Study Provides Prioritized Implementation Plan for Improvements along Highway 92 Corridor

Atlanta, GA – August 26, 2009 - Gresham, Smith and Partners, a leading national planning, engineering, architecture and interior design firm, is pleased to announce the completion of a Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Feasibility Study for the Highway 92 Corridor in Douglas County, Georgia.  This study furthers the initial conceptual LCI study completed in March 2008 by prioritizing transportation projects that support a series of walkable, multi-modal mixed-use centers along the corridor. Funded by Douglas County, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the United States Department of Transportation, the study takes a balanced approach to prioritizing projects by consideration of four distinct factors:  mobility, quality of life, market impact and physical/engineering constraints.  The study also recommends the best funding/implementation strategy for each project, including federal/state grants, tax incentives, community improvement districts and public-private partnerships.

Given the complex nature of this multi-faceted project, the Highway 92 study required close integration among GS&P professionals representing several of the firm’s many disciplines, including planners, engineers and urban designers. The end result is a practical plan for implementation that achieves the County’s vision and objectives while navigating the challenges associated with current market downturn.

The Atlanta Regional Commission’s award-winning Livable Centers Initiative program was created in 1999 and connects homes, shops and offices, enhances streetscapes and sidewalks, emphasizes pedestrians, improves access to transit options and expands housing choices.  Through the Douglas County feasibility study, GS&P measured and evaluated the benefits of improvements along the Highway 92 corridor to create an implementation strategy that will appropriately and effectively link transportation improvements with land use development strategies.  The improvements will create a more sustainable, livable community that is consistent with regional development policies and supports the goals of the LCI.

"GS&P's development of this feasibility plan sets a realistic roadmap for implementation of improvements that will support our goal of enhancing mobility, livability and sustainability along one of our most significant corridors," stated Amy Brumelow, Planning and Zoning Director, Douglas County.  "The proposed transportation improvements will lead to improved accessibility, increased use of alternatives to driving and will expand mixed-use development options.  In just two months, GS&P developed a plan that will help us to meet our long-term goals by prioritizing the projects based on need, effectiveness and funding requirements."

 "Through these improvements, Douglas County is demonstrating their commitment to improving the quality of life in the community by addressing mobility and livability issues which will also enhance market viability," Marion Waters, P.E., P.T.O.E., Senior Vice President, Gresham, Smith and Partners.  "We developed a suggested approach for implementation based on both short term and long term time frames due to the availability of funding, with those having the greatest amount of positive impact being implemented in the next two to five years."

Gresham, Smith and Partners recently completed a Complete Streets Study and Design Guidelines for the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO).  The Guidelines provide a set of tools and strategies to support complete streets transformations throughout the Knoxville region.  The firm is also working with the City of Dayton, Ohio to develop a transportation strategy for the Greater Rubicon Corridor.  The planning and design team will incorporate context sensitive and sustainable design elements to address usage of the corridor by automobiles, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders.

About GS&P:
Gresham, Smith and Partners provides design and consulting solutions for the built environment that contribute to the success of national and international clients.  For more than 40 years, GS&P has focused on enhancing quality of life and sustainability within communities.  GS&P consists of industry-leading professionals practicing architecture and engineering design as well as scientists and highly specialized planning and strategic consultants in Aviation, Corporate and Urban Design, Environmental Compliance, Healthcare, Industrial, Land Planning, Transportation and Water Services.  GS&P consistently ranks among the top architecture and engineering firms in the United States.  For more information regarding GS&P, visit www.gspnet.com.