Comprehensive Transportation Plan Existing Conditions and Needs Assessment Report

C I T Y O F M I L T O N

COMPREHENSIVE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN

EXISTING CONDITIONS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT REPORT

June 2016

Ac knowledgements

City Government

Ma yor Joe Loc kwood
C ounc ilwoma n Karen Thurma n, Distric t 1/Post 1
Ma yor Pro Tem Ma tt Kunz, Distric t 2/Post 2
C ounc ilma n William C . “Bill” Lusk, P.E., Distric t 2/Post 1
C ounc ilma n Burt Hewitt, Distric t 1/Post 2 C ounc ilma n Joe Longoria, Distric t 3/Post 1 C ounc ilma n Ric k Mohrig, Distric t 3/Post 2

City Staff

Steven Krokoff, C ity Ma na ger
C arter Luc a s, P.E., Assista nt C ity Ma na ger/Public Works Direc tor
Sa ra Leaders, P.E., LSIT, Tra nsporta tion Engineer
Other C ity of Milton Staff

Consultant Team

pg. i

Contents

1.0

INTRODUC TION.......................................................................................................................... 1

2.0

VISION AND G OALS .................................................................................................................. 1

Vision ...................................................................................................................................... 1 G oals a nd Objec tives........................................................................................................... 2
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT............................................................................................................... 3
Projec t Ma nagement Team ................................................................................................. 3 C ommunity Events ................................................................................................................ 4 Public Meetings..................................................................................................................... 4 Foc us G roups......................................................................................................................... 5 Web Outreac h a nd Soc ial Media ....................................................................................... 6 MetroQuest Survey................................................................................................................ 6 C ity C ounc il Engagement.................................................................................................... 7
DIAG NOSTIC REVIEW ................................................................................................................ 7
Tra ffic G rowth C omparison .................................................................................................. 7 Projec ts Implemented Sinc e the Last Pla n.......................................................................... 9
PREVIOUS TRANSPORTATION PLANS ...................................................................................... 11
Previous Pla ns’ Key Findings................................................................................................ 11
LAND USE AND MARKET ANALYSIS......................................................................................... 12
Demographic s & Ec onomy ................................................................................................ 12
2.1 2.2
3.0
3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7
4.0
4.1 4.2
5.0
5.1
6.0
6.1
6.1.1 6.1.2
6.2
6.2.1 6.2.2
Demographic Profile .................................................................................................... 12 Ec onomic Profile........................................................................................................... 15
Land Use............................................................................................................................... 18
Deerfield........................................................................................................................ 19 C ra ba pple .................................................................................................................... 20 Birmingham C rossroads ............................................................................................... 20 Arnold Mill C orridor....................................................................................................... 20
6.2.3 6.2.4
6.3 C urrent Ma rket C onditions ................................................................................................. 21
6.3.1 C ompetitive Regional Developments............................................................................. 21 6.3.2 6.3.3
Ma c ro-Level Ma rket C onsiderations........................................................................... 22 Loc al Ma rket C onditions.............................................................................................. 23
7.0
7.1
TRANSPORTATION INVENTORY ............................................................................................... 25
Pla c es C onnec ted by Transporta tion................................................................................ 25

pg. ii
7.2
7.2.1 7.2.2
Vehic ula r Inventory ............................................................................................................. 27
Study Network............................................................................................................... 27 Func tional Cla ssific ation .............................................................................................. 28 Roadway Laneage a nd Intersec tion C ontrol............................................................ 30 Posted Speeds.............................................................................................................. 31 Media ns ........................................................................................................................ 32 Bridges........................................................................................................................... 33 Annua l Avera ge Daily Traffic (AADT).......................................................................... 34 Tra vel Dema nd Model Analysis................................................................................... 35
7.2.3 7.2.4 7.2.5 7.2.6 7.2.7 7.2.8 7.2.8.1 Model C alibration ........................................................................................................ 35 7.2.8.2 2015 PM Level-of-Servic e ............................................................................................. 35 7.2.8.3 2040 PM Level-of-Servic e ............................................................................................. 36 7.2.10 C ra sh History ................................................................................................................. 37 7.2.11 Vehic ular Needs.............................................................................................................. 39

7.3

Pedestrian & Bic yc le Inventory........................................................................................... 41

7.3.1

Existing Infra struc ture .................................................................................................... 41

C ra sh History ................................................................................................................. 42 Pedestrian Needs......................................................................................................... 42 Bic yc le Suita bility a nd Needs ...................................................................................... 44
7.3.2 7.3.3 7.3.4 7.3.4.1 Bic yc le Suita bility .......................................................................................................... 44 7.3.4.2 Bic yc le Needs............................................................................................................... 46

7.4

Tra nsit.................................................................................................................................... 47

7.4.1

History ............................................................................................................................ 47

Existing C onditions........................................................................................................ 48 C onnec t 400................................................................................................................. 49 Tra nsit Needs................................................................................................................. 49
7.4.2 7.4.3 7.4.4

8.0

EXISTING NEEDS C ONC LUSION............................................................................................... 51

pg. iii

Appendix

Appendix A: Public Meeting/Foc us G roup Notes ........................................................................ A-2 Appendix B: MetroQuest Survey Results.......................................................................................A-15 1.0
1.1 1.2
1.2.1 1.2.2
MetroQuest Survey Results ..................................................................................................A-16
Priority Ra nking .................................................................................................................A-16 Survey Questions ..............................................................................................................A-17
Introduc tion Questions..............................................................................................A-17 C onnec tivity Questions.............................................................................................A-18 Roadway Repa ir Questions......................................................................................A-19 Vehic ula r Travel Questions .......................................................................................A-21 Wa lking/Biking Questions..........................................................................................A-22 Tra nsit Servic e Questions...........................................................................................A-23 Ec onomic Vitality Questions.....................................................................................A-24 Neighborhood Questions .........................................................................................A-25 Tra nsporta tion Safety Questions...............................................................................A-26
1.2.3 1.2.4 1.2.5 1.2.6 1.2.7 1.2.8 1.2.9

1.3

MetroQuest Ma pped Responses....................................................................................A-27

Appendix C : Full C omprehensive Ma rket Analysis ......................................................................A-28
1.0 C omprehensive Ma rket Analysis..........................................................................................A-29
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
Demographic Profile .................................................................................................A-29 Ec onomic Profile........................................................................................................A-36 Ma c ro-Level Ma rket C onsiderations........................................................................A-40 Loc al Ma rket C onditions...........................................................................................A-41

pg. iv

1.0 INTRODUC TION

The C ity of Milton is in the proc ess of upda ting its C omprehensive Tra nsporta tion Pla n (C TP) that will benefit c itizens and visitors over the next 25 years. Sinc e c ompletion of the 2009 C TP, Milton ha s experienc ed c ontinued growth, whic h has impac ted the overall tra nsporta tion system — inc luding vehic ula r, bic yc le, pedestrian, a nd transit. This c urrent update will serve a s a wa y to prepare for future antic ipated growth ac ross all modes of tra nsporta tion and help the C ity of Milton’s elec ted offic ials a nd sta ff ma ke c ruc ial transporta tion dec isions.

This doc ument is an interim deliverable that has been prepa red to assist in the development of the transporta tion pla n. This doc ument will focus prima rily on the existing transporta tion system a nd the needs identified within the transporta tion system. This will be done by c onc entrating on the following areas:

······

Vision a nd G oals Public Involvement Dia gnostic Review Sinc e the Previous 2009 C ity of Milton C TP Previous Tra nsporta tion Pla ns La nd Use a nd Ma rket Ana lysis Tra nsporta tion Inventory a nd Needs Assessment

2.0 VISION AND G OALS

Prior to underta king a C TP, a vision and a set of goals to reac h that vision should be developed. This ensures that the pla n’s development is reflec tive of Milton’s unique c harac teristic s and growth aspirations.

2.1 Vision

In 2015, the C ity of Milton c ompleted its 2016 – 2020 Str a te g i c Pl a n, whic h outlines a “strategic

road ma p a nd foc us on projec ts to move Milton into the future.” This pla n set the tone for how Milton antic ipates to grow in rela tion to infrastruc ture, c ivic engagement, c onserva tion, the ec onomy, a nd other a reas of life that effec t Milton residents. G iven this pla n’s strong vision for Milton’s future, it also serves a s the vision for the 2016 Milton C TP upda te. The vision c an be seen in the figure below.

pg. 1

2.2 Goals and Objectives

With a vision for the future of Milton’s transporta tion system firmly esta blished, goals were needed to ac hieve suc c ess. G oals from the 2009 C TP were used a s a ba seline then edited by sta ff and members of the public to reflec t c urrent thoughts a nd perspec tives. These goals a re outlined below.

pg. 2

3.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

Public involvement is a n importa nt part of the pla nning proc ess as it allows direc t interac tion with c itizens, elec ted offic ials, a nd other key sta keholders. This c ha pter doc uments public involvement stra tegies a nd a c tivities that have oc c urred, are c urrently underway, or pla nned for the 2016 Milton C TP upda te.

3.1 Project Management Team

The Projec t Ma nagement Tea m (PMT) serves a s a sounding boa rd for the overall C TP pla nning proc ess to ensure that the pla n’s outc omes are c onsistent with the aforementioned Vision and G oals. The PMT is c omprised of key sta ff and dec ision-ma kers from the C ity of Milton, the G eorgia Department of Tra nsporta tion, a nd the Atla nta Regional C ommission. Identified members of the PMT a re shown below in the ta ble below.

First Name

Last Name

Organization/Affiliation

Title/Role

Public Works Direc tor/ Assistant C ity Manager

C arter

Luc a s

C ity of Milton

Tra nsporta tion

Sa ra

Leaders

Thompson
Field
C ity of Milton C ity of Milton C ity of Milton
Engineer/Pla nner
Angela

Kathleen
C ommunic a tions Ma na ger C ommunity Development
Direc tor

Robert Steven

Edga r

C ity of Milton

C ity of Milton
Fire C hief

Krokoff

Polic e C hief

Ec onomic Development
Ma na ger
Sa ra h C hris
La Da rt Woods
C ity of Milton

G DOT Distric t Seven

Tra ffic Engineer

Fulton C ounty Representa tive

Pa tric k

Bra dsha w

Atla nta Regional C ommission

pg. 3

3.2 Community Events

C ommunity events a re a great way to seek c itizen feedbac k by providing the option to engage in the pla nning proc ess at a soc ial setting they have already pla nned to a ttend. In tota l there a re four c ommunity events pla nned for the C TP, two of whic h have happened and two tha t are being pla nned for the Rec ommenda tions phase of the proc ess. The events a re outlined in the ta ble below.

Information (to be)

Event Name

Date

Event Location

Provided

Milton High Sc hool vs. Alpha retta High Sc hool Footba ll
G ame
Visioning Boa rd, C TP Informa tiona l C a rds

August 28, 2015

Milton High Sc hool

C a mbridge High Sc hool vs. Forsyth C entra l High Sc hool
Footba ll G ame
Visioning Boa rd, C TP Informa tiona l C a rds, MetroQuest Survey

Oc tober 30, 2015

C ambridge High Sc hool

Public Meeting #2 Bell Memorial Park outrea c h
Projec t
Rec ommenda tions, MetroQuest Survey
April 2016 May 2016
Bell Memorial Park
Projec t
Rec ommenda tions, MetroQuest Survey
Milton Hometown
Jubilee
Historic Downtown C ra ba pple

3.3 Public Meetings

Public meetings offer a more tra ditional venue for educ a ting, informing, a nd hea ring from the public . Two public meetings were pla nned for the 2016 Milton C TP upda te — one wa s c ompleted in November 2015 a nd another is pla nned for Spring 2016. More informa tion on public meetings is outlined below:

·

Public Meeting #1, November 18^th, 2015: This meeting wa s held a t the Milton Public

Library from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. The meeting aimed to garner feedbac k from c itizens on existing a nd future tra nsporta tion infrastruc ture needs. Agenda items included a brief presenta tion highlighting what had been c ompleted sinc e the 2009 C TP, a n overview of existing transporta tion infra struc ture a nd potential needs, and a n assessment of la nd use a nd ma rket c onditions. Next, breakout groups with a ttendees foc used on existing a nd future tra nsporta tion needs rela ted to roa dways, tra nsit, bic yc le, a nd pedestrian infra struc ture. Attendees also had the option to ta ke a MetroQuest survey to further express their opinions.

·

Public Meeting #2, Spring 2016: This public meeting is antic ipated to ta ke pla c e at Bell

Memorial Pa rk. Although pla nned to be an open house forma t, it will have a few pg. 4 sc heduled presenta tion times for those who would like to hear a short, formal presenta tion. The meeting will foc us on spec ific projec t rec ommenda tions and gauge feedbac k from c itizens regarding these rec ommenda tions as well as funding, tra nsporta tion policy, and other releva nt tra nsporta tion topic s. Attendees will ha ve the option to ta ke a MetroQuest survey.