In the next 10 years, the transportation infrastructure of Coweta County will be massively changed.

That's the word from Coweta County's assistant administrator Eddie Whitlock after attending a recent transportation meeting at the Atlanta Regional Commission.

The ARC is the planning agency for 10 counties in the Atlanta region. While Coweta County is not a member of the agency, the agency is overseeing many of its projects because the county is included in a 13-county non-attainment area for bad air quality.

“This transportation plan will help the region conform to federal air quality standards,” Whitlock said.

One of the biggest changes in the transportation arena will be the option of commuter rail. ARC officials estimate a commuter rail line will be up and running with a station in Senoia by 2010.

By 2020, nearly more than 2,500 commuters will board the rail daily in Senoia for a trip north into Atlanta. The rail will also have boarding stations at Peachtree City, Tyrone and Red Oak. ARC projects that by 2025, more than 10,000 riders will be boarding the train at the four stops.

One of the biggest traffic headaches currently is the Ga. Highway 34 corridor between Newnan and Peachtree City. Work is already being done on the section of the road from Ga. Highway 154 to Interstate 85.

Residents hoping for a quick widening of the rest of the road, though, may be disappointed. Arc officials estimate the rest of the nearly $24 million project won't be completed until 2008.

Commissioner Vernon “Mutt” Hunter pointed out that the county can request amendments to the plan, which would speed the projects up. Whitlock said Hunter was correct, but said everything boiled down to the status of the region's air.

Other major projects in the ARC proposal include:

• The building of the Newnan bypass from Hwy.34 to U.S. 29.

• Widening of the bridge at Ga. Highway 54 and Line Creek from two to four lanes.

The full ARC is scheduled to vote on the projects in March. If the projects are accepted by the federal government as acceptable for meeting clean air standards, it will free up federal money for the projects. Federal money for road projects was frozen in 1996 when the region was declared out of compliance with air quality standards.

Back to News Home Page | Back to the top of the page