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From the Catoosa County News...
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v...localnews&om=1 (accessed 1 April 2004)
Park transportation proposals revealed
Study suggests widening Battlefield Parkway, reducing speeds on Lafayette Road
03/31/04
Kevin Cummings
While a transportation study paves the way for plans to handle increasing traffic flow around Chickamauga Battlefield, those plans don’t help some Fort Oglethorpe businesses languishing since the U.S. 27 bypass around the park opened, one official said.
The last of three public meetings of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park Transportation Study was held Tuesday, March 30, at Constitution Hall in Fort Oglethorpe. According to the federally-funded study proposals, Battlefield Parkway needs to be widened from four to six lanes from Cedar Road east to Interstate 75 to alleviate traffic congestion. Other proposals to improve traffic flow in and around the park include a north-south connection between and improvements to Red Belt and Three Notch Roads to increase mobility east of the battlefield and a connection from Cloud Springs Road to U.S. 27.
Fort Oglethorpe Mayor Judd Burkhart said the study proposals do not help businesses along U.S. 27 north of the park, or LaFayetteRoad. He said he is attempting to get McFarland Gap Road widened to draw traffic back to downtown Fort Oglethorpe.
"I didn't see anything that's going to bring traffic downtown besides new signage," he said. "I think the study went astray somewhere. I thought one of the main focuses was to alleviate the impact of the bypass on the downtown area."
Marta Rosen, senior vice president with Atlanta-based consulting firm Day Wilburn and Associates, said one of the biggest complaints she has heard from public meetings and surveys is from business owners along LaFayette Road who said business has dipped as much as 20 percent since U.S. 27 was rerouted from LaFayette Road to the battlefield bypass, known as Frank Gleason Parkway, in October 2001.
Rosen said residential and business growth over the next 21 years needs to be in sync with transportation improvements. Traffic flow is projected to nearly double in and around the park by 2025.
"That area has the potential for tremendous economic development," she said. "But the land use plan and the traffic plan need to work hand-in-hand. Areas where there are transportation problems are areas where development was not coordinated well enough."
The $380,000 study is being conducted by Rosen’s firm, in a joint effort with the National Park Service, Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT), the Chattanooga/Hamilton County/North Georgia Area Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) along with public and private recommendations.
"We looked at all the issues," Rosen said. "We wanted to accommodate the growing demand for travel while minimizing traffic through the park."
Rosen said the consulting firm will utilize public surveys from the final meeting to tweak the study proposals, which should be available for viewing in area libraries and government buildings and at the DOT Web site by mid to late April.
LaFayette Road business woes
According to the transportation study, to preserve the integrity of the park and promote public safety speed should be further lowered on LaFayette Road leading into the north end of the park.
The speed limit along LaFayette Road, north of the park, was originally 45 miles per hour until the 55 mph-bypass opened in 2001. Currently, the speed limit is 35 mph leading into the park and 30 mph at the Visitors Center of the park.
Krista Schneider with John Milner and Associates, which specializes in historic preservation studies, said because of the large number of historical markers and access to the park, LaFayette Road was deemed the most critical to preserving the integrity of the park.
Business owners have complained that because of the reduced speeds on LaFayette Road and the convenience of using the bypass, shoppers no longer patronize their establishments.
Jack Goodlet, owner of Park Place Restaurant said speed limits are low enough.
"They don't need to be dropped any further," Goodlet said. "They need to be raised. I'd be happy with 40 mph."
Rosen said time studies show that using the battlefield bypass saves no time over LaFayette Road because of the volume of motorists utilizing the bypass; however, auto accidents have decreased on LaFayette Road since the bypass opened and speeds were lowered.
"The advantage of using U.S. 27 (bypass) is just a perceived advantage," she said. "LaFayette Road is most critical to what happened in the battlefield. The importance of LaFayette Road goes beyond saving a few minutes."
Inside the park
Suggested improvements of the study over the next 21 years inside Chickamauga Park include adding new walking, bike and equestrian trails, as well as shuttle service tours.
"It's early, but a big part of this is trails and alternative transportation," Sam Weddle, the park's chief ranger, said. "It's not likely anytime soon that you'll be able to ride a horse from Chattanooga to the park, but using a horse to tour and learn about the battlefield means one less automobile in the park."
Weddle said mass transit like that used at the Grand Canyon or Zion National Park in Utah would be better for the environment and preserve the park's resources.
Schneider said road improvements and changes in the park were based on the importance of each road and whether it was actually in place during the battle in 1863 or built in 1890 when the park was established.
"The more historic features of the road, the more the value," she said. "We wanted to maintain the integrity of the road and still convey the same visitor experience."
Rosen said closing certain roads inside Chickamauga Park were discussed.
"Right now there are no recommendations of closing any roads in the park," she said. "There is an issue with the bridge on Alexander's Bridge Road that is structurally deficient and that is something the park will have to look at."
Weddle said there are plans to resurface several roads, and study findings also suggest lowering speed limits for McFarland Gap Road and Reed's Bridge Road.
Other recommendations include expanding the tour route for autos and expanding parking facilities.
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v...localnews&om=1 (accessed 1 April 2004)
Park transportation proposals revealed
Study suggests widening Battlefield Parkway, reducing speeds on Lafayette Road
03/31/04
Kevin Cummings
While a transportation study paves the way for plans to handle increasing traffic flow around Chickamauga Battlefield, those plans don’t help some Fort Oglethorpe businesses languishing since the U.S. 27 bypass around the park opened, one official said.
The last of three public meetings of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park Transportation Study was held Tuesday, March 30, at Constitution Hall in Fort Oglethorpe. According to the federally-funded study proposals, Battlefield Parkway needs to be widened from four to six lanes from Cedar Road east to Interstate 75 to alleviate traffic congestion. Other proposals to improve traffic flow in and around the park include a north-south connection between and improvements to Red Belt and Three Notch Roads to increase mobility east of the battlefield and a connection from Cloud Springs Road to U.S. 27.
Fort Oglethorpe Mayor Judd Burkhart said the study proposals do not help businesses along U.S. 27 north of the park, or LaFayetteRoad. He said he is attempting to get McFarland Gap Road widened to draw traffic back to downtown Fort Oglethorpe.
"I didn't see anything that's going to bring traffic downtown besides new signage," he said. "I think the study went astray somewhere. I thought one of the main focuses was to alleviate the impact of the bypass on the downtown area."
Marta Rosen, senior vice president with Atlanta-based consulting firm Day Wilburn and Associates, said one of the biggest complaints she has heard from public meetings and surveys is from business owners along LaFayette Road who said business has dipped as much as 20 percent since U.S. 27 was rerouted from LaFayette Road to the battlefield bypass, known as Frank Gleason Parkway, in October 2001.
Rosen said residential and business growth over the next 21 years needs to be in sync with transportation improvements. Traffic flow is projected to nearly double in and around the park by 2025.
"That area has the potential for tremendous economic development," she said. "But the land use plan and the traffic plan need to work hand-in-hand. Areas where there are transportation problems are areas where development was not coordinated well enough."
The $380,000 study is being conducted by Rosen’s firm, in a joint effort with the National Park Service, Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT), the Chattanooga/Hamilton County/North Georgia Area Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) along with public and private recommendations.
"We looked at all the issues," Rosen said. "We wanted to accommodate the growing demand for travel while minimizing traffic through the park."
Rosen said the consulting firm will utilize public surveys from the final meeting to tweak the study proposals, which should be available for viewing in area libraries and government buildings and at the DOT Web site by mid to late April.
LaFayette Road business woes
According to the transportation study, to preserve the integrity of the park and promote public safety speed should be further lowered on LaFayette Road leading into the north end of the park.
The speed limit along LaFayette Road, north of the park, was originally 45 miles per hour until the 55 mph-bypass opened in 2001. Currently, the speed limit is 35 mph leading into the park and 30 mph at the Visitors Center of the park.
Krista Schneider with John Milner and Associates, which specializes in historic preservation studies, said because of the large number of historical markers and access to the park, LaFayette Road was deemed the most critical to preserving the integrity of the park.
Business owners have complained that because of the reduced speeds on LaFayette Road and the convenience of using the bypass, shoppers no longer patronize their establishments.
Jack Goodlet, owner of Park Place Restaurant said speed limits are low enough.
"They don't need to be dropped any further," Goodlet said. "They need to be raised. I'd be happy with 40 mph."
Rosen said time studies show that using the battlefield bypass saves no time over LaFayette Road because of the volume of motorists utilizing the bypass; however, auto accidents have decreased on LaFayette Road since the bypass opened and speeds were lowered.
"The advantage of using U.S. 27 (bypass) is just a perceived advantage," she said. "LaFayette Road is most critical to what happened in the battlefield. The importance of LaFayette Road goes beyond saving a few minutes."
Inside the park
Suggested improvements of the study over the next 21 years inside Chickamauga Park include adding new walking, bike and equestrian trails, as well as shuttle service tours.
"It's early, but a big part of this is trails and alternative transportation," Sam Weddle, the park's chief ranger, said. "It's not likely anytime soon that you'll be able to ride a horse from Chattanooga to the park, but using a horse to tour and learn about the battlefield means one less automobile in the park."
Weddle said mass transit like that used at the Grand Canyon or Zion National Park in Utah would be better for the environment and preserve the park's resources.
Schneider said road improvements and changes in the park were based on the importance of each road and whether it was actually in place during the battle in 1863 or built in 1890 when the park was established.
"The more historic features of the road, the more the value," she said. "We wanted to maintain the integrity of the road and still convey the same visitor experience."
Rosen said closing certain roads inside Chickamauga Park were discussed.
"Right now there are no recommendations of closing any roads in the park," she said. "There is an issue with the bridge on Alexander's Bridge Road that is structurally deficient and that is something the park will have to look at."
Weddle said there are plans to resurface several roads, and study findings also suggest lowering speed limits for McFarland Gap Road and Reed's Bridge Road.
Other recommendations include expanding the tour route for autos and expanding parking facilities.