Transportation Roundtable Extends Invitation to Cherokee

The Atlanta Regional Transportation Roundtable, which recently approved a draft of a $6.14 billion package of road improvements to be funded by a regional penny sales tax referendum on the ballot next summer, wants input from Cherokee County residents.

From 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 19, the Roundtable will host a forum at the .

"Roundtable members have already heard from more than 200,000 citizens and have worked very hard to develop a list of transportation investments that will give people across metro Atlanta more travel options and reduce congestion," said Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson, chairman of the Roundtable. "Now we need to hear from our neighbors one more time and make sure we’re putting a list on the ballot that voters can support."

After starting with a list of $22 billion in regional projects, the Roundtable’s executive committee on Aug. 15 approved a package that includes four Cherokee County road improvements. They include:

• $7 million to replace the bridge on Bells Ferry Road at Little River.
• $70 million to widen Hickory Flat Highway from East Cherokee Drive to Mountain Road.
• $70 million to widen Hickory Flat Highway from Interstate 575 to East Cherokee Drive.
• $50 million to widen Hickory Flat Highway from Mountain Road to the Fulton County line.

The full 21-member Roundtable has until Oct. 15 to approve the draft. Once approved, the list will be forwarded to the Georgia Department of Transportation. The next Roundtable meeting is scheduled for Sept. 16.

At the Cherokee forum, people will view a presentation, speak with transportation experts and complete a survey. The presentation and survey will also be available online at atlantaregionalroundtable.com.