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Projects DPI-0010 (001) CT 19, CM-00MS (119) and DPI-0010 (001) CT 31, Fulton County: Advanced Traffic Management System

Report Number
5740
Year of Publication
2005
County
Abstract

The Atlanta Regional Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS), currently being developed by the Department, will have the unique capability of automated inter-jurisdictional coordination. Unlike most other traffic systems in the nation, the Atlanta ATMS will integrate both freeway and arterial system components. With this capability comes the need for coordination between the State and various counties and cities in the region. Currently under design is an open architecture system in which a Department operated Transportation Management Center (TMC) serves as the operational center of a network of local Traffic Control Centers (TCCs) and field components. The TCCs, operated by the counties and the City of Atlanta, will have direct access to all of the information collected by the TMC including live video, graphical traffic information and maintenance/ construction schedules. One purpose of this system is to install communications links between the communication capacity projects on the freeways and the local TCCs. The communications network installed in these projects will consist mainly of conduit and fiber optic cable, constructed with adequate capacity to accommodate future system growth. The projects also include pull boxes, cable vaults, and any trenching necessary during installation of the fiber. The links will be capable of voice, data, and video communication and will be established underground and overhead. advisory signs throughout the city of Atlanta. Locations include southbound on Williams Street as it approaches Simpson Street, northbound on West Peachtree Street as it approaches Prescott (past the 1-85 northbound ramp), southbound on Spring Street as it approaches North Avenue, westbound on Tenth Street between West Peachtree and Spring streets, southbound on Williams Street just past Twelfth Street, northbound on West Peachtree Street just past Fifteenth Street, southbound on Northside Drive just past Holmes Street (placed in the median) and northbound on Northside Drive as it approaches the railroad overpass south of Holmes Street (also to be placed in the median). All work would be done within existing right-of-way and no vegetation would be disturbed. In light of the fact that these signs would be placed on major thoroughfares in a highly urban area where numerous non-historic signs exist, this activity is not an "undertaking" as defined in 36 CFR Part 800.2(o): . . any project, activity, or program that can result in changes in the character or use of historic properties . . . . Project CM-OOMS(119) proposes to install an arterial communication system in downtown Atlanta. This system generally would run along the Downtown Connector as far north as Merritts Avenue, along Lovejoy Street to Hunnicut Street, across to the intersection of Mangum Street and Jones Avenue, south between Mangum Street and Hayes Hayes Street, along Memorial Drive to the Downtown Connector (see attached maps). This system would consist of fiber optic cables placed on existing poles, some underground cables placed in new conduits, arterial advisory signs and CCTV video surveillance cameras. Cameras would be mounted on street light mast arms, controller poles, or non-historic buildings. All work would be done within existing right-of-way and no vegetation on private property would be disturbed. In light of the fact that this system would be established on major thoroughfares in a highly urban area where numerous non-historic signs and other components exist, this activity does not have the potential to affect standing historic structures. However, since trenching would occur in the historic core of the city of Atlanta, it does have the potential to affect subsurface archaeological resources. The archaeological survey was limited due to the complete urbanization of the project area. The ground surface of the project is obscured totally by concrete sidewalks and asphalt streets, precluding subsurface testing. Background research suggests that a very low probability exists for significant prehistoric sites to have survived the intensive disturbance and development in the project area. The area of downtown Atlanta in which the fiber optic cable would be placed is in an older part of the city. Therefore, given the general history of the downtown Atlanta area and the high probability that archaeological sites relating to historic activities will be located, archaeological monitoring of the construction project will be conducted. A Special Provision for the construction contract will be submitted in accordance with 36 CFR Part 800.11(a): Planning for Discovery. The contract stipulation will ensure that a staff archaeologist with the Department will monitor land disturbing activities including but not limited to excavation and drilling within the project's area of potential effect. The monitoring will include the recovery, recording, and reporting of all subsurface archaeological features or artifact concentrations located. If any such features or concentrations are located during monitoring, land disturbing activity. will be halted to provide sufficient time for the Department's archaeologist, in consultation with the State Historic Presrvation Officer (SHPO), to evaluate their significance by applying National Register criteria, and allowing their proper excavation and recovery. Project DPI-0010(001)CT 31 proposes to install an arterial communication system along Roswell Road between West Wieuca Road and Abernathy Road, including parts of Sandy Springs Circle and Boyleston Drive. This system would consist of fiber optic cables placed on existing poles, some underground cables placed in new conduits, and CCTV video surveillance cameras. Cameras would be mounted on existing poles. All work would be done within existing right-of-way. In light of the fact that this system would be established on major thoroughfares in a highly urban area where numerous non-historic signs and other components exist, this activity is not an "undertaking as defined in 36 CFR Part 800.2(o): . . any project, activity, or program that can result in changes in the character or use of historic properties . . . . Except for the Special Provision for the construction contract for Project CM-OOMS(119), no further compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act is required. This finding has been coordinated with the SHPO.