Schedule

The Statewide Truck Lanes Needs Identification Study began in early 2006. Final documentation will be available in early 2008.

The Study was divided into three tasks:

Task I: Data & Information, Forecasting and Analysis

Among the issues considered: How many trucks are there? Where are they going? What are they carrying?  What percentage of traffic are trucks? How many trucks in the future? Where are high accident locations? What locations generate truck traffic?  Where do trucks park?

• Data on traffic volume was gathered and analyzed
• Future traffic volumes were projected for the year 2035
• Other factors such as high accident locations, truck parking needs, truck/rail interaction and generators of truck traffic were analyzed
• Live surveys were conducted at truck weigh stations during the summer of 2006.

Task II: Truck Traffic Needs and Recommendations

Among the issues considered: What are the existing road/ramp configurations? How feasible to modify road/ramp configurations? What is the cost? What are the impacts to the transportation network, the highway system, to adjacent land uses? Where should Truck Only Lanes be built first? How do we pay for improvements?

• Provided a blueprint for Georgia’s Truck Only Lanes network
• Needs Analysis determined which locations would most benefit from construction of Truck Only Lanes
• Engineering Analysis determined costs to implement Truck Only Lanes
• System Analysis projected impacts of Truck Only Lanes on transportation network and surrounding area
• Economic Analysis determined benefit vs. cost
• Project Prioritization ranked potential Truck Only Lanes sites

Task III: Advisory Committee and Public Involvement

Two rounds of public meetings were held at key locations across Georgia during 2007.
Information is posted on the Public Meetings page.

Two Project Advisory Committees, composed of planning partners, business, and freight/trucking community representatives, helped GDOT explore the policy implications of Truck Only Lanes in Georgia. 

• The Statewide Advisory Committee focused on the entire state of Georgia
• A second Advisory Committee focused on the Savannah-Chatham County area and the Port of Savannah
  

The Project Advisory Committees:

• Offered policy recommendations and guided the development of the Study
• Provided oversight of major activities associated with the Study
• Acted as the sounding board for technical procedures and Study recommendations

In addition, four Regional Task Forces gathered input from potential Truck Only Lanes users, including, but not limited to:

• Owners of manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, and other businesses
• Independent truckers and trucking companies
• Freight shippers and carriers

The Project Team held informational sessions for local governments, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and regional development centers (RDCs).