Recommendations. Overview

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3 Recommedatios Overview Results of the trail usage evaluatio ad ecoomic impact aalysis demostrate that the Silver Comet is a local ad regioal recreatioal destiatio that supports the local ecoomies alog its corridor. Additioal coectios to the trail ca expad the reach ad scope of those ecoomic beefits. At the local level, strategic bicycle ad pedestria ifrastructure liks betwee the trail ad eighborig commuities will directly coect trail users to busiesses. At the regioal level, ew liks betwee the curret trail ad cities like Rome, Marietta, ad Atlata will coect etire commuities directly to the trail. Regioal coectios also hold the potetial to expad the trail s ifluece atioally, ehacig its reputatio as a uique recreatioal ameity that attracts visitors from aroud the coutry ad world. This chapter provides detailed recommedatios for local ad regioal coectios to the trail. I additio, it describes recommedatios for trail features ad ameities alog the existig corridor ad future additios. May plas for cities ad couties i the regio have already recommeded coectios ad extesios to the Silver Comet. Those existig proposals were used as the startig poit for this chapter s recommedatios. Plas reviewed iclude the followig: 2007 Atlata Regioal Commissio Bicycle & Pedestria Pla 2008 Cobb Couty Pla 2008 Pauldig Couty & Greeway Master Pla 2008 Rome ad Floyd Couty Facilities Pla 2009 Cobb Couty Bicycle & Pedestria Improvemet Pla Coect Atlata: Atlata s Comprehesive Trasportatio Pla Georgia State Route 6 Trasportatio Corridor Study Recommedatios 4-2

4 DRAFT May 2013 TENNESSEE ALABAMA 24 Chattaooga Clevelad TENNESSEE GEORGIA 64 Proposed Regioal Coectios NORTH CAROLINA GEORGIA 72 Hutsville Scottsboro Gutersville Albertville Gadsde GEORGIA ALABAMA Cave Sprig Rome Heritage 75 Marietta Alpharetta Sady Sprigs 985 Gaiesville Jefferso 85 Chief Ladiga Silver Comet Atlata Beltlie Aisto 20 Chattahoochee Hills Recommedatios

5 Silver Comet Ecoomic Impact Aalysis ad Plaig Study Regioal Corridor Expasio Several opportuities exist for ew coectios at the regioal level. Alabama The trail is already directly coected to the border of Aisto, Alabama via the 33-mile log Chief Ladiga. This trail begis at the Alabama/Georgia state lie ad cotiues through Piedmot, Jacksoville, ad Weaver before its completio i orth Aisto. A extesio of the trail ito dowtow Aisto would provide a crucial lik to the multimodal trasit statio o Aisto s 4th Street. This extesio is curretly plaed by the Tow of Aisto1. The lik would allow a trail user to ride the Silver Comet from its easter ed to the Chief Ladiga, ad the take a Amtrak trai back to Atlata. This Amtrak route does ot curretly allow stowed luggage, however, prevetig riders from checkig their bike o the trai. The Atlata Regioal Commissio, tourism promotio orgaizatios, bicycle advocacy orgaizatios, ad the Tow of Aisto should work with Amtrak to overtur this policy. Chattaooga Chattaooga, Teessee lies 100 miles orth of the Silver Comet alog the border of Georgia ad Teessee. The city has a vibrat bike culture of its ow, ad has developed high-quality recreatioal trails like those withi the Teessee Riverpark. Residets of Chattaooga have log expressed iterest i a trail coectio betwee the city ad the Silver Comet. There are opportuities to coect several tows, atural areas, ad recreatioal destiatios alog the way, with the potetial for ecoomic divideds to the orthwest Georgia regio ad Chattaooga metropolita area. This coectio would likely exted orth from Rome (see Rome sectio for more details) ad lik the commuities of Summerville, Lafayette, Rock Sprig, Chickamauga, ad Chattaooga Valley. The route could follow roadways as a sidepath or o-road facility, or rail lies i the form of a rail-trail. The full coectio would likely cotai a combiatio of these facility types. Several atural areas withi this regio should be liked as well, either directly or through spur ad loop trails off of the mai corridor. The Pigeo Moutai Wildlife Maagemet Area, Lula Lake Lad Trust, ad plaed moutai bike trails throughout the regio are a few examples. The Teessee RiverPark travels 10 miles alog the Teessee River from the Chickamauga Dam i Teessee Valley to dowtow Chattaooga. Photo Source: Recommedatios 4-4

6 DRAFT May 2013 UV 20 The proposed sidepath coectio follows Rome s proposed Pihoti 19 miles to the south ed of Cave Sprigs Cave Sprig UV 100 UV 53 UV1 27 Cedartow Rome Heritage FLOYD COUNTY POLK COUNTY The proposed sidepath cotiues 8 miles alog Highway 100 from Cave Sprigs to Cedartow 278 UV 101 Coectio eds at the Heritage i Heritage Park 411 UV 20 Silver Comet FLOYD COUNTY Rome/Floyd Couty Existig Rome/Floyd Couty Proposed Miles 3 BARTOW COUNTY Bicycle laes alog Highway 101 could provide a alterative o-road optio BARTOW COUNTY POLK COUNTY Rockmart POLK COUNTY PAULDING COUNTY Proposed Rome Coectio Rome The fast-growig City of Rome, located 25 miles orth of Cedartow, completed a comprehesive trails pla i This pla recommeds a bicycle coectio to the Silver Comet, detailig two alterative routes that lik to Cedartow ad Rockmart respectively. Rome residets ad bike groups regularly make use of the Silver Comet ad have cotiued to express iterest i such a coectio. This study recommeds the alterative that follows portios of Rome s proposed Pihoti, as detailed at left. The Pihoti is a Natioal Recreatioal that exteds 100 miles ad curretly stops i Alabama, but is plaed through orthwest Georgia. Accordig to the Rome ad Floyd Couty Facilities Pla, the trail is a combiatio of multi-use paths ad shared roadway routes. The proposed route begis at the Heritage Park i dowtow Rome ad cotiues alog Broad Street ad Black Bluffs Road to the Cedar Creek Cemetery. It the follows Spout Sprigs Road ad Mill Road ito Cave Sprigs, where it cotiues alog Highway 100 south to Cedartow. The route should take the form of a cotiuous sidepath i the log-term. I the short-term, a combiatio of sidepaths i developed areas ad oroad bicycle laes through rural areas ca form the coectio. 4-5 Recommedatios

7 Silver Comet Ecoomic Impact Aalysis ad Plaig Study City of Atlata The Atlata BeltLie is a comprehesive revitalizatio effort of 22 miles of historic railroad corridors circlig dowtow Atlata. The project icludes 22 miles of rail trasit, 33 miles of multi-use trails, 1,300 acres of parks, 5,600 uits of affordable housig, ad 1,100 acres of browfields remediated. The full project build-out will lik 45 eighborhoods ad coect them to the etire metropolita area through a variety of trasit coectios. The PATH Foudatio, established i 1991, has played a importat role i developig a etwork of off-road trails i Atlata i a effort to coect eighborhoods ad preserve the regioal character. I just twety-two years, PATH has developed over 180 miles of trail throughout Georgia ad has become a atioally recogized model for trail-buildig success. PATH s liear parks have become part of the ladscape i urba ad rural areas, i affluet ad impoverished commuities. PATH has made sigificat progress toward buildig Georgia a etwork of trails, icludig: The Silver Comet, Stoe Moutai, Lioel Hampto, South Peachtree Creek, Westside, Arabia Moutai, Chastai Park, Whetstoe Creek, ad South River s. PATH trails ehace commuity spirit ad brig eighborhoods together. Each day, thousads of joggers, walkers, bikers ad skaters from all walks of life escape the roads ad hit the trails for travel ad recreatio. Proposed lik spurs off of the existig trail half a mile west of its crossig of Cobb Drive Veteras MemorialHwy Marti Luther 20 KigJr Dr S Cobb Dr Carroll RdNW Atlata Rd SE Silver Comet Preferred aligmet follows the abadoed rail corridor to Plat Atkiso Road before cuttig up to Atlata Road Proposed Atlata BeltLie Coectio 285 COBB COUNTY Bakhead S Atlata Rd FULTON COUNTY James Jackso Pkwy The aligmet coects to the PATH Foudatio s Whetstoe Creek east of the river. The active railyard south of this trail prevets a full coectio to the BeltLie via this route. A alterative aligmet recommeded i the Cobb Couty Pla follows I-285 for a short stretch ad the Log Cabi Drive to Altata Road Hwy Bolto NW Rd NW The plaed West Side Reservoir Park will be a key destiatio alog the orthwest portio of the BeltLie Bakhead Moores Mill Marietta Blvd NW Northside 75 Rd Ave NW Existig Proposed Beltlie Corridor Miles 3 The lik is 6.5 miles i legth, ad a combiatio of a rail-trail ad sidepath Pkwy NW Proposed aligmet makes use of the existig 12 trail facility o the Atlata Road bridge NW Atlata BeltLie Rd Howell Mill Northside Dr Northside Dr NW 14th St Recommedatios 4-6

8 4-7 DRAFT May 2013 Recommedatios BARTOW COUNTY CARROLL COUNTY FLOYD COUNTY HARALSON COUNTY POLK COUNTY CHEROKEE COUNTY COBB COUNTY DOUGLAS COUNTY FULTON COUNTY PAULDING COUNTY GEORGIA ALABAMA Arago Cave Sprig Dallas Hiram Complex Marietta Smyra Austell Mableto Cedartow Rockmart Braswell Powder Sprigs Acworth Keesaw Taylorsville Euharlee Emerso Woodstock Tallapoosa Buchaa Temple Waco Breme Villa Rica Douglasville Cartersville Atlata Campgroud Lodgig Proposed Local Coectios

9 Silver Comet Ecoomic Impact Aalysis ad Plaig Study Table 4.1 Summary of Local Coectios CONNECTION FROM TO Facility Type MILEAGE Arago Natha Dea Park New Prospect Road Multi-Use (Rail ) 2.5 baseball field Campgroud Atlata Highway & Forsyth Lake Cir The Rock RV Park & Campgroud Bicycle Laes & Sidewalk 0.4 Dallas Dowtow Seaboard Ave Cooper Ave & Johso Bicycle Laes & Sidewalk 0.8 St Lodgig Old Harris Rd Days I Dallas Bicycle Laes & Sidewalk 0.7 Hiram Commercial Ceter Complex Coppermie Rd; Rosedale Dr Wild Horse Creek (spur) at Macedoia Rd Jimmy Lee Smith Pkwy Multi-Use (Sidepath) 2.2 Still Elemetary Multi-Use (Sidepath) 4.0 Austell Dowtow Wild Horse Creek Sweetwater St Multi-Use (Riparia 4.3 corridor) Marietta Dowtow Olley Creek Atlata St Multi-Use (Riparia 10.2 corridor/sidepath) Smyra Loop Cocord Rd Sprig Road at Multi-Use (Sidepath) 4.2 Village Pkwy Mableto Commercial Ceter Copper Lake Rd Frot St & Floyd Rd Multi-Use (Sidepath) 3.2 A multi-use trail coectio from the Silver Comet to the Atlata BeltLie trail etwork will provide bicycle ad pedestria access from the etire Atlata regio to the Silver Comet. While residets of this regio already travel to the trail by vehicle, this coectio will eable residets to access the trail by foot, bike, or trasit. It will expad the ecoomic beefits to the tows alog the trail corridor because of this additioal access, as well as further the beefits accrued to tows alog the BeltLie by likig the two projects. This study recommeds a coectio alog the CSX rail corridor west of the Chattahoochee River ad a sidepath alog Marietta Boulevard east of the river. Further study o the feasibility ad specific routig of this coectio is required. Several alteratives exist west of the river, as laid out the i the 2008 Cobb Couty Pla. The preferred alterative from that pla should be implemeted if the CSX right-of-way caot be obtaied. Recommedatios 4-8

10 DRAFT May 2013 lgrim Rd Kassi L Tolbert N Bellview Rd St Lee Tillery Lowery Rd Bellview Pea Ridge Rd Morga Valley Rd Govermet Ma Rd Tow Rd Rd Rd 3rd St Tisley Rd Prospect Eastside Elemetary JOE 3rd St Farm Rd Rd WHEELER Carr Rd Hill St Euharlee Kidergarte Dever St Euharlee 1st St The proposed coectio would lik to the existig trail at Natha Dea Park Belk Dr 3rd St St Elm St Oak St Williams Smith Bluff St Everett Rd HIXVILLE St E 3rd St St Walut St Holly St PortladRd Cole Rd UV 101 NATHAN DEAN N Marble St Arago Pie St Huter St Ivy St Howard Jay St Blue Hole Rd Moutai Rd Viso STEPHEN B SMITH Chattahoochee Trace Joes Ave St Davis St Brock Rd Rockmart Library White River Rd 1st Ave LaeSt 3rd Ave College St Lyle Dr Bramblett Rd Goss Rd Fairview Rd Rockmart Slate Quarry A short coectio to the Rock Campgroud would provide safe access to log-distace trail users A orth-south rail-trail coectio withi the railroad right-of-way would provide Arago residets with bicycle ad pedestria access to the trail as well as the City of Rockmart Peachtree Rd Atlata Hwy Marquette Rd Rockmart Frakli STACI Fairview St Rd Chastai St Carlto Lake St NATHAN DEAN UV 113 Dr 278 UV 6 CARTERSVILLE Rockmart High < Catrel Rd < head Campig Hotel Kox Moutai Sprigdale NATHAN DEAN Proposed Arago ad Campig Coectios Rd CARTERSVILLE Rice Rd Williams Rd Rd Dillard Rd Atlata JAYCEES State Bike Route Miles 3 Rockmart Middle Braswell Hwy Rd Local Corridor Expasio I additio to the regioal coectios described above, there are several opportuities to provide direct access for pedestrias ad cyclists i commuities alog the curret corridor. Proposed local coectios are summarized i the table below. More detail o the routig ad purpose of each coectio is provided o the followig pages. Rockmart Regio The Silver Comet is curretly well-coected to the City of Rockmart. The trail rus through the City s Natha Dea Park complex as well as directly past the dowtow core, where Frakie s Italia Restaurat is covered floorto-ceilig with messages from trail users. There is o direct coectio, however to the eighborhig City of Arago. A proposed rail-trail alog the Norfolk Souther rail lie that rus directly orth to this small city would provide direct trail access to its residets. It would also provide those residets multimodal access the City of Rockmart itself. A alterative o-road or sidepath coectio could follow the Chattahoochee Trace State Bike Route alog Highway 101. A secod ew coectio is proposed just south of Rockmart to the campgroud off of the Atlata Highway. This coectio will esure log-distace travelers ca safely access the Rock Campgroud. A sidewalk 4-9 Recommedatios

11 Sooky I Paris Westside Polk Herschel Joes Middle Jimmy Cole Lake Alpha Johs Campbell West Coie Ashbury UV 61 Allgood Elemetary Scoggis Proposed Dallas ad Hiram Coectios Merritt Belle Wix Hart Watso Proposed lik coects the trail ad Seaboard Drive trailhead to the Mai Street commercial corridor via Seaboard Drive ad S. Mai Street Iris Postell Dallas Sprig Old Villa First Amber Aike Veteras Rica Dobie Foster Erie Clay Villa Rica Proposed coectio of o-road bicycle facilities ad sidewalks Burt Hickory Elemetary Dallas Elemetary! Mustag White Pies Sub Statio Liberty Dady Chattahoochee Techical Istitute Harris Chestut Westi Widale CochraRidge Coach A existig path liks the Pauldig Chattahoochee Couty High Techical Istitute to the trail Bobby Dodd Pod Suset Victoria Faw Cathie Phillips Mcclure Proposed coectio of o-road bicycle facilities ad sidewalk to the Days I via Old Harris Road for log-distace travelers Cadallac Tower Garet Ridge UV 6 Lee Tammy 278 Lee Ida Summerhill Pauldig Couty is already plaig for a trail coectio to the ew WellStar Pauldig Couty Hospital, slated for opeig i 2014 Jordo Bruce Turer Atlata Silver Comet Ecoomic Impact Aalysis ad Plaig Study Jimmy Lee Smith Copper Mie Pauldig Owes Hiram High Balliger Cowboy Rr 4 Old Griffi McGarity Elemetary Sr 6 Maclad Hies Watts Dallas UV 120 Julie Proposed sidepath coectio alog Copper Mie Road ad Rosedale Drive will lik trail users to the Highway 278 commercial corridor UV 92 Valleyside Pace Hut Corley Huters Evas Stacey Arold Marietta Cypress Timber Pool Agham Oak CrestviewRya Old Mill Hiram Gi Russell Ceter Hardy Breda Dalea Depot Poag Alyce Nora Aa Maxwell Quail Hiram Elemetary Cidy East Pauldig Middle head Hotel Existig Morelad Ridge Roper W Greefield Rose Lake Mill Poplar Pey Dale Eastside Hady Sprigs Poplar PAULDING COUNTY Hays COBB COUNTY Moo 278 UV 6 Rosedale Pickes Proposed Miles Proposed lik aligs with a trail recommedatio from the Route 6 Corridor Sturdy 3 Wright Hiram Elliott ad bicycle laes are recommeded. Dallas Highway 278 curretly separates the Silver Comet from the City of Dallas. Opportuities exist to better coect key destiatios i Dallas to the trail with bicycle ad pedestria facilities. The city has already take steps to provide bicycle laes alog Memorial Drive. Additioal opportuities are outlied above. Hiram Commercial Corridor While the trail rus directly through the City of Hiram, the major commercial area alog Highway 278 is ot curretly coected. Bicycle ad pedestria access to this corridor will support the curret busiesses located there, icludig lodgig optios, ad geerate potetial for additioal trailfriedly busiesses. Recommedatios 4-10

12 PAULDING COUNTY DRAFT May 2013 Kemp head Elemetary State Bike Route COBB COUNTY Existig Proposed Miles 3 Silver Comet Total Learig Ceter Christia 278 UV 6 W Maclad Rd C H James Pkwy Lost Moutai Rd Cetral Varer Elemetary A short east-west coectio could lik McEacher High with the proposed segmet Powder Sprigs P&R New Maclad Rd Still Elemetary Loviggood Middle Hillgrove High Stout Pky McEacher High Tapp Middle Compto Elemetary Powder Sprigs Park Powder Sprigs Proposal provides direct trail access to the school complex orth of Cobb Couty UV 360 Powder Sprigs Rd Dowell Elemetary Proposed sidepath coectio ties ito the existig Wild Horse Creek ad cotiues to follow the creek orth to Old Villa Rica Rad. Wild Horse Creek Proposed Coectio Cobb Couty Complex The Wild Horse Creek curretly exteds bicycle ad pedestria access to the Silver Comet to the orth edge of Powder Sprigs ad Tapp Middle. The Cobb Couty Pla recommeds a further extesio of this trail alog the creek to Old Villa Rica Road, ad the orth to the Dallas Highway. This study recommeds a sidepath alog this segmet up to the school complex at Luther Ward Road be prioritized. This coectio will provide a trail ameity to studets of the Elemetary, Middle, ad High s at this locatio, ad build o the coectivity of the trail etwork i Powder Sprigs. It will also provide trail access to the eighborhoods orth of Maclad Road Recommedatios

13 Austell A souther extesio of the Wild Horse Creek would coect the Silver Comet ad Powder Sprigs trail etwork to cetral Austell. The proposed route follows the Cobb Couty Pla s aligmet alog the souther portio of Wild Horse Creek. This sceic coectio would lik two schools, several eighborhoods, ad Legio Park. The multi-use trail coectio would ed as a sidepath alog Powder Sprigs Road likig to Sweetwater Street ad the dowtow core. Powder Sprigs Brach Library Austell Elemetary Austell Powder Sprigs 278 UV 6 Rd SW Silver Comet Ecoomic Impact Aalysis ad Plaig Study Westside Rd Clarkdale Elemetary Proposed multi-use trail coectio follows Wild Horse Creek ad liks two schools ad Legio Park Sweetwater Valley Brach Library Wild Horse Creek Garrett Middle Trestle at Olley Creek Cooper Middle Sweetwater Creek State Park Olley Creek Tra Cetral head Hotel State Bike Route Existig Proposed Miles 3 Proposed Austell Coectio C H James Pkwy Coectio eds at Sweetwater Street i dowtow Austell Legio Park Austell 278 UV 8 A Recommedatios 4-12

14 DRAFT May 2013 Wild Horse Creek head Hotel State Bike Route Existig UV 360 Dallas Hwy Proposed Miles 3 Powder Sprigs Mud Creek Aligmet follows Olley Creek orth, providig safe bicycle ad pedestria trail access for several residetial eighborhoods Noses Creek Silver Comet Maclad Rd Maclad Powder Sprigs Rd Tramore Park Coectio liks Marietta Square, a sigificat regioal destiatio with restaurats, shops, ad etertaimet Olley Creek Cheatham Hill Tra il Wellstar Cobb Hospital W Dallas Rd SW Al Bish W Stratto Brach Library op W ard Cre ek Highest Praise Church of God P&R Polk Street Gree way Powder Sprigs St Austell Rd! Sibley Library S Cobb Dr Multi-use trail coectio liks Miller Park, the site of the North Georgia State Fair, as well as the Cobb Couty govermet services complex Heritage Park Clay St Marc h to the Sea UV 280 Cocord Road 200' Bridge Hattie G. Wilso Brach Library Marietta Atlata Road Smyra Proposed Marietta Coectio!! D Marietta Historic dowtow Marietta ad its cetral feature, Marietta Square, is a popular regioal destiatio with sigificat retail ad commercial ameities. A coectio to Marietta would leverage the sigificat draw of this City o tourists ad coect the sizeable populatio of Marietta to the trail. The proposed lik show at left follows proposed aligmets of several distict trails recommeded i Cobb Couty s Pla: the Powder Sprigs Road, the Al Bishop, ad the Olley Creek. The lik follows Olley Creek ortheast from the Silver Comet past Tramore Park i the form of a multi-use trail. It cotiues to follow the creek aligmet past several residetial eighborhoods util reachig Bishop Park ad Miller Park at Al Bishop Drive. The lik the cotiues as a sidepath alog Callaway Road, Powder Sprigs Street, ad Cemetery Street before coectig to the March to the Sea State Bike Route just south of dowtow Marietta Recommedatios

15 Silver Comet Ecoomic Impact Aalysis ad Plaig Study Smyra Loop The Silver Comet curretly diverges from the its rail corridor aligmet at the East-West Coector, where it cotiues at a series of sidepaths. This extesio, termed the Cumberlad Coector, provides a critical coectio across I-285 with a bicyclea d pedestria bridge alog Mt. Wilkiso Parkway. This extesio is the coected back to Smyra with the Sprig Road ad aother bicyle ad pedestria bridge across I-285 at Cumberlad Boulevard. A ew sidepath coectio alog Cocord Road ad Sprig Road likig the Sprig Road back to the Silver Comet would create a approximately 13-mile trail loop. This loop would be a sigificat ameity for ruers, cyclists, ad other trail users i Smyra, ad icrease use of the east ed of the Silver Comet. The proposed lik begis at the Cocord Road, ad cotiues as a sidepath alog Cocord Road ad Sprig Road. Additioal bicycle facilities alog Atlata Road from its itersectio with Sprig Road to the Smyra Commuity Ceter are also recommeded to esure a complete lik to this destiatio ad the ew mixed-use tow ceter just south of it. Proposed sidepath coectio provides close access to the Smyra Commuity Ceter, Library, ad Arboretum 200' Bridge Cocord Road Heritage Park Proposed Smyra Coectio Smyra Atlata Rd SE Church Street Nicka jack Smyra Library Coectio liks trail users to the ew mixed-use tow ceter i cetral Smyra, icludig several restaurats Silver Comet Cree k Tra S Cobb Dr Spr Roswell St ig Road il March to the Sea Smyra-Atlata Road Cobb Seior Ctr - Mii Brach The existig portio of the Sprig Road exteds the reach of the Silver Comet to the Village Parkway UV Lewis A. Ray Brach Library head Lodgig Cobb Pkwy S Atlata Rd State Bike Route Existig Proposed Miles 3 Recommedatios 4-14

16 Daiel Peak Kemmie Vero DRAFT May 2013 Glore Du asty Chris afayette Labama Black Wisteria Aa Ceter Voda Old Trestle Pullma Treto Luther Mable Megcole Leva Clay Bakhead Old Maor Kisdale Falco Bratley Floyd Ajul Breda Dale Powder Oriole Old Bates Poplar Church Tyrell White Walker Frot Mitchell Alaia Brazos Silver Comet Whisperig Pies Club Joseph South Cobb Regioal Library Carol W Sprigs Alabama Cocord Carlouetta Ayres Pie Valley Suset Sprigwood Rodgers North Floyd Road Louise Crestoak Milam Briarleigh Kalb Beso Bares Mara Mableto P&R OakHills Lios Club Puckett Mableto Mableto Ga Hurst Widsor Lagford ValleyCreek Hurt Mobile Fracis Fowler Somerset St Patrick Pielad Mollie South Cobb Brach Library Garer Lelad Lae Austi Shady Beaver Dubli Belfast Shao Waterford Fotaie Hele Sprig Melaie Trigger Lismoor Hardig Lida Kivarra Shae Cava Easo Eddie Cris Morris Virgil Pie UV 8 Mosswood Nickajack Elizabeth Brook Sherato Aastasia Bret Kilgore Waits Driskell Burgess 200' Bridge Sidepath coectio completes a loop with the existig Heritage Oak ad Heritage Park Mille Coectio liks several destiatios i Mableto, icludig a Park & Ride ad lodgig Aita 278 Ridge Warrior Douglas Lake Viigs Eto Doeski Faw Castlebar Tracy Edwards Atler Waa CooperLake Bakhead Deidra Toy Hickory East West Alle Highview Maso Villa Mill Willowbrook Smyra Heritage Park Kare Lakeview Cool Creek Aldred Collett Thomas Nowli Pebble Derby Nick ajack head Lodgig Existig Foxcliff Creek Burdett Hickory Goswell Viigs Brook Proposed Miles Reed Estates Sylvaia 3 Bucker Proposed Mableto Coectio Mableto Mableto is a uicorporated suburb of Metropolita Atlata that holds 30,000 residets. The proposed coectio to the ceter of Mableto liks its two major commerical corridors - Floyd Road ad Veteras Memorial Highway. The coectio also completes a 3-mile loop with the Heritage Oak ear the border of Smyra. The proposed sidepath coectio begis at the Fotaie Road trailhead ad cotiues alog Fotaie Road south to the cetral commercial area. Pedestria ad bicycle access from this corridor directly to commercial destiatios should be cosidered upo implemetatio Recommedatios

17 Silver Comet Ecoomic Impact Aalysis ad Plaig Study Future heads ad Ameities heads are importat features that provide access to the trail facility. Major trailheads iclude restrooms, parkig areas for vehicles ad trailers, maps ad kiosks, ad sigposts for the trail ad its features. Mior trailheads usually iclude a map or kiosk of the trail etwork, coectios to adjacet sidewalks or bicycle facilities, ad shared parkig. Mior trailheads are sometimes referred to as walk-up trailheads. The Silver Comet has 21 total major ad mior trailheads that vary i size ad character. Most trailheads are spaced at adequate distaces betwee oe to eight miles. The largest gap betwee trailheads is betwee Dallas ad Braswell (11.5 miles) i wester Pauldig Couty. This is a more remote sectio of the trail as it exteds through the Pauldig Forest Wildlife Maagemet Area ad ot may roadways itersect the trail. Additioal trailheads are recommeded as Pauldig Couty s proposed trail etwork is built out. Future corridors, if expaded, should cosider strategic trailhead locatios at or ear trail itersectios to ecourage accessibility ad use. Where proposed coectios are made at schools, parks, or other practical shared use public facilities, sigage should be istalled to direct trail users. Proposed trailheads should be cosidered ear the begiig of expaded corridors at the followig locatios: Marietta at Keesaw Moutai Natioal Battlefield; ad Marietta Square Austell at Legio Park Powder Sprigs at Lost Moutai Park Cave Sprig at Cave Sprig Elemetary It is importat to optimize existig parks, schools, publicly owed right of way, ad ay adjacet lad uses that may be suitable for parkig, rest rooms, ad other support features for trail users. Proposed trailhead locatios listed above will require further study ad desig, as well as coordiatio with ladowers, GDOT, ad local developmet plas ad ordiaces. For all ewly costructed trailheads, efforts should be made to source local or regioal materials ad use sustaiable costructio methods wheever possible. Sustaiable costructio methods ad products provide log-term maiteace beefits, exteded material lifespa, ad are healthy for the eviromet. Examples iclude permeable pavig, eergy efficiet structures, ad localized stormwater maagemet. The Desig Guidelies Appedix provides additioal iformatio o trailhead desig, acillary facilities, ad sigage. Cobb Couty head Facilities Recommedatios 4-16

18 DRAFT May 2013 Phasig Strategy Completio of the coectios recommeded i this chapter will require a cocerted effort of a variety of stakeholders as well as a mix of fudig sources. Potetial fudig sources for the implemetatio of these coectios are provided i Appedix A. Certai coectios, however, ca ad should be completed sooer. This sectio provides a phasig strategy for implemetatio of trail coectios. Phasig is based o two mai factors: Feasibility of the coectio - potetial cost ad right-of-way availability Potetial beefits of the coectio - potetial to expad the reach ad profile of the Silver Comet These cosideratios were combied to geerate the followig strategy o Table ad 4-5. This strategy should remai flexible ad be reevaluated as ew opportuities or costraits arise. CASE STUDY Swamp Rabbit & the Greeville Health System The Greeville Health System (GHS) Swamp Rabbit is a 17.5-mile rail-trail alog the Reedy River that rus orth from Greeville, South Carolia to the Tow of Travelers Rest. The Greeville Couty Ecoomic Developmet Corporatio purchased the abadoed rail bed i 1999, ad i 2010, the trail officially opeed for use. The GHS partered with the City of Greeville ad Greeville Couty ad provided $1 millio for trail developmet ad marketig, i exchage for trail amig rights. Sice 2009, the GHS has sposored a aual 5K race ad fu ru alog the Swamp Rabbit to ecourage trail use ad physical activity ad to promote the overall health of the Greeville commuity. The trail coects Greeville Techical College, a YMCA complex, Furma Uiversity, eighborhoods, busiesses, ad several parks, churches, ad schools. A attractive, easy-to-read wayfidig ad sigage system directs users to ad alog the trail. Other trail facilities ad ameities iclude several trailheads with ample parkig; public restrooms; water foutais; ad a trail website with a iteractive map, evets listig, ad olie store. These efforts have helped to make the Swamp Rabbit a popular recreatio destiatio, with a estimated 350,000 visitors each year. 1 1 Reed, Julia Greeville Hospital System Swamp Rabbit 1-Year Fidigs Recommedatios

19 Silver Comet Ecoomic Impact Aalysis ad Plaig Study Phasig Strategy Short-Term Mid-Term Log-Term To Chattaooga Rome 75 GEORGIA ALABAMA Cave Sprig Arago Dallas Campgroud s Lodgig Hiram Austell Mableto Marietta Smyra Atlata Aisto Table 4.3 Phasig Pla: Short Term Recommedatios CONNECTION Lead Agecy Recommedatios Short Term (0-5 yrs.) Dowtow Aisto City of Aisto Feasibility study to exted the Chief Ladiga to dowtow Aisto is complete. Officials curretly seek resources for implemetatio. Rock Campgroud Polk Couty Ca be completed affordably with sigage ad o-road bicycle facilities i the existig right-of-way. Dowtow Dallas Days I Dallas City of Dallas & Pauldig Couty City of Dallas & Pauldig Couty Sidewalks already exist alog the recommeded sectio. O-road bike facilities ad sigage ca complete lik. Sidewalk exists alog portio of roadway. It should be exteded to Silver Comet ad Days I. Iclude o-road bike facility. Recommedatios 4-18

20 DRAFT May 2013 Table 4.4 Phasig Pla: Mid-Term Recommedatios CONNECTION Lead Agecy Recommedatios Mid-Term Rome & Cave Sprig City of Rome & Floyd Couty Marietta City of Marietta & Cobb Couty Smyra City of Smyra & Cobb Couty Hiram City of Hiram & Pauldig Couty (5-10 yrs.) Strog bicyclig culture i Rome, mometum for coectio make it a top priority. Legth ad cost make it a midterm goal. Sigificat potetial. Cotaied i the adopted Cobb Couty Pla. Legth ad cost make it a mid-term goal. Sigificat potetial. Cotaied i the adopted Cobb Couty Pla. Legth ad cost make it a mid-term goal. Commercial corridor alog 278 is lower coectio priority for Couty tha dowtow Dallas. Coectio should be built out i mid-term as sidepaths or combiatio of o-road bicycle facilities ad sidewalks. Austell Cobb Couty Should be prioritized after Marietta ad Smyra. Arago City of Arago & Polk Couty Agreemet with railroad is required to accomplish the recommeded Arago coectio. Talks should begi i the short-term to iitiate process. Aticipated build-out to take place i the mid-term Recommedatios

21 Silver Comet Ecoomic Impact Aalysis ad Plaig Study Table 4.5 Phasig Pla: Log Term Recommedatios CONNECTION Lead Agecy Recommedatios Log Term Chattaooga Atlata BeltLie City of Chattaooga & Northwest Georgia Regoial Commissio Cobb Couty & City of Atlata & PATH Foudatio (10-20 yrs.) Coectio will trasform Silver Comet ad Northwest Georgia Regio. Further aalysis ad compilatio of fudig sources will be required to accomplish this. This coectio provides a critical lik to the future BeltLie ad City of Atlata. The orthwest portio of the BeltLie is likely to be completed last. This expectatio, alog with the reamiig right-ofway acquisitio required, make this a log-term priority. Mableto Cobb Couty This coectio should be built out with ay redevelopmet or recostructio alog Fotaie Road. Complex Cobb Couty This coectio should be built out with redevelopmet or recostructio of Villa Rica Road. Recommedatios 4-20

22 DRAFT May 2013 Developmet Costs The followig table idicates developmet costs by phase. More detailed budgetary cost estimates for plaig, desig, ad costructio of proposed Silver Comet coectios are summarized i Appedix D: Costs. Table 4.2 Summary of Estimated Costs Id CONNECTION Estimated Liear Feet Note: Cost estimates were ot geerated for the Alabama ad Chattaooga coectios because of their out-of-state jurisdictio ad coceptual ature respectively. Multi-Use Facility Sidewalk Bicycle Laes Estimated Cost (M) 1 Atlata via Beltlie 34,307 34, $7.2 2 Mableto 17,077 17, $3.6 3 Smyra loop trail 21,976 21, $3.8 4 Marietta 53,704 53, $8.5 5 Austell 22,552 22, $ ,969 20, $3.5 7 Highway 278 i Hiram 11,553 11, $2.1 8 Days I - Dallas 3,496-1,584 3,496 $0.8 9 Dallas tow ceter 3, ,997 $ Campgroud 2,293-2,293 2,293 $ Arago 13,200 13, $ Rome via Cave 100, , $12.9 Sprig 13 Cave Sprig 42,995 42, $ Recommedatios