At the request of local governments, consultants hired by the Southern Georgia Reginal Commission, the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Valdosta-Lowndes County area are presenting their final recommendations on solutions to the impacts from truck traffic in Downtown Valdosta. A public open house will be held at the Southern Georgia Regional Commission office (327 W. Savannah Ave.) from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2016. Advanced copies of the presentation and boards will be available on the SGRC’s website at www.sgrc.us.
 
Stakeholders and the public previously reviewed these plans on May 10 and discussed alternatives and review modeled forecasts of traffic growth. Consensus was reached on another alternative, a modified South Bypass Route, should be evaluated.
 
Nearly a year ago Valdosta and Lowndes County agreed to participate in a jointly funded study of the impacts of truck traffic in Downtown Valdosta and how to mitigate those impacts. The SGRC has worked with a consulting team from Cambridge Systematics to analyze existing truck traffic patterns and future forecasts of truck traffic. Alternatives analyzed included a ‘South Bypass’, a ‘Savannah Ave Parkway’, and ‘South of Savannah Ave’ routes. Each of these alternatives were analyzed for their potential to mitigate the impacts of trucks in Downtown Valdosta. Those impacts include noise, congestion, safety, and an overall quality of life that is desired in the community.
 
The consultants’ final report will be available after June 30, 2016 for further review. At that time local officials will review the data and consider any recommendations for implementation. Any future projects will be included in the Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organizations’ 2040 Transportation Vision Plan.
 
Information about the alternatives presented and a final recommendation will be available on the Southern Georgia Regional Commission website at www.sgrc.us as they are available. If you have any questions please contact Corey Hull, Transportation Director at [email protected] or 229-333-5277.