GDOT And Gwinnett Seek Public Input For I-85’s Future

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA—The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Gwinnett County have partnered to conduct a comprehensive corridor study along I-85 between I-285 and I-985. For the study, they are seeking community input.

According to the GDOT, the I-85 Corridor Study area is roughly 18 miles long and primarily located in Gwinnett, with a small portion in DeKalb County. The study will lead to proposed recommendations to improve safety, reduce congestion and enhance traffic operations along the corridor.

Through collaboration with stakeholders and the public, a wide range of potential alternatives will be identified and analyzed and recommendations will be developed for implementation, the GDOT said.

The 85 Study takes an innovative approach to planning by leveraging a Federal Highway Administration Planning and Environment Linkages framework – Georgia’s first PEL Study, the GDOT said.

The PEL process is a collaborative and integrated approach to transportation decision-making that both considers environmental, community and economic goals early in the transportation planning process, and utilizes the information and products developed during planning to inform future project-level environmental reviews.

The purposes of the PEL process are to improve planning-level and project-level decision-making; minimize duplication of effort during project-level environmental compliance efforts; enhance relationships with resource and regulatory agencies, stakeholders and the public; and streamline project delivery time frames.

GDOT and Gwinnett County invite the public to provide input on improvements. The 85 Study outreach effort includes engagement at public open house sessions as well as community events. In addition, the study team is conducting an online survey available at 85Study.com. The study will share information via GDOT’s Facebook page and follow plan-related conversations tagged with #85Study.

• Feb. 1, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Santa Fe Mall, 3750 Venture Drive, Duluth, GA 30096

• Feb. 4, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Best Friend Park, 6224 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Norcross, GA 30071
• Feb. 8, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. – George Pierce Park, 55 Buford Highway NE, Suwanee, GA 30024
• Feb. 11, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Lilburn Activity Building, 788 Hillcrest Road,Lilburn, GA 30047