Dunwoody Makes Final T-SPLOST List

Mount Vernon Road would get more left turn lanes, more sidewalks and more bike lanes as part of the finalized T-SPLOST plan.

T-SPLOST is a penny sales tax that would help pay for transportation projects around the Atlanta region. Thursday, the Atlanta Regional Transportation Roundtable unanimously approved a final list of transportation investments totaling $6.14 billion to be funded by that sales tax, if voters approve it when it is put on the ballot in 2012.

For Dunwoody, the projects in the city include:

• $12 million for improvements on Mount Vernon Road from the Fulton County line to Dunwoody Club Drive. Improvements include center turn lanes, sidewalks and bike lanes, along with intersections improvements at Vermack road and Tilly Mill Road. Construction is expected between 2016 and 2019.

• $28 million. MARTA tunnel and platform lighting upgrades. The tunnels going from Sandy Springs Station to Dunwoody station would be among several sections of the MARTA rail line to get lighting expansion and upgrades for more energy efficiency and better lighting.

Nearby projects include:

• $160 million (with $30 million of federal funding) for adding collector distributor lanes to GA 400 from 285 up to Spalding Drive. The plan would potentially include two lanes in each direction parallel to 400, which would give access to Sandy Springs and Dunwoody without having to use 400. The project goal is to reduce traffic delays in the area.

• $112.5 million (with $337.5 million of federal funding) for improving traffic flow at the interchange at GA 400 and 285. The project is slated for construction between 2020 and 2022.

• $5 million in improvements to Ashford Dunwoody Road from 285 south to Peachtree Road. First there would be an analysis of traffic patterns on the road, but the project could include improvements at key intersections, sidewalk gap elimination, better pedestrian access, upgrading signals and signal timing, resurfacing and adding bike lanes. The project should get under way between 2013 and 2015.

• $10 million (with $23.5 million in local funds) for the widening of Hammond Drive in Sandy Springs. The project would run three miles from Roswell Road to GA 400.

• $37 milllion for planning, engineering, environmental review, improved bus services and possible right of way aquisition for the extension of MARTA's North Red line. The project would take the line, which currently stops in Sandy Springs, up to Roswell at Holcomb Bridge Road. Development for this project is expected to occur between 2013 and 2015.

An interactive map of projects can be found here. A full project list can be found at the ARC's web site.