Council OKs Compressed Grid For Johnson Ferry, Mt. Vernon Project

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — A narrow majority of Sandy Springs City Council members gave the go-ahead to city staff members to move forward with the compressed grid option for the project to improve the Mt. Vernon Highway and Johnson Ferry Road corridors.

This latest development occurred at the Council's Oct. 2 meeting work session after Allen Johnson, the city's TSPLOST program manager, outlined the pros and cons of the two options on the table for the improvement project. Johnson also informed the Council that feedback gathered from an Aug. 30 open house on the project showed 13 people who submitted comments said they were in favor of the full grid while 10 were partial to the compressed grid. The folks who liked the compressed grid cited cost as a favor in their decision, Johnson stated.

Johnson noted the construction cost for both the compressed and full grid proposals are about the same. However, the cost to acquire right of way if the city went with the full grid option would be between $5 million and $10 million more expensive than the compressed grid. According to figures provided by Johnson, right-of-way acquisition would cost $21 million to $26 million for the full grid, compared to $16 million to $21 million for the compressed grid.

The Johnson Ferry Road-Mt. Vernon Highway improvement project is budgeted at $23.4 million, which includes construction, right-of-way acquisition, engineering and utility relocation costs. The construction cost for both are estimated to be about $8.8 million.

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For the compressed grid model, Mt Vernon and Johnson Ferry roads would have an eastbound and westbound lane in each direction and a center, two-way left turn lane that transitions to a left turn lane at the intersection. Southbound left turns onto Mt. Vernon from Roswell and northbound right turns from Roswell Road onto Johnson Ferry will be prohibited.

The same multi-use paths and sidewalks would be constructed as the full grid, and the new connector road east of the library would also be installed during a future phase. The compressed grid, the city has said, would reduce the overall footprint of the project, but also increase the angle of sight for vehicles that would be turning left from Boylston Drive to Mt. Vernon/Johnson Ferry. A one-acre park and pedestrian lighting are also included with this model.

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Council member John Paulson said he was in favor of the compressed grid, but added he "would like to see us go to the next level of detail" to see how much greenspace could be added to the model.

Both Council members Steve Soteres and Chris Burnett agreed, adding they wanted to avoid the costs associated with displacing residents and businesses associated with implementing the full-grid model. Council member Andy Bauman also agreed with what he called the "split the baby" approach in moving ahead with the compressed grid. This choice, he added, is not a perfect one, but he believed the city would move down the path of eminent domain if the full grid option was on the table.

However, for Council member Jody Reichel, she believed the full grid option would be the best for the area. Reichel said she has taken polls from people who live in the area, and they are "are overwhelmingly in favor of the full grid."

She noted the city can use as much park space as possible and since it's been scouting for a location for a new dog park, this area would be a perfect option to consider. She also said it's unclear whether the city would be able to save businesses who are on the south side of Mt. Vernon Highway since the planning is still in the early stages.

Council member Tibby DeJulio noted he was also supportive of the full grid. In Sandy Springs, the city is known for doing projects right the first time around, he notes. When he looks two to five years down the road, DeJulio said he's afraid Sandy Springs will regret not choosing the full grid model. This model, he said, is the best long-term option if the city wanted to consider adding greenspace in this area of the Sandy Springs.

Mayor Rusty Paul told the audience and his fellow elected officials that "we are running out of time" on the project, as it's funded by TSPLOST dollars. The project, he added, has to be completed in seven years, so Sandy Springs is quickly approaching that deadline.

"This is a project we can no longer afford to delay," he added.

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