A new “corridor vision” for improving Ashford Dunwoody Road in Brookhaven will be in place by next summer in a planning process approved Oct. 13 by Brookhaven City Council.
“In essence, it will be a game plan for figuring out how to improve that corridor,” said Jamie Cochran, senior vice president of transportation planning at Gresham, Smith and Partners, the firm awarded the $125,050 planning contract.
A major north-south route through Brookhaven, Ashford Dunwoody is a largely two-lane road often overwhelmed by traffic from the hotels, schools and parks that it serves.
“It’s a really challenging corridor,” said Cochran, especially because of its limited right-of-way.
The “corridor vision” will include a traffic study, but also will incorporate the city’s Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trail Plan that is still underway.
“We’re look at connectivity,” said City Manager Marie Garrett.
Streetscape will be another element, though council members Joe Gebbia and Linley Jones pressed for it to get more emphasis.
Besides an overall vision, the process will include sub-studies of the road’s three main sections: the Peachtree Road intersection, the Johnson Ferry Road intersection, and the Perimeter area. The plan will identify potential funding sources for improvements and suggestion for phasing any work.
The public input process will include meetings—including a planning charrette—and a stakeholder committee with residents, business owners, Perimeter officials and area commuters. The process is expected to take about eight months.
Gresham, Smith and Partners also created the city’s Transportation Master Plan, which will inform the process.