallel linear park along Bells Ferry Rd from Eagle Dr to Robin Rd. The park would operate as a shared-use path and would provide critical pedestrian access through the center of the corridor. Additionally, the County purchased land at Victory Drive and Kellogg Creek to secure a future public park space which was not identified in the initial LCI. In terms of housing, the updated plan suggests large-scale redevelopment of an existing mobile home park and the assembly of a large tract of vacant parcels and single family homes in order to develop a cohesive walkable residential neighborhood. The update also identifies the need for a County aquatic center that would potentially be built in the Bells Ferry Parkway Enclave that is part of the aforementioned redevelopment area.

3.2.7.2 Canton River Mill District Update The City of Canton was awarded an LCI grant from ARC in 2001. The study focused on a section of the municipality, referred to as the River Mill District, which is located near the

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan intersection of Canton Creek and the Etowah River. In terms of transportation elements, the initial plan called for various streetscape and pedestrian improvements, the extension of several existing roads, intersection improvements and reconfigurations, the development of a pedestrian corridor from Main St to Hickory Flat, the operation of a new bus route in the central business district, and the construction of a bus transfer station and park and ride at the site of a future commuter rail station. Other non-transportation improvements suggested within the original plan include a Riverfront Park, which would connect to the Etowah River Greenway, and the creation of development incentives to spur action by the private sector. Figure 3.13 provides a map of the Canton River Mill District.

Figure 3.13 Canton River Mill District Map

Source: City of Canton, River Mill District Study (2001), page 3

In 2010 the city submitted an update on each of the initial plan’s recommended projects’ status. In terms of transportation elements underway at the time of the update, streetscape and pedestrian improvements were being completed along Hickory Flat Rd, Marietta Rd, Railroad St, Main St, and Waleska St. Also, intersection improvements were underway at Hickory Flat Rd/Marietta Rd, Railroad St/Waleska St, Waleska St/Main St/North St. The City of Canton purchased a new bus that allowed for the operation of a shuttle service between the CBD and the study area. Funding for right-of-way and construction of the commuter rail station was included within the TIP. Uncompleted elements of the original plan include the Main St to Hickory Flat pedestrian corridor, which would run parallel to the railroad tracks, and connect the future transit station to the proposed Riverfront Park, serving as both a transportation and recreational corridor, and

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan the traffic circle at the intersection of West Marietta St, East Marietta St, Marietta Rd, Hickory Flat Rd and Railroad St.

One of the significant results of the initial LCI study was the creation of an Enterprise Zone in the River Mill District. The district’s designation as an Enterprise Zone should support the development of workforce housing and employment sites by providing parcels within the area temporary tax abatement and waivers for permit fees.

3.2.7.3 Holly Springs Five-Year Update In 2004, the City of Holly Springs was awarded one of the first LCI grants from ARC and used this funding to develop a plan that sought to achieve a walkable, transit oriented, live, work and play community. The primary result of this plan was the identification of a significant redevelopment project, the Town Center Project, which was championed by the Holly Springs Downtown Development Authority and would be sited near the Old Rail Depot at Main St and Hickory St. Figure 3.14 depicts the boundaries of the Town Center in purple.

Figure 3.14 Holly Springs Town Center Map

Source: Holly Springs LCI Evaluation and Appraisal Report 2004-2009, Attachment E

Other results from the planning efforts included construction of various roadway (intersection realignments and road resurfacing) and streetscape improvements, a new fire station, a new railroad crossing at Hickory Rd, the development of several transportation studies, including a Downtown Parking Plan and Circulation Study and an LCI Multi-Use

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan

Trails Study, the adoption of a Downtown Historic Overlay Ordinance, the preservation of land around the Old Rail Depot in anticipation of a future commuter rail stop, and infrastructure improvements that would facilitate the development of the Town Center Project.

In the years prior to the five year update, the city was successful at garnering local and regional funding to develop streetscape improvements and multi-use trails, including the installation of street lights as part of all streetscaping efforts and the construction of the first phase of a multi-use trail that was planned using one of two LCI supplement grants from ARC.

The five year update, which was adopted in 2009, addressed the initial plan’s unfinished objectives, including completion of the 10,000 linear feet of streetscape improvements along Holly Springs Pkwy and Hickory Rd; constructing the Town Center; performing engineering and construction for the Industrial Connector, which includes a rail flyover that will facilitate pedestrian access over the railroad alignment via Pinecrest Rd; and completing the walkability enhancements for the Town Center Project. The update states that a number of improvements called for within the original LCI are dependent upon completing the Town Center development, including the addition of bicycle lanes and signage, pedestrian crossings, construction of a new City Hall, development of the Town Center Green, and the placing of wayfinding and gateway signage.

In terms of transportation elements within the five year update, the revised plan calls for the creation of a grid street system downtown, mobility enhancements to support the development and operation of the Town Center Project, and resolving congestion at Palm St & Hickory Rd. The plan also contemplates the development of a multi-use trail system that would consist of three trails and potentially be integrated into the upcoming Town Center development. The trail system would include pocket parks and designated nodes. Additionally, the update suggests the creation of a revised overlay district for the LCI area, which would include form-based and TOD elements.

3.2.7.4 Woodstock Town Center LCI Plan The City of Woodstock completed an LCI in 2002 that focused on redeveloping the city’s historic Downtown by incorporating appropriate land uses and providing for enhanced connectivity to adjacent areas. The 2013 Woodstock Town Center LCI Plan created an action plan aimed at maintaining the downtown district’s desirability via improvements in land use, mobility and economic development. Figure 3.15 provides a map of the future land use plan for Downtown Woodstock and demonstrates that density within the downtown area is expected to increase.

In terms of transportation elements, the plan provides both a list of policies and projects. The policies are aimed at improving the transportation experience for non-motorized users by increasing walkability within the downtown area, developing a multi-use trail network

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan as per the city’s Greenprints trail plan, enhancing bicycle and pedestrian connections downtown, constructing parking decks, introducing traffic calming measures, implementing a gridded street network, and developing a bikeshare service. In terms of transit, the plan calls for a Trolley Feasibility Study and also the construction of a multi-modal transit facility at Main St and SR-92 that would serve as a future commuter rail stop and potential TOD site.

Figure 3.15 Woodstock Town Center Map

Source: Woodstock Town Center Plan (2013), page 81

3.2.8 SPLOST Projects While funding for interstate, federal highway and state route transportation facilities is provided through FHWA and GDOT, the development, operation and maintenance of the County’s roadway system primarily relies on a portion of revenues generated by a one percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) applied to all retail sales within

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan the County. The Roadway Capital Improvement/SPLOST Roadway program is managed by the County’s Roadway Capital Program Management Department which is responsible for all pre-construction elements (i.e. conceptual planning, preliminary engineering, design, construction planning) of the SPLOST projects. The goals and objectives of the department are listed below.

1. Improve and maintain the safety and integrity of the roadway system of Cherokee County. 2. Minimize the inconvenience and protect the safety of motorists and the community during construction of roadway improvement projects. 3. Minimize any detrimental environmental impacts as a result of roadway improvement projects. 4. Coordinate roadway improvement projects with all state agencies, local governments and boards to cost effectively improve the roadway system of Cherokee County.

According to a recent Project Status Report issued by the Cherokee County Roadway Capital Program Management Department, the 2014 SPLOST funding levels have provided the County with the capital necessary to design or implement a variety of roadway improvements, some of which are included in the list below:

 Resurfacing of 24.3 miles of County roads  Geometric improvements along major and minor roadways, including East Bells Ferry Rd, Fate Conn Rd, Hidden Valley Dr, Victory Dr, Kellogg Creek Rd  Intersection improvements along the Bells Ferry Rd, East Cherokee Dr, Trickum Rd, Wyngate Pkwy, SR-20 and SR-140 corridors  Culvert repairs at Bells Ferry Rd, Westside Ln, Plantation Trace, and Boston Ridge  Widening of Little Rd, Hames Rd, Keeter Rd, Brick Mill Rd  Paving of Bishop Rd  Construction of new road leading to a future County park (Burch Park)  Two coordinated projects with GDOT along the Bells Ferry Rd corridor, including roadway improvements from Southfork Way to Victoria Rd and a bridge upgrade over Little River/Lake Allatoona

3.3 Public Transportation The provision of public transit services is fundamental to the County’s ability to accommodate growth, expand its employment opportunities and attract new generations of residents to the area. Transit is particularly important for those who are members of zero car households and aging seniors. Public transportation serving Cherokee County consists solely of bus service, which is provided by two operators. Local service within the County is handled by the Cherokee Area Transportation System (CATS) while commuter- oriented services extending outside of the County are operated by the Georgia Regional

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Transportation Authority (GRTA). Figure 3.16 shows the transit services provided by GRTA and CATS within Cherokee County.

3.3.1 CATS Local Transit Services CATS operates four different forms of transit – Countywide, fixed route, paratransit and vanpool. Countywide service offers rural transportation to all residents and includes service to the following destinations: Cherokee County Senior Services, Cherokee Day Training Center, Highland Rivers, Wellness Center, Department of Family and Children Services, local medical facilities within Woodstock and Canton, and area nursing homes.

In addition to the Countywide destinations, the operator also provides demand response service aboard Countywide services. These services are primarily oriented towards seniors who rely on alternative forms of transportation to pay their bills, buy groceries or attend to medical appointments. While prior arrangements with the transportation provider are required, the program provides door-to-door transportation services for a variety of trips, not just medical appointments, at a significantly discounted rate.

Two fixed route transit services, which run five days a week from 8 AM to 4 PM with 60- minute headways, are operated by CATS and provide access to destinations in and around downtown Canton. The Route 100 services a total of 32 stops, including City Hall, the Pruett Community Center at the YMCA, Northside Hospital, Walmart, Cherokee High School, and a variety of other retailers and apartment complexes. The Route 200 services some of the same stops as the Route 100, but also includes service to the Department of Family & Children Services, Hasty Elementary School, Cherokee Health Department, Department of Driver Services, and a variety of other retailers and apartment complexes. City Hall and Walmart serve as transfer points where riders of one route can switch to the other. The fare for these services is $1.25 per person per one-way trip. CATS offers discounted one-way fares of $0.60 for seniors (60+), Medicare recipients, and passengers with disabilities.

Complementary paratransit services are available for passengers who suffer from visual or mobility impairments and mental health or developmental disabilities. However, in order to take advantage of the program riders must complete a paratransit eligibility application that details the nature of their condition and provides reasoning as to why they cannot take advantage of the fixed route, accessible buses.

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Figure 3.16 Cherokee County Public Transit Services Map

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, Public Transit Routes Shapefile

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Van pool service is offered as a means for those who live and/or work in Cherokee County to share their commutes in a single vehicle. This service allows commuters to be matched based on their home and work locations so that a single vehicle is used by a group of people to travel to work. CATS provides the matching service and contracts with a vanpool provider that provides vans used by commuters en route to work. While costs vary by round trip distance and the number of riders sharing the van, fees for the van pool average around $65 per month and must be paid in advance. Potential participants must fill out an application form in order to be placed in a van pool group.

3.3.2 GRTA Regional Services As the Atlanta region’s express bus operator, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) operates bus routes that allow commuters to travel between outlying areas of the region, such as Cherokee County, and major employment centers in metro Atlanta, primarily the Downtown and Midtown districts of the City of Atlanta. GRTA provides two Xpress bus routes with termini in Cherokee County. In terms of fares, the service provided along both routes is contained in GRTA’s Green Zone. A one-way fare costs $3.00, a round trip fare costs $5.00, and a 31-day pass costs $100.00.

Xpress Route 490 offers service from Canton and Woodstock into Downtown Atlanta. Route 490 services four morning departures from the Canton Park & Ride lot (Boling Park) at 5:45, 6:15, 6:45 and 7:15 AM, as well as four afternoon departures from the State Capitol at 3:45, 4:45, 5:15 and 6:00 PM. Xpress Route 491 affords citizens a connection from the Woodstock Park & Ride lot (Molly Lane) to Midtown Atlanta. Route 491 services five morning departures from the Woodstock Park & Ride lot at 5:45, 6:15, 6:45, 7:20 and 7:50 AM, as well as four afternoon departures from the Civic Center MARTA rail station at 3:45, 4:15, 4:44 and 5:30 PM. Additionally, the 491 operates two reverse commute trips from the Civic Center MARTA station at 6:15 and 6:50 AM, as well as one reverse commute trip from the Woodstock Park & Ride at 4:40 PM.

In Canton the express buses pick-up passengers at the Canton Park & Ride lot located near Marietta Hwy. and the Etowah River, just off of Exit 16 on I-575. In Woodstock the express buses pick up passengers at the Woodstock Park & Ride lot located near Molly Lane and GA-92, just off of Exit 7 on I-575. As the service is oriented towards commuters, both GRTA Xpress routes only operate on weekdays. Table 3.11 offers a summary of the operating patterns for the two GRTA routes serving Cherokee County.

Table 3.11 GRTA Routes Serving Cherokee County Time of Day Metric Route 490 Route 491 Origin Canton/Woodstock Woodstock Destination Downtown Atlanta Midtown Atlanta AM 7 Number of Trips 4 (2 Reverse Commute)

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Time of Day Metric Route 490 Route 491 Origin Downtown Atlanta Midtown Atlanta Destination Canton/Woodstock Woodstock PM 5 Number of Trips 4 (1 Reverse Commute) Source: Georgia Regional Transportation Authority

During fiscal year 2014 (July 2013 – June 2014), the two routes combined had an annual ridership of almost 93,000 passenger trips, which equates to roughly 370 passengers per weekday. The Route 490 comprised an average of 3.39% of GRTA’s systemwide ridership during the period while the Route 491 accounted for 3.26% of the systemwide usage. Figure 3.17 presents the monthly ridership for both routes during FY 2014.

Figure 3.17 Cherokee County GRTA Route Ridership (FY 2014)

Source: Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, FY2014 Ridership

3.3.3 Cherokee County Senior Services In addition to CATS bus service, the Senior Services division of Cherokee County provides pre-scheduled transportation services for seniors to the Senior Services Center in Canton via a 32 passenger bus that is equipped with a lift and wheelchair assistance. This service is oriented towards providing transportation to large groups of seniors while trips for senior individuals and small groups are served by the CATS demand response service described above.

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3.3.4 Commuter Rail In the past few decades several feasibility studies related to developing commuter rail service between Canton and Marietta have been conducted by the Georgia Rail Passenger Program, GDOT, Georgia Passenger Rail Authority, and GRTA. The proposed service would utilize a 22 mile stretch of the Georgia Northeastern Railroad’s right-of-way to travel from downtown Canton to Marietta and could potentially transfer over to the CSX main line and continue running south from Marietta into downtown Atlanta. While GDOT previously included the line on a map of its future passenger services, the department did not include this service within the 2009 State Rail Plan’s Intercity/High-Speed Rail map. Nevertheless, the communities along the corridor have all made conscious efforts to preserve the land around their historic downtowns for future commuter rail stations.

3.4 Commuter Patterns and Transportation Options Transportation mobility for workers commuting to and from Cherokee County is an important consideration in the CTP process, especially given the County’s forecasted growth in both population and employment through 2040. This section provides data related to the work locations of Cherokee County residents, the home locations of workers employed at sites in Cherokee County, mode choice for residents en route to work, the distribution of commute times for residents, and average commute times for residents of Cherokee County.

3.4.1 Work & Home Locations Based on data from the 2010 US Census County-to-County Worker Flow tables, the two tables within this section provide information related to the flow of workers in and out of Cherokee County. Table 3.12 looks at the work location for the residents of the County. Nearly 42% of Cherokee County residents who are employed go to work at an employment site that is located within the County. Other major work destination locations for the County’s residents include the neighboring counties of Cobb and Fulton, which combine for around 43%.

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Table 3.12 Cherokee County Residents – Workplace Locations Percentage of Employed County of Work Number of Workers Cherokee Residents Cherokee County 41,786 41.6% Cobb County 22,448 22.4% Fulton County 21,006 20.9% Dekalb County 3,133 3.1% Gwinnett County 2,668 2.7% Forsyth County 2,632 2.6% Bartow County 1,284 1.3% Pickens County 1,132 1.1% Other Counties 4,261 4.2% Total Employed Cherokee Residents 100,350 100.0% Source: 2010 US Census County-to-County Worker Flows

Table 3.13 details the home location for those employed within the County. Nearly 72% of Cherokee County’s workers are residents of the County. The adjacent counties of Cobb, Pickens, Bartow, Forsyth, and Fulton account for almost 21% of the County’s workforce.

Table 3.13 Cherokee County Workforce – County of Residence Percentage of All Workers County of Residence Number of Workers in Cherokee County Cherokee County 41,786 71.7% Cobb County 6,410 11.0% Pickens County 2,231 3.8% Bartow County 1,562 2.7% Fulton County 1,309 2.2% Paulding County 806 1.4% Forsyth County 708 1.2% Gilmer County 582 1.0% Other Counties 2,925 5.0% Total Workers Employed in 58,319 100.0% Cherokee County Source: 2010 US Census County-to-County Worker Flows

It should be noted that the Census County-to-County Worker Flow figures are based on answering “Yes” to the question “Are you employed?” Therefore, the Census figures potentially include a variety of workers who do not engage in typical routine commutes (e.g. those who are self-employed and working at home, part-time employees, the semi- retired, etc.). Thus, using this dataset can be somewhat misleading when discussing transportation improvements that respond to the needs of daily commuters.

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An alternative source of commuting data is available based on the count of employees for which employers have filed state-mandated unemployment insurance claims. As unemployment insurance claims are only filed by companies for full-time workers, this method of analyzing commute flows removes the majority of the limiting cases associated with the Census figures from the analysis. Thus, this data source is more likely to accurately reflect the demands placed on the transportation system by full-time workers with routine commutes.

The commute data based on unemployment insurance claims is visually summarized in Figure 3.18. According to these counts, roughly 21% of Cherokee residents who are employed work within the County while 79% of residents work outside of Cherokee County. Thus, future improvements oriented towards improving the commutes of residents must primarily focus on enhancing connectivity to points outside of the County for residents commuting into the metro’s core counties of Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb, and Gwinnett while also providing additional circulation for those working within the County. Additionally, nearly 44% of individuals employed in Cherokee County live within the County while the remaining 56% of Cherokee’s workforce resides elsewhere. Thus, future improvements oriented towards increasing accessibility to jobs within the County must take a more balanced approach by strengthening existing connections into Cherokee from the neighboring counties while also enhancing internal circulation.

Figure 3.18 Cherokee County Commuter Flows

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3.4.2 Commute Statistics Based on 2008-2012 ACS 5-Year Estimate data, the three tables within this section provide comparisons of the means to work and commute times for Cherokee County, the ARC 20- County region and the State of Georgia as a whole. Table 3.14 displays statistics related to the mode of transportation utilized by residents of each jurisdiction to arrive at their place of employment. Consistent with the metro Atlanta region and the state, roughly 89% of the County’s residents rely on roadway-based transportation for commute trips, either by driving alone (79%) or carpooling (10%). Relative to both the state and the region, residents of Cherokee County rely less on public transportation for commute trips, with the County’s rate at 15% of that for the metro region. Similarly, the commute share for residents using non-motorized modes (bicycling and walking) is substantially lower than the regional and statewide proportions. The proportion of residents working at home in Cherokee County is significantly higher than the stay-at-home rates of the region and the state; however, this could be a function of the self-employed and work from home reporting issue discussed in the previous section.

Table 3.14 Comparison of Means to Work for Residents Amount Relative Percentage ARC 20- ARC 20- Category Cherokee State of Cherokee State of County County County Georgia County Georgia Region Region Car, truck, or van 91,973 2,156,571 3,808,835 88.97% 88.25% 89.95% Drove Alone 81,912 1,895,067 3,343,739 79.24% 77.55% 78.96% Carpooled 10,061 261,504 465,096 9.73% 10.70% 10.98% Public transportation 520 82,375 98,055 0.50% 3.37% 2.32% (Includes Taxicab) Motorcycle 219 3,595 7,601 0.21% 0.15% 0.18% Bicycle 73 4,073 9,329 0.07% 0.17% 0.22% Walked 1,132 32,359 65,828 1.10% 1.32% 1.55% Other means 615 26,596 47,677 0.59% 1.09% 1.13% Worked at home 8,843 138,230 197,150 8.55% 5.66% 4.66% Workers 16 Years and over 103,375 2,443,799 4,234,475 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Table 3.15 provides a glimpse at the distribution of travel times to work for residents of the three jurisdictions. Roughly 47% of Cherokee’s residents reach their employment site in less than 30 minutes which is lower than both the regional (52%) and statewide proportions (61%). Around 38% of the County’s residents spend between 30 and 60 minutes traveling to their work destination which is in line with the regional average of 36%. Both the County and regional proportions for this commute time range are substantially higher than the statewide proportion of 30%. Almost 12% of the County’s residents spend between 60 and 90 minutes traveling to work which is significantly higher than the regional (8%) and statewide (6%) proportions. In terms of the long-haul commute (e.g. 90 minutes or more)

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan the County’s proportion is in line with those of the other two jurisdictions. Thus, on average, Cherokee residents spend more time commuting than residents of the metro Atlanta region and the state.

Table 3.15 Comparison of Commute Time Distribution for Residents Amount Relative Percentage ARC 20- ARC 20- Category Cherokee State of Cherokee State of County County County Georgia County Georgia Region Region Less than 10 minutes 8,183 186,912 445,423 8.66% 8.11% 11.03% 10 to 19 minutes 20,199 545,472 1,170,411 21.37% 23.66% 28.99% 20 to 29 minutes 16,104 469,223 831,140 17.04% 20.35% 20.59% 30 to 39 minutes 17,626 459,148 700,745 18.65% 19.91% 17.36% 40 to 59 minutes 18,380 381,108 524,864 19.44% 16.53% 13.00% 60 to 89 minutes 11,289 195,289 261,904 11.94% 8.47% 6.49% 90 or More minutes 2,751 68,417 102,838 2.91% 2.97% 2.55% Non-Home Based Workers 94,532 2,305,569 4,037,325 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 16 Years and over Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Table 3.16 shows the average commute time for the three jurisdictions, as well as the United States as a whole. Due to the fact that metro Atlanta accounts for nearly half of the state’s residents, the statewide commute time average is inherently biased. Therefore, the national average was included to provide for a more general comparison. Relative to the metro Atlanta region, residents of Cherokee County on average only commute an additional 1.8 minutes. Thus, the average commute time for the County is on par with the metro Atlanta average. The County’s average commute time is five minutes longer (19% greater) than residents of the state as a whole. Relative to all workers in the United States, Cherokee County residents spend almost seven additional minutes (26% more time) when going to and from work than the average US worker.

Table 3.16 Comparison of Average Commute Time for Residents Average Commute to Work (minutes) Relative Increase ARC 20- United Cherokee State of County to County to County to County States of County Georgia ARC Region State USA Region America 32.0 30.8 27.0 25.4 3.9% 18.5% 26.0% Source: 2012 US Census American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 3.5 Freight Movement Cherokee County has a variety of facilities that provide for the efficient movement of goods. Industrial land uses are responsible for generating the majority of truck trips in a given area. Within the study area, approximately one percent of the land is devoted to

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan industrial uses, with industrial concentrations located along the I-575 corridor, as well as SR-92, Canton Rd/Main St/Holly Springs Pkwy and Ball Ground Hwy.

3.5.1 Freight Rail Facilities In terms of freight railroads, the short line Georgia Northeastern Railroad (GNRR) operates in a northeast to southwest direction from Ellijay to Marietta and the corridor’s 100 mile alignment largely parallels I-575. The GNRR was largely responsible for the development of many of the County’s historic downtown districts and continues to operate through Woodstock, Holly Springs, Canton and Ball Ground. The freight route provides a connection to the CSX Elizabeth Intermodal Yard in Marietta. Depending on the needs of its customers, the freight line operates between two and five trains daily. The maximum speed along the railway is 15 mph. Although the line cannot accommodate the industry standard 286,000 pound rail cars, it is capable of supporting double stack operations. In 1991 GDOT and GNRR invested $460,000 to perform track rehabilitation along 71.8 miles of the alignment.

3.5.2 Over-the-Road Freight Facilities In terms of roadways which have the capacity to support freight operations, the County is home to many truck routes. As identified in ARC’s 2008 Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan and its 2009 Atlanta Strategic Truck Route Master Plan, the County is home to three major freight corridors and one connector route. Roads within Cherokee County that are contained within ARC’s Atlanta Regional Priority Freight Network include: Ball Ground Hwy, Marietta Hwy, Holly Springs Pkwy, Main St, GA-20, GA-369 and GA-92. In addition to the ARC truck routes, Cherokee County has three corridors within the National Highway System, including SR-20, SR-92 and I-575. Furthermore, I-575 has also been designated as a route capable of accommodating oversized trucks by the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA). Finally, Cherokee County also has five facilities that were incorporated to FHWA’s 2007 Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) which focused on providing freight forecast data on commodity flows between different metropolitan regions and states. The FAF truck routes include portions of SR-140, SR-108, SR-92, SR-5, and SR-372. Figure 3.19 presents an overview map of all freight facilities within the County.

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Figure 3.19 Freight Transportation Facilities in Cherokee County

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission & Federal Railroad Administration

3.5.3 Georgia Statewide Freight & Logistics Plan 2010-2050 The purpose of the report was to comprehensively assess the movement of goods across all modes of transportation in the State of Georgia and identify potential improvement projects. In terms of freight tonnage, the state’s transportation system moved 853 million tons of goods in 2007. Of the 853 million tons, roughly 75% was moved by truck, about 25% was carried via rail, and water and air transportation combined to account for only 0.26% of all tonnage. In the same year the state transportation system supported the movement of some $2.1 trillion worth of goods. Of the total value of goods moved, 87.7% was carried by truck, 10% was hauled over railways, 2.3% was transported via plane and 0.03% was shipped via water.

In terms of the plan’s relevance to Cherokee County’s rail infrastructure, the plan noted that there is only one freight railroad operating through Cherokee County. The plan also noted that Cherokee County did not have any freight bottlenecks, critical intermodal or carload terminals. Therefore, the plan did not suggest any near-term improvements nor planned bypass routes for rail freight traffic within the County.

In terms of highway improvements within the vicinity of Cherokee County, the County is completely within the bounds of the plan’s Atlanta to Tennessee strategic highway

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan corridor. This corridor is home to the state’s highest truck volumes, with over 25,000 trucks a day traversing the six-lane stretch of I-75 north of Atlanta. The plan called for an improvement to the I-75 and I-285 interchange in Cobb County to ease freight congestion. This interchange has been ranked by the American Transportation Research Institute as the second worst truck bottleneck in metro Atlanta and the 20th worst truck bottleneck in the nation. The interchange improvement should help increase the viability of locating freight industries within the County by providing enhanced access from I-75 to I-575.

3.5.4 ARC Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan The purpose of the 2008 Atlanta Regional Freight Mobility Plan was to comprehensively assess the mobility needs for regional freight movements in metro Atlanta and to create a framework to improve freight and goods movement within the region. One of the primary results of the study was the development of an Atlanta Regional Priority Freight Highway Network which was described above. The network is composed of routes that were identified based on their average annual truck volumes and percentages, connectivity to significant freight generators, designation as a truck route, identification by stakeholders, proximity to intermodal connectors, and its role in servicing local versus regional freight needs.

According to the County Fact Sheet, although Cherokee has a relatively small logistics presence, it is, nevertheless, home to a variety of industries that rely heavily on the use of freight facilities to bring in raw materials and to export their products, namely manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade. In 2005, 3.97 M tons of broken stones, ready-mix concrete and other construction materials flowed on Cherokee’s transportation system, accounting for 70% of total traded freight in Cherokee County.

In terms of freight’s impact on local employment, 57% of Cherokee County’s jobs are housed within freight-dependent industry sectors, 41% of jobs occur in other sectors, and 2% of the County’s employment is directly related to the logistics sector. Within the logistics sector, 47% of Cherokee’s workers are involved in postal services, 32% in support services, 13% in trucking and 8% in warehousing. In terms of commodity flows, Cherokee County’s freight activity consists of 65% imports and 35% exports. Of the commodities originating in Cherokee County, 50% of exports are sent outside of the state, 33% are destined for metro Atlanta and 17% are sent to other locations throughout the state. Of the commodities terminating in Cherokee County, 63% of imports come from points within the state that are outside of metro Atlanta, 20% originate from outside of the state and 17% are sent from other places within metro Atlanta.

3.5.5 ARC ASTRoMaP In 2009 the Atlanta Regional Commission published the Atlanta Strategic Truck Route Master Plan (ASTRoMaP). The purpose of the plan was to refine the Atlanta Regional Priority Freight Highway Network adopted in the 2008 Freight Mobility Plan by identifying preferred trucking routes that would provide for the efficient movement of goods without

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The refined freight network included three corridors within Cherokee County and one connector route. The NS-W1 north-south corridor runs for a total of 97.7 miles from the northern end of Cherokee County, through Cobb, Fulton and Fayette counties, to the southern end of Coweta County. Within Cherokee County, the corridor is composed of Ball Ground Hwy, Marietta Hwy, Holly Springs Pkwy and Main St. The EW-N4 east-west corridor runs for a total of 59 miles from I-985 near I-85 in Gwinnett County, through Forsyth and Cherokee counties, to the western edge of Bartow County. Within Cherokee County the corridor is comprised solely of GA-20. Additionally, a connector route runs eastward along GA-369 from the GA-20 and GA-369 junction in east Cherokee County, through Forsyth County, and terminates in Hall County at the junction of GA-369 and I-985. Finally, the EW- N2 east-west corridor runs for a total of 111 miles from the eastern edge of Barrow County, through Gwinnett, Fulton, Cobb and Cherokee counties, to the split of GA-92 near the northwest boundary of Cobb County. Within Cherokee County, the corridor consists solely of GA-92.

The plan noted that the primary safety concern for freight traffic in Cherokee County is that, due to the relatively low operating speed of the GNRR, drivers are more likely to make an attempt at beating an approaching train past its designated crossing. Additionally, GDOT crash analysis noted that higher than average crash rates tend to occur along routes with minimal separation between opposing directions of traffic. The plan noted that GA- 20, which is part of the EW-N4 east-west corridor, is a heavily traveled route for trucks and that “increased accident rates are experienced on the northern leg of GA-20, from the Bartow-Cherokee County Line east, past the intersection of GA-20 and GA-369” (page 6-9).

In terms of freight-supportive projects applicable to the study area, ASTRoMaP recommended only one improvement project within Cherokee County. The NS-W1-02 project is intended to remedy concerns related to adequate bridge width for freight trucks along Ball Ground Hwy near Sharp Mountain Creek and I-575. The $5.16M project would involve the replacement of the GDOT-owned bridge in order to facilitate enhanced freight movements along the NS-W1 north-south corridor which runs south from Cherokee County into Cobb County and terminates in Coweta County. The replacement project is expected to generate user benefits in the form of reductions in travel time, operating costs and accidents.

3.6 Rail Crossings According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Cherokee County has a total of 57 at-grade rail crossings of which 36 are public crossings, 19 are private crossings and 2 facilitate pedestrian movements across the tracks. Several crossings along the GNRR line experience heavy roadway traffic volumes. Table 3.17 provides a listing of the top five at-

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan grade rail crossings, based on 48-hour Average Daily Traffic (ADT) count data published by GDOT for the year 2013. It should be noted that traffic count data for facilities near the at- grade rail crossing in downtown Holly Springs was not available. However, it is likely that the intersection formed by Hickory Road and Holly Springs Parkway would rank within the top five at-grade rail crossings by volume.

Table 3.17 Cherokee County At-Grade Rail Crossings with Highest ADT GDOT 2013 Road Name Station Municipality Nearest Major Intersection ADT ID SR-92 45,160 0570082 Woodstock Canton Hwy & Main St

Old Hwy 5 Main St / Holly Springs Pkwy & 17,170 0570012 Lebanon (Holly Springs Pkwy) Sixes Rd

Main St 15,610 0570007 Woodstock Arnold Milll Rd & Main St

Waleska St 12,400 0570283 Canton Waleska St & Etowah River

SR-140 12,170 0570106 Canton SR-140 & I-575 (Hickory Flat Hwy) Source: GDOT, 2013 Traffic Counts in Georgia (http://geocounts.com/gdot/)

Data related to highway-rail grade crossing accidents/incidents were retrieved from the FRA’s Office of Safety Analysis. Since the publication of the previous CTP in 2008, FRA states that there have been zero accidents involving trains at rail crossings in Cherokee County.

3.6.1 Rail Accident Prediction The FRA’s Web Based Accident Protection System (WBAPS) is a computer model that predicts rail crossing collision rates based on a crossing geometry, operating characteristics and a five-year accident history. The output of the system is a predicted collision value which reflects the likelihood that a collision between a train and a highway vehicle will occur at a particular crossing over the course of a year. Crossings are then ranked according to their predicted collision value, with a ranking of 1 corresponding to the crossing with the highest probability of a collision. The collision values for Cherokee County are relatively low compared to other counties within metro Atlanta, likely due to the relatively low level of freight rail activity in the County. Table 3.18 provides a list of the top five crossings with the highest predicted collision rates.

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Table 3.18 FRA Web Based Accident Prediction System – Top Ranking Predicted Collision Locations in Cherokee County Predicted Crossing Location City Rank Collision AADT ID Value 340904F Arnold Mill Rd Woodstock 1 2.47% 12,480 340913E Alabama Rd Woodstock 2 2.41% 39,090 340893V Hickory Flat Rd Canton 3 2.03% 12,180 340891G Marietta Rd Canton 4 1.94% 6,800 340885D Waleska St Canton 5 1.66% 14,590 Source: Federal Railroad Administration, Web Accident Prediction System. 3.7 Airport Facilities Cherokee County is home to a single public airport, as well as two private airports and three heliports. The Cherokee County Regional Airport (03103.9) sits on a 160-acre site that is located six miles northeast of downtown Canton and just southwest of Ball Ground. The facility is owned by the Cherokee County Airport Authority. Runway 05/23 now stretches 5,000 feet in length and 75 feet in width and its surface has been rated in good condition by the FAA. According to the FAA database, the airport is home to 97 aircraft, including 76 single engine, 16 multi-engine, 3 jet engine, and 2 ultralight aircraft. In 2012, the airport serviced a total of 24,000 operations, of which roughly 56% were general aviation. On average, the airport services roughly 66 flights per day. Both 100LL and Jet A fuel types are available on site from a Fixed Base Operator. Figure 3.20 shows the location of the Cherokee County Regional Airport.

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Figure 3.20 Cherokee County Airport Facilities Map

Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, Airports Shapefile

In 2005 the airport authority, along with the Board of Commissioners, worked to develop a truly transformative plan, which became known as the Cherokee County Regional Airport Redevelopment Project, that included $34 M in federal, state and local investment to extend the runway to 5,000 feet, construct a passenger terminal, quadruple hangar capacity, and double the number of aircrafts at tie-down. In 2010 a vision for the areas surrounding the regional airport, which had been identified in both the 2004 County Comprehensive Plan and the 2008 Comprehensive Transportation Plan as potentially significant development sites, was defined.

The Airport Area Master Plan envisioned the area as a major employment center that would allow light industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, office, retail and general commercial uses alongside workforce housing developments. As seen in Figure 3.21, the master plan called for a business park area (purple), executive housing (orange), a service management buffer (green), a workplace zone (blue), gateways to the area (gold asterisks), and commercial/retail nodes (red circles).

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Figure 3.21 Airport Area Master Plan Development Map

Source: Cherokee County Airport Area Master Plan, page 13

Desired outcomes of the plan included: the creation of a Regional Airport Area District zoning overlay (which would be applied to all sections enclosed by dotted lines in the map above); the adoption of development standards within the area; the development of connections between the area and complementary developments like the Bluffs at Technology Park; and a positive in shift in business leaders’ views about the area’s potential for serving as a future home for their enterprises.

3.8 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Bicycle and pedestrian facilities serve a critical function in the development of comprehensive multimodal transportation networks by providing an additional means of moving people. Given that, at some point along a given trip, everyone is a pedestrian, these facilities must be taken into consideration. In places that attract significant pedestrian and bicycle activity, such as schools, libraries, commercial centers and recreation areas, sidewalks take on an increased importance. In areas with high bicycle and pedestrian traffic, crosswalks at intersections should serve as a means to minimize conflicts between people and vehicles. This section provides a summary of existing bicycle

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan and pedestrian network conditions, as well as an overview of previous bicycle and pedestrian planning efforts applicable to Cherokee County.

3.8.1 Existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Cherokee County affords residents and visitors alike a variety of recreational attractions that contribute to the need for the development of an alternative mode transportation network. The Cherokee Recreation & Parks Agency operates 22 parks within the County that span a total of 2,234 acres, including 34 miles of trails. Significant recreational attractors include the Etowah River Water Trail, the historic downtowns of Canton and Woodstock, Garland Mt. Horse/Hike Trails, JJ Biello Park, Hobgood Park, Blankets Creek Bike Trails, Badger Creek Park, the County’s new aquatic center and recreation center. These attractions will be considered in the development of recommendations for additional facilities aimed at establishing bicycle and pedestrian connectivity.

The County’s sidewalk network is primarily concentrated within the downtown districts of the municipalities, as well as the areas surrounding recent redevelopment sites and residential subdivisions. In general, the level of pedestrian facilities provided decreases as one moves northward from Woodstock up to Ball Ground. While recent pedestrian improvements within the County have occurred as part of roadway projects along state routes, there still exist substantial gaps in connectivity which contribute to a heavy reliance on personal vehicles in order to make trips. Aside from the sidewalk network and paths included within the County’s parks, the County maintains three trails, Blankets Creek, Hickory Road, and Garland Mountain.

3.8.2 Existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans In terms of existing plans for the alternative transportation network two municipalities, Holly Springs and Woodstock, have led the charge. As part of an LCI supplemental grant, the City of Holly Springs completed a Multi-Use Trail Master Plan in 2008. Among many elements, the planned network consists of bike lanes, which would be placed along Hickory Rd, Holly Springs Pkwy and Holly St, as well as a new connector roadway. The implementation of this plan would provide for circulation around the perimeter of the historic district; provide internal connections through the district by running parallel to the GNRR right-of-way; enhance alternative mode safety by providing designated crossings, including the construction of new bridges and tunnels; and serve a variety of commercial, historical and recreational points of interest, including the Town Center near the Old Rail Depot that was contemplated in the original LCI plan. Figure 3.22 provides a map of the proposed network.

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Figure 3.22 Holly Springs Multi-Use Trail Master Plan Map

Source: Holly Springs LCI Evaluation and Appraisal Report 2004-2009, Attachment F

Using the same consultant team as the Holly Springs LCI Supplemental Plan, the City of Woodstock commissioned its Greenprints Trail Plan in 2008. The plan leveraged the city’s prime location at the center of a multi-county, regional network of greenspace and trail facilities. The plan contemplates three different types of trails based on the needs of potential users: off road multi-use trails, on road bike lanes, and specialized trails. In order to provide circular connectivity, the off road multi-use trails would enclose the downtown core and offer passages under the transportation barriers of I-575 and SR-92. Looping

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Cherokee County Comprehensive Transportation Plan segments would then branch off in order to provide access to regional facilities in Cobb County and the City of Roswell. The off road multi-use trail network would span 60 miles. In terms of promoting bicycle connectivity, east-west facilities would be provided via on- road bike lanes along Towne Lake Pkwy, Arnold Mill Rd, and Old Rope Mill Rd. Opportunities for developing specialized trails, which would be oriented towards mountain biking or hiking, exist along Little River and Noonday Creek. Figure 3.23 provides an overview of the network proposed as part of the Greenprints Trail Plan. Red corridors indicate high priority segments, blue corridors note medium priority segments and purple corridors denote low priority segments.

Figure 3.23 Woodstock Greenprints Trail Plan Connectivity Priority Map

Source: City of Woodstock Greenprints Trail Plan, page 58

It should be noted that both of these plans contemplate a connection near Johnson Elementary School. Aside from these two plans, no additional studies related to bicycle and pedestrian network development were found.

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3.8.3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Crash Data In order to identify potential safety concerns for users of alternative modes in Cherokee County, statistics for crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists from 2011 to 2013 were analyzed using data provided by GDOT. During the three-year period, 70 crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians occurred in Cherokee County of which 77% involved pedestrians and 23% involved cyclists. Fatal injuries accounted for nearly 13% of all incidents reported for pedestrians and cyclists. Fatal injuries accounted for six percent of all biycle crashes and nearly 15% of all pedestrian crashes, with eight out of nine total fatal injuries involving a pedestrian. Table 3.19 provides a summary of bicycle and pedestrian crash types in the County during the period.

Table 3.19 Summary of Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes in Cherokee County (2011 – 2013) Crash Severity Pedestrian Bicycle Non-Injured 7 4 Non-Fatal Injured 39 11 Fatal 8 1 TOTAL 54 16 Source: GDOT Office of Traffic Safety and Design, 2011-2013

The majority of the cycling injuries (25 percent) and fatalities were concentrated in Canton. A summary of the critical elements of the bicycle crashes is provided below.

 The majority of bicycle crashes occurred during the daylight (15 of 16 crashes);  The majority of bicycle crashes occurred while the bicyclist and motorist were traveling straight (8 of 16 crashes);  Three bicycle crashes involved a motorist performing a turning movement or negotiating with a roadway curve;  Two bicycle crashes involved the motorist attempting to pass the cyclist;  One bicycle crash involved the motorist changing lanes; and  One bicycle crash involved the motorist entering or leaving a parking space.

The pedestrian crashes were concentrated in Canton, as well as areas east and west of Woodstock, and residential areas within the County. A snapshot of the pedestrian crash data is provided below.

 The majority of pedestrian crashes occurred while the pedestrian and motorist were traveling straight (19 of 54 crashes);  11 pedestrian crashes involved a motorist performing a turning movement or negotiating with a roadway curve;  Five pedestrian crashes involved the motorist backing out of a parking space or leaving a driveway; and

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 Six of eight fatal pedestrian crashes occurred in dark conditions on roadways without lights.

Figure 3.24 presents the locations and severity of bicycle and pedestrian crashes that occurred within Cherokee County during the period from 2011 to 2013. The majority of fatal pedestrian crashes were clustered in the southwest quadrant of the County, including two pedestrian fatalities at SR-92 and Wade Green Rd, one on Bells Ferry Rd near the Cobb County border, and one on Kellogg Creek Rd. Roadways with high counts of pedestrian injuries during the period include SR-92, Bells Ferry Rd, Eagle Dr/Towne Lake Pkwy, Arnold Mill Rd, and SR-140 (Hickory Flat Hwy/Reinhardt College Pkwy). Intersections with high pedestrian crash rates include the area bounded by E Cherokee Dr, Hickory Rd and Hickory Flat Hwy east of Holly Springs, the split of Towne Lake Pkwy and Eagle Dr west of Woodstock, and the stretch of SR-140/Waleska Rd from Riverstone Pkwy to Reinhardt College Pkwy in Canton. Similar to the geographic distribution of pedestrian injuries, bicycle injuries were concentrated along SR-92, Bells Ferry Rd and the stretch of SR- 140/Waleska Rd located just north of downtown Canton.

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Figure 3.24 Cherokee County Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes (2011 – 2013)

Source: GDOT Office of Traffic Safety and Design, 2011-2013

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3.8.4 Existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Studies Aside from the aforementioned multi-use trail studies related to LCI developments, there is only one additional plan applicable to bicycle and pedestrian facilities in Cherokee County. In 2007 the ARC published its Atlanta Region Bicycle Transportation and Pedestrian Walkways Plan which promoted coordination in the planning of non-motorized transportation facilities. The intent of the plan was to focus the development of potential pedestrian and bicycle networks on establishing regional connections between activity centers. The plans goals include the following:

 Provide transportation options to residents of the region in order to reduce vehicular congestion, improve air quality and enhance the mobility of those who do not own cars, cannot drive, or want to drive less.  Enhance the health, fitness, and quality of life for citizens of the region.  Provide a safe and effective network for bicycle transportation and pedestrian walkways for the entire Atlanta region.  Provide safe and convenient bicycling and pedestrian access to schools and other high demand destinations that are consistent with ARC land use policies and the RTP.  Provide guidance to jurisdictions and agencies around the region with regards to strategies to better facilitate pedestrian crossings at regionally significant roadways, especially unsignalized intersections and mid-block crossings.

While pedestrian routes were evaluated as part of the study, the plan did not designate any of the County’s existing pedestrian facilities as “Regionally Significant Roadways.” However, the plan did identify a number of potential bicycle routes that would serve the purpose of regional connectivity. The following factors were used to evaluate bicycle routes throughout the region: volume; mix and speed of vehicular traffic; width of outside travel lane; width of any paved shoulder or existing bike lane; pavement condition; and the presence and occupancy rate of any on-street parking facilities.

Based on the assessment of existing bicycle network conditions, Cherokee County received a Level of Service E which is slightly above the metro region’s average of LOS F. The plan recommended a regional target for bicycle accommodation of LOS C or better. For Cherokee County, the plan identified two north-south routes and one east-west route as strategic bicycle corridors. The primary north-south route would run along Holly Springs Pkwy, Marietta Hwy, Main St, and Canton Hwy in order to move cyclists from downtown Canton, through Woodstock and into Kennesaw. The other north-south route, a minor portion of which is contained in the County, would run from the intersection of Bells Ferry Rd & SR-92, down Bells Ferry to make its way towards Marietta. The east-west route would run along SR-92 from the aforementioned north-south corridor to Roswell.

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Figure 3.25 provides an overview of the strategic bicycle corridors within Cherokee County and surrounding areas. A yellow line indicates LOS C, an orange LOS D, a red LOS E, and a gray denotes that the link was under construction at the time the report was drafted.

Figure 3.25 ARC Strategic Bicycle Corridors

Source: Atlanta Region Bicycle Transportation & Pedestrian Walkways Plan (2007), page 18

Table 3.20 provides a listing of the improvement projects presented within the 2007 bicycle and pedestrian plan.

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Table 3.20 Cherokee County Bicycle Improvement Projects Listed in the 2007 BikePed Plan Length Bike Priority LCI Roadway From To Action (mi) LOS Tier Area? Cobb County SR-92 Trickum 0.49 C Restripe 1 No Line Main St Arnold Mill GNRR 0.11 B Add Paved Shoulders 1 Yes Old Rope Mill Canton Hwy GNRR 0.35 B Add Paved Shoulders 1 Yes Rd Main St SR-92 Arnold Mill 0.78 B Add Paved Shoulders 1 Yes Canton Hwy Sixes Rd Hickory 1.42 B Add Paved Shoulders 1 Yes Canton Hwy Old Rope Mill Cherokee Dr 1.41 C Add Paved Shoulders 1 No Canton Hwy Cherokee Dr Sixes Rd 1.29 C Add Paved Shoulders 1 No Old Rope Mill Canton Hwy GNRR 0.53 C Add Paved Shoulders 1 No Rd Main St SR-92 Arnold Mill 0.35 C Add Paved Shoulders 1 No Canton Hwy Sixes Rd Hickory 0.81 C Add Paved Shoulders 2 No Canterbury Knox Bridge Marietta Hwy 1.67 C Add Paved Shoulders 2 No Pkwy Hwy Cobb County Detailed Corridor Bells Ferry Rd SR-92 0.41 B 2 Yes Line Study Needed Atlanta Holly Springs Ave/Lakeside Detailed Corridor Pinecrest Rd 0.57 B 3 Yes Pkwy Dr/Canterbury Study Needed Pkwy Detailed Corridor SR-92 Canton Hwy Trickum 2.00 C 4 No Study Needed Atlanta Holly Springs Ave/Lakeside Detailed Corridor Pinecrest Rd 0.81 C 4 No Pkwy Dr/Canterbury Study Needed Pkwy Detailed Corridor SR-92 I-575 Canton Hwy 0.94 C 4 No Study Needed SR-20 (South Detailed Corridor Marietta Hwy Knox Hwy 1.89 C 4 No St) Study Needed Source: Atlanta Region Bicycle Transportation & Pedestrian Walkways Plan (2007) 3.9 Bridges As the County is bisected by the Etowah River and is also home to several of its tributaries, the condition of bridges in Cherokee County is of critical importance to the local transportation system. Deficient bridges can serve as a significant obstacle to creating a fully functional road network due to their associated load limits and other operational restrictions. In order to determine the needs for potential bridge improvements, conditions for all bridges within the study area were evaluated using data from the 2013 GDOT Bridge Inspection Report for Cherokee County.

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3.9.1 Inventory of Existing Bridges The information retrieved denotes the feature being crossed, the bridge crossing the feature and the bridge’s sufficiency rating. The sufficiency rating is used to determine the need for maintenance, rehabilitation or reconstruction of a structure. Through consultation with structural and bridge engineers it was established that a bridge with a sufficiency rating above 75 is likely to maintain an acceptable rating for at least 20 years given adequate maintenance. Bridge structures with a sufficiency rating between 50 and 75 may have a useful life of less than 20 years and could potentially require major rehabilitation or reconstruction work during the time horizon covered by this study. All bridges with a sufficiency rating of 50 or lower were identified as potentially deficient and qualify for federal bridge replacement funds. It should be noted that sufficiency ratings account for a variety of structural, cosmetic and safety factors. Thus, a low sufficiency score does not necessarily signal impending failure.

For each of the 78 bridges within Cherokee County, the bridge name, the crossing feature and the sufficiency rating were identified. Table 3.21 displays the results of the bridge inventory. Note that italicized text refers to bridges that are part of the state system.

Table 3.21 Cherokee County Bridge Inventory Sufficiency Feature Road Rating Sharp Mountain Creek Upper Dowdy Mill Road 21.8 Little River Bells Ferry Road 42.61 Toonigh Creek Transart Parkway 42.8 Sharp Mountain Creek Tributary. Leo Taylor Lane 44.5 Kellogg Creek Kemp Drive 44.9 Shoal Creek George Gray Lane 46.8 Mill Creek U. Union Hill Road 47.9 Canton Creek Marietta Street 53.01 Sharp Mountain Creek Lyon Dairy Road 54.16 Mill Creek Warwes Road 54.47 Sharp Mountain Creek Canton Highway 56.41 Little River Main Street 57.99 Shoal Creek Little Refuge Road 58.11 Canton Creek U. Union Hill Road 58.22 Canton Creek Epperson Road 58.92 Etowah River Yellow Creek Road 61.68 Mill Creek Vaughn Road 65.87 Etowah River E. Cherokee Drive 66.78 Bluff Creek Upper Bethany Road 71.01 Canton Creek Scott Road 71.93

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Sufficiency Feature Road Rating Kellogg Creek Chelsea Lane 72.42 Toonigh Creek Bradshaw Lane 72.5 Little River Trickum Road 74.86 Mill Creek Lower Burmingham 74.89 Mill Creek Tripp Road 76.94 Soap Creek Damascus Road 77.71 Etowah River Waleska Street 78.54 Little River Tributary Riverchase Road 80 Canton Creek Tributary Avery Road 80.87 Etowah River Tributary Roberts Road 82.61 Little River Tributary Savanna Estates Dr 84.97 Kellogg Creek Kellogg Creek Rd 85.14 Shoal Creek Pleasant Arbor Road 85.51 Salacoa Creek Salacoa Road 86.95 Etowah River Tributary Cokers Chapel Road 88.59 Soap Creek Soap Creek Road 88.79 Long Swamp Creek Conn's Creek Road 89.93 Avery Creek E Cherokee Drive 90.19 Conn Creek Conn's Creek Road 91.68 Owl Creek Braddock Land 91.77 Avery Creek Tributary Hickory Fairway Dr 91.96 Downing Creek Gold Bridge Crossing 92.01 Sharp Mountain Creek Tributary Northridge Road 92.3 Conn Creek Sperin Road 92.31 Canton Creek Beavers Road 92.35 Mill Creek Grandmar Chase 92.4 Mill Creek Tributary Grandmar Chase 92.4 Georgia Northeastern RR Old Highway 5 93.29 Little River Trickum Road 96.11 Mill Creek Mill Creek Road 96.45 Little River Arnold Mill Road 96.73 Rubes Creek Arnold Mill Road 97.01 Toonigh Creek Sixes Road 97.22 Clark Creek Priest Road 97.64 Toonigh Creek Old Highway 5 97.73 Avery Creek Hickory Road 97.85 Avery Creek Tributary Hickory Road 97.85

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Sufficiency Feature Road Rating Allatoona Creek Tributary Bridge Mill Avenue 97.86 Noonday Creek Stone Bridge Highway 97.96 Posey Branch Bascomb Carmell Road 98.09 Long Swamp Creek Reavis Mountain Road 98.2 Sharp Mountain Creek Howell Bridge Road 99.11 Rose Creek Town Lake Parkway 99.12 Canton Creek Scott Road 99.17 Little River Tributary Trickum Road 99.29 Salacoa Creek Salacoa Road 99.46 Rocky Creek Cox Road 99.5 Little River Tributary Wiley Bridge Road 99.5 Scott Mill Creek Brick Mill Road 99.5 Rock Creek L. Dowdy Mill Road 99.73 Mill Creek L. Union Hill Road 99.78 Mill Creek Gaddis Road 99.82 Little River Liberty Hill Road 99.82 Noonday Creek Dupree Road 99.83 Buzzard Flapper Creek Julius Bridge Road 99.91 Salacoa Creek Salacoa Road 99.96 Mill Creek Batesville Road 99.96 Bluff Creek Weathersby Road 99.98 Source: GDOT, 2013 Bridge Inspection Report

Based on the sufficiency rating, a majority of the bridges are in good condition and will not require any major maintenance of upgrade activities during the plan’s timeline. However, there are seven bridges that have a sufficiency rating below 50 and will likely require maintenance and rehabilitation within the next 10-15 years. The list below, which is organized in order of increasing sufficiency rating (e.g. worst condition first), denotes bridges that have a sufficiency rating below 50:

 Upper Dowdy Mill Rd at Sharp Mountain Creek  Bells Ferry Rd at Little River  Transart Pkwy at Toonigh Creek  Leo Taylor Ln at Sharp Mountain Creek Tributary  Kemp Dr at Kellogg Creek  Georgia Gray Ln at Shoal Creek  U. Union Hill Rd at Mill Creek

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There are also 17 bridges that have a sufficiency rating between 50 and 75 and should be considered as candidates for maintenance and rehabilitation within the plan’s time horizon. The list below, which is also organized in order of increasing sufficiency rating, provides an inventory of bridges with a sufficiency rating between 50 and 75:

 Marietta St at Canton Creek  Lyon Dairy Rd at Sharp Mountain Creek  Warwes Rd at Mill Creek  Canton Hwy at Sharp Mountain Creek  Main St at Little River  Little Refuge Rd at Shoal Creek  U. Union Hill Rd at Canton Creek  Epperson Rd at Canton Creek  Yellow Creek Rd at Etowah River  Vaughn Rd at Mill Creek  E. Cherokee Dr at Etowah River  Upper Bethany Rd at Bluff Creek  Scott Rd at Canton Creek  Chelsea Ln at Kellogg Creek  Bradshaw Ln at Toonigh Creek  Trickum Rd at Little River  Lower Birmingham at Mill Creek

ARC’s Plan2040 Regional Transportation Plan and its FY2014-2019 Transportation Improvement Program include four bridge upgrade projects within Cherokee County. Table 3.22 lists the bridge improvements included within ARC’s plans.

Table 3.22 Existing Bridge Improvement Projects in Cherokee County

ARC ID Description Sponsor Cost Year CH-010B Bells Ferry Rd at Little River GDOT $9,238,000 2017 CH-204 SR-372 (Ball Ground Rd) at Etowah River GDOT $4,843,555 2016 CH-225 SR-369 (Hightower Rd) at Board Tree Creek GDOT $5,022,054 2016 FN-232B SR-140 (Houze Rd) at Little River GDOT $8,952,850 2017 Source: Atlanta Regional Commission, 2014-2019 Transportation Improvement Program

Figure 3.26 identifies the location of bridges that will be considered as candidates for maintenance and rehabilitation within the County (e.g. bridges with sufficiency ratings below 75).

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Figure 3.26 Cherokee County Bridges for Potential Maintenance or Rehabilitation

Source: GDOT, 2013 Bridge Inspection Report

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3.9.2 East-West Mobility & I-575 Bridges I-575 runs through Cherokee County and the municipalities of Woodstock, Holly Springs and Canton, providing accessibility into the study area for those coming from parts north or south of the County. However, as the corridor vertically bisects the County, the roadway forms a potential barrier to east-west travel for local residents. As seen in Figure 3.27, there are 19 bridges that cross over I-575, of which nine provide for interstate ingress and egress.

Figure 3.27 Cherokee County Existing Interstate Crossings over I-575

Source: Parsons Brinckerhoff 3.10 Safety The last three years of available vehicular crash data from GDOT (2011 – 2013) were collected and analyzed for Cherokee County. During the three-year period, Cherokee County experienced a total of 15,669 crashes with 3,177 non-fatal injured crashes and 46 fatal crashes. This section identifies the active crash roadway segments and intersections within the County.

3.10.1 Active Crash Road Segments In order to identify roadways with potential safety issues, a crash density map for the County’s roadways was developed using the 2011-2013 GDOT crash data. Figure 3.28 displays the density of crashes along given roadways and the locations of fatal crashes.

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Figure 3.28 Cherokee County Roadway Crash Density

Source: GDOT Office of Traffic Safety and Design, 2011-2013

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As seen in the map, high concentrations of vehicular crashes existed in central Canton and Woodstock, as well as along each of the state routes that traverse the County. Roadways with high crash densities included SR-92, SR-140, SR-20, SR-372, SR-5, Bells Ferry Rd, Eagle Dr/Towne Lake Pkwy, Sixes Rd, and Holly Springs Pkwy. From 2011 to 2013, vehicular fatalities occurred along SR-20, SR-92, SR-140, SR-108, SR-372, E Cherokee Dr, Hickory Dr, and Bells Ferry Rd, among others.

3.10.2 Active Crash Intersections All crashes at intersections within Cherokee County during the period were examined to identify “active crash” locations. In total, 99 intersections in the County experienced 20 or more crashes during the period and accounted for nearly 46% of the 13,663 crashes within Cherokee County. Of these intersections, 39 experienced 50 or more crashes, accounting for 32% of the County’s total between 2011 and 2013. Table 3.23 summarizes the active crash locations with 50 or more crashes during the period, which resulted in a total of 4,437 crashes, four fatalities and 1,170 persons injured. These intersections should serve as candidates for future investigation and improvements.

Table 3.23 Active Crash Intersections – Cherokee County Non- Total Fatal Injured Persons Roadway Intersection Injured Fatalities Crashes Crashes Crashes Injured Crashes I 575 & SR 92 594 0 94 500 0 125

I 575 & Townlake Pkwy 381 0 91 290 0 131

SR 92 & Trickum Rd 254 0 33 221 0 43

I 575 & Sixes Rd 198 0 36 162 0 42

Bells Ferry Rd & Eagle Dr 186 0 30 156 0 40

Bells Ferry Rd & SR 92 176 0 51 125 0 70

Main St & SR 92 151 0 17 134 0 18

Hickory Flat Rd & Cherokee Dr 151 0 21 130 0 29

Robin Rd & SR 92 138 0 28 110 0 44

I 75 & SR 92 128 0 37 91 0 58

SR 92 & Wade Green Rd 122 0 30 91 1 36

Towne Lake Hills Dr & Townlake Pkwy 115 0 21 94 0 31

I 575 & Riverstone Pkwy 110 0 24 86 0 40

Molly Ln & SR 92 94 0 21 73 1 29

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Non- Total Fatal Injured Persons Roadway Intersection Injured Fatalities Crashes Crashes Crashes Injured Crashes Running Deer Pkwy & Townlake Pkwy 88 0 23 65 0 26

I 575 & Cumming Hwy 88 0 12 75 1 14

Cherokee Dr & Cumming Hwy 84 0 14 70 0 24

Bells Ferry Rd & Sixes Rd 82 0 13 69 0 20

I 575 & Marietta Hwy 81 0 16 65 1 28

SR 92 & Woodstock Rd 78 0 17 61 0 27

Marietta Hwy & Canton Byp 75 0 5 70 0 6

SR 92 & Woodstock Square Ave 72 0 11 61 0 17 Reinhardt College Pkwy & Riverstone 71 0 18 53 0 23 Pkwy SR 92 & Indian Valley Dr 68 0 14 54 0 24

Hickory Flat Rd & I 575 68 0 11 57 0 12

Northpoint Pkwy & SR 92 67 0 19 48 0 31

Townlake Pkwy & Eagle Dr 65 0 16 49 0 26

Hickory Flat Rd & Hickory Rd 61 0 8 53 0 9

Ragdale Rd & SR 92 58 0 17 41 0 23

Riverstone Pkwy & Waleska Rd 56 0 8 48 0 9

Hames Rd & SR 92 56 0 8 48 0 14

Park Brook Dr & Eagle Dr 55 0 13 42 0 17

Putnam Ford Rd & Eagle Dr 54 0 10 44 0 15

Old Hwy 5 & Cherokee Dr 54 0 7 47 0 11

Hickory Flat Rd & Marietta Hwy 53 0 5 48 0 6

Bells Ferry Rd & Townlake Pkwy 52 0 13 39 0 16

Marietta Hwy & Waleska Rd 52 0 7 45 0 9

Kellogg Creek Rd & Bells Ferry Rd 51 0 12 39 0 17

Neese Rd & SR 92 50 0 9 41 0 10 Source: GDOT Office of Traffic Safety and Design, 2011-2013

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Aside from active crash locations, the locations of crashes resulting in fatalities can also serve as a proxy for roadway safety deficiency. During the analysis period, a total of 27 fatal crashes occurred in Cherokee County, resulting in 28 fatalities from 2011 to 2013. The majority of crashes occurred along three facilities – I-575 (18%), Bells Ferry Rd (14%) and SR-92 (11%).

3.11 Roadway Characteristics This section presents the characteristics of roadways in Cherokee County. The data was developed by GDOT and was pulled from the Georgia GIS Data Clearinghouse. The following data was reviewed as part of the study process:

 Functional Classification;  Roadway Lanes; and  Roadway Surface Type.

3.11.1 Functional Classification Based on the nature of the traffic that a roadway serves, the facility is grouped into a functional class. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) defines the hierarchy of the highway functional classification system and includes the following roadway classes: urban principal arterials, minor arterial streets, collector streets, and local streets for urbanized areas and small urban areas. The functional system for urbanized areas is defined as:

 Urban Principal Arterial – The principal arterial system should carry the majority of trips entering and leaving the urban area and should also facilitate the majority of through movements desiring to bypass the central city. The principal arterial system is further stratified into the following groups: 1) Interstate, 2) Other freeways and expressways, and 3) Other principal arterials with not access control.  Urban Minor Arterial – The minor arterial street system should interconnect with and augment the urban principal arterial system and provide service to trips of moderate length at a lower level of mobility than principal arterials. These roadways should include urban connections to rural collector streets where connections have not been classified as urban principal arterials.  Urban Collector Street – The collector street system provides land access and traffic circulation within residential neighborhoods, commercial and industrial areas. The collector street also collects traffic from local streets in residential neighborhoods and channels it into the arterial system.  Urban Local Street – The local street system comprises all facilities not listed within one of the higher systems above. It primarily serves to provide direct access to abutting land and access to the higher classes of roadways. It offers the lowest level of mobility and usually does not contain bus routes. These roadways often discourage through traffic movements.

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The Cherokee County study area has approximately 1,900 centerline miles of roadway. Of the 1,445 centerline miles of paved roadway, Interstate 575 accounts for 25 miles northbound and 24 miles southbound and Interstate 75 accounts for 2 miles in each direction. There are approximately 245 miles of city streets, 877 miles of County roads, and 135 miles of state routes according to the GDOT shapefile. In terms of area type classifications, approximately 58% of the paved roadways in Cherokee County, by centerline miles, are classified as Urban and roughly 42% are classified as Rural. Table 3.24 provides an overview of the distribution of roadway lengths across functional classification and area types.

Table 3.24 Summary of Functional Classification of Roadways in Cherokee County Urban Rural Combined % of % of Length Length Length % of All Area Area (mi) (mi) (mi) Roads Type Type Interstate 39.03 4.6% 15.47 2.6% 54.50 3.8% Principal Arterial 52.68 6.2% 18.77 3.1% 71.44 4.9% Minor Arterial 92.43 10.9% 1.36 0.2% 93.79 6.5% Major Collector 39.07 4.6% 82.44 13.7% 121.51 8.4% Minor Collector 7.17 0.8% 56.17 9.4% 63.34 4.4% Local 614.81 72.7% 426.11 71.0% 1,040.86 72.0% OVERALL 845.19 100.0% 600.31 100.0% 1,445.44 100.0% Source: Georgia GIS Clearinghouse, GDOT Roadways

Figure 3.29 shows the functional classification of urban and rural roadways in Cherokee County and its municipalities. Table 3.25 displays the mileage and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) for the different roadway classifications within the County. The study area is served by multiple state roads (approximately 11% of the lane miles), which handle a majority of the traffic (45%). County roads account for the majority of the lane miles (72%) and carried 42% of vehicle miles traveled in 2013. City roads make up 17 percent of all lane miles and housed around 12 percent of all VMT. In order to ensure future mobility for Cherokee County, it is necessary to evaluate and identify need improvements to the state road system as part of this CTP’s development.

Table 3.25 Existing Mileage and Vehicle Miles Traveled (Paved Road)

State Roads County Roads City Roads TOTAL County Miles VMT Miles VMT Miles VMT Miles VMT Cherokee 133 2,689,966 1,272 2,496,324 299 735,012 1,704 5,921,302 State 17,912 179,842,633 87,539 82,878,137 19,359 35,787,365 125,404 299,020,177 Source: GDOT Office of Transportation Data, Mileage by Route and Road System Report 445 for 2013

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Figure 3.29 Cherokee County Roadway Functional Classification

Source: Georgia GIS Clearinghouse, GDOT Roadways

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3.11.2 Lanes The number of lanes along a roadway fundamentally influences the potential throughput of the facility. The majority of the roads in Cherokee County serve traffic in both directions. Over 98% of Cherokee County’s paved roads, by length, are two-lane facilities. This dependency on a network of two-lane facilities is likely to constrain mobility as future traffic levels increase. Some segments of Main St, Bluffs Pkwy, Cumming Hwy, Riverstone Blvd offer four-lane facilities and three-lane facilities are provided on Knox Bridge Hwy and parts of Main St. Locations where a roadway transitions from a four-lane to a two-lane facility are potential sites of future traffic congestion due to the decreased capacity. These locations should be analyzed to avoid future deficiencies in the roadway network. Figure 3.30 displays the number of lanes on the roads in Cherokee County.

Figure 3.30 Cherokee County Roadway Number of Lanes

Source: Georgia GIS Clearinghouse, GDOT Roadways

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3.11.3 Surface Type A roadway’s capacity, useful life and safety are dramatically affected by its surface. The list below provides an overview of the different surface types present within Cherokee County.

Paved Roads

 High Rigid – Portland cement concrete pavements with or without bituminous surface if less than one inch.  High Flexible – Mixed bituminous penetration road on a rigid or flexible base with a combined (surface + base) thickness of seven inches or more. Includes any bituminous concrete, sheet asphalt, or rock asphalt.  Mixed Bituminous Penetration – Low type (e.g. less than seven inches in combined thickness) with a surface of one inch or more.  Mixed Bituminous Pavement – A road, the surface course of which is one inch or more in compacted thickness, composed of gravel, stone, sand, or similar material, mixed with bituminous material under partial control as to grading and proportions.  Bituminous Surface Treated – An earth road, a soil-surfaced road, or a gravel or stone road to which has been added by any process a bituminous surface course with or without a seal coat, the total compacted thickness of which is less than one inch Seal coats include chip seals, drag seals, plant mix seals, and rock asphalt seals.

Unpaved Roads

 Gravel or Stone Road – A road, the surface of which consists of gravel or stone and may be stabilized.  Soil-Surfaced Road – A road, the surface of which consists of either mixed or stabilized soil.  Graded and Drained – A road of natural earth aligned and graded to permit reasonable convenient use by motor vehicles and drained by a longitudinal and transverse drainage system (natural and artificial) sufficient to prevent serious impairment of the road by normal surface water, with or without palliative treatment or a continuous course of special borrow material to temporarily protect the new roadbed and facilitate immediate traffic service.

As a County containing multiple growing municipalities, Cherokee County maintains a well- paved transportation system. Only 23 centerline miles of the County roads are unpaved. Those unpaved roads are mainly located in the corners of the County. The longest unpaved road segment is Lower Sweetwater Ln, which is 3.5 miles in length and located near the County’s western edge, roughly a mile south of GA-20. Figure 3.31 displays the pavement status (e.g. paved or unpaved) of all roads in Cherokee County.

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Figure 3.31 Cherokee County Roadway Pavement Status

Source: Georgia GIS Clearinghouse, GDOT Roadways

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