Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Thornton Road Park and Ride Project Area, Cobb County, Georgia

In November 2006, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of the proposed Thornton Road Park and Ride project area. The proposed project consists of constructing a park and ride lot facility on an 18.94-acre site located in Cobb County, Georgia. The parcel is bordered by Interstate 20 (I-20) to the south, Blairs Bridge Road to the north, and a residential subdivision along Bridgeport Court to the east. The proposed park and ride facility infrastructure would consist of approximately 492 parking spaces, three bus pavilions, a Fare Systems Shelter building for ticket vending, and access to the site from various locations. The goal of the survey was to locate and evaluate archaeological sites within the Area of Potential Effects (APE) of the proposed undertaking, so that potential effects to any resources identified could be evaluated in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The project was conducted under a contract with the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. A review of the state site files at the University of Georgia in Athens showed that no previously identified archaeological sites had been reported in the project area. Two previously recorded archaeological sites, Sites 9DO140 and 9CO664, are within one km of the project area. No archaeological sites were identified during the survey. Based on the results of the survey, EPEI recommends that no further archaeological work be undertaken at this location. Clearance for construction within the APE as currently defined is recommended.