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Record of Proceedings

Dekalb County Transportation Update Meeting - March 18, 2026

Board of Commissioners & CommitteesWednesday, March 18, 2026
BodyDekalb County, Georgia
SessionBoard of Commissioners & Committees
DateWednesday, March 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Look all the way to the right, you'll see that Columbia Drive from Clarendon Avenue to Katie Kerr is currently on the LME 26 uh list.

0:12

Uh and that's the LMEC funds that the board recently approved that we get from the state.

0:16

So that will come up soon for resurfacing.

0:19

You also look up near the top of the list, you see Columbia and Rainbow.

0:24

That section of Columbia Drive was resurfaced in 2019, and it's currently rated at a one.

0:32

Now, also looking on the right, you see these three sections with a yellow dot.

0:37

Those three sections, while when we created the 300, uh the splot one list of 300 miles, none of those streets were rated high enough.

0:46

When we created the 200 mile list of splots two, those three highlighted sections were not rated high enough to be placed on that list.

0:55

Currently, as of the most recent rating, those three sections that have the yellow dot are now rated high enough to be considered for resurfacing.

1:05

But again, they don't currently appear on the 200 mile list because they weren't rated high enough at that time.

1:11

So uh with that being said, those streets uh should we have another splot should appear on the next group of splots resurfaced.

1:22

We we can't give them an exact time uh because we don't know uh when that next list will will come out, but they will stay on the list and they will move up accordingly as time goes.

1:36

Now, another section of streets uh the community wanted us to look at Spring Valley Subdivision that's in the Columbia Drive area.

1:44

We uh pull those streets up as well.

1:47

If you will look at the rating uh column to the right, you will see that the that um there's one street that um rated 29, and it is listed.

2:03

That section of street is currently listed on the Elmic, not L me is currently listed on the SPLOS 200 mile list of streets.

2:13

So that one section is currently listed on that on that list to be resurfaced.

2:19

None of the other streets in the Spring Valley subdivision are currently rated high enough or listed on the 200 mile list of streets.

2:30

So those were the two uh streets that uh the community wanted us to look at Columbia Drive and the Spring Valley subdivision, and we provided this information to them uh on uh a number of occasions.

2:46

So, and then one of the other questions that they they asked us was well was for plans or construction plans.

2:53

We don't do construction plans for uh resurfacing, but I did provide in the presentation a typical section just so they would be able to see the one and one half inch uh layer of resurfacing.

3:07

This is after the street is milled and prepped and resurfaced.

3:13

So that's all of the information in this presentation that's regarding the resurfacing process and the situation where their streets fell in the process.

3:24

Okay.

3:26

Wasn't there an issue of it?

3:30

Um pardon me, Zach, you're breaking up.

3:33

Was there an issue about a pot a pothole?

3:35

Oh, yes, there was a question uh that was raised last week about a small sinkhole on a street.

3:42

Um, and um initially I thought it was one that we had taken care of a month ago, but it wasn't.

3:50

We went out on that same day and uh took care of that.

3:53

So that small depression in the road has been taken care of.

4:00

All right, uh, if there's pictures related to that, um, can someone send that to me?

4:07

Um, or and whatever else you can share about that repair and that repair being done, so I can um and the date that it was done, so I can articulate that it's been done as you um guys are you know, maybe over you could imagine not everyone's um emails may be sent out and you know, information provided.

4:26

Not everyone has it um or has accessed it, is what I will say.

4:32

And so when it comes up as a question, I want to be able to speak to when we did it um when we got it done because um, as you can imagine, folks will argue that it's still not done, even though it had been completed.

4:48

You can certainly get that photograph to you, Commissioner.

4:50

I I think actually one of the members of the community saw the crew out there and um taking care of it and responded to that effect.

4:58

But we'll get the photo and the date.

5:00

Thank you.

5:02

So there was also discussion regarding uh traffic study crash analysis.

5:08

Um data showed what uh that is correct.

5:13

I pulled the slide up, and Tim is available to share that information.

5:17

And I appreciate that in hearing that because um, you know, um Isaac White constituent services, he's gone out there.

5:23

They were insistent, of course, meeting on the road and you know, in a side road there.

5:28

Um and so just to show some of the dangers there and which he was able to observe some.

5:36

So I'm glad that we're addressing this as well.

5:38

Yep.

5:39

And so we've done a study uh or an assessment and compared that to other areas throughout the county.

5:44

I believe the average per year uh was like 6.6 crashes, which is actually low compared.

5:52

Well, it's all relative, right?

5:54

But yeah, that's on the next slide.

5:57

We actually we actually had GDOT run uh um analysis on that, how it compares to Cab County, and they said it was rated 613, that's out of like a thousand.

6:07

That's the crash rate, the number of crashes per uh volume.

6:13

So they and it didn't show up on any of their lists, so not like high up on the crash list.

6:20

And so is paper or someone uh when we discussed this the other day.

6:25

So this uh commissioner, you'll see uh the primarily, I guess it's primarily rear end crashes is over five years, 33 crashes, 6.6 crashes per year, 14 rear end, eight side swipe, so on and so forth.

6:40

But uh I think someone said an interesting statistic uh that last year we had I don't know if it was 34,000 or some number like that crashes throughout the county of which you know maybe six or so were at this site.

6:55

Is someone able to speak to that just to tell the commissioner?

7:01

I believe the police chief said that.

7:03

Yeah, that was Chief Pedro.

7:06

Yeah, well, I guess he's not am I is my memory serving me correctly, about 34,000 crashes last year.

7:14

That's correct, sir.

7:15

Okay, all right.

7:17

If you have that, um, please again um send that.

7:22

And also um, you know, if what whatever study GDOT has done, um, you know, and particularly to highlight would be the pedestrian, you know, incidences.

7:34

Um, but can you provide that?

7:36

Because again, you know, I like uh communicating obviously from facts and data, and unfortunately, um, you know, people will believe things are what they believe that it is are it is, excuse me.

7:50

And I just want to be able to, you know, speak on it intelligently with you know with the facts.

7:56

Um, because as sure as you know, um, you know, we're we may have a challenge with folks participating today, that's not gonna preclude them, obviously, from you know, reaching out, um, you know, talking to me, talking talking to Barnes, talking to Mrs.

8:13

That and you know, I even had an incident recently at the Flat Shoals Public.

8:20

So that would be helpful.

8:22

Yes, Commissioner, our goal is to ensure that uh you're armed with the facts as well as I appreciate that.

8:28

Thank you.

8:29

Okay, uh, I'll move on to the next study that was done.

8:33

Please.

8:34

Um there you are, Tim.

8:39

Yes, we did the speed study, and it was a little high, the 85th percentile, which is a speed or 80 for 85% of the traffic is and below is doing, and that was 46 miles per hour, which is you know, six above the the um post of speed limit out there.

8:58

And we did send something to the police to do, and they are doing aggressive enforcement out there.

9:04

What's aggressive force uh enforcement?

9:06

Tell me what they're um or maybe um a director fulum could speak to this, but um what is considered uh aggressive aggressive enforcement.

9:18

Yes, commissioner, we we spoke a little bit about this, and we'll get you the data so that you'll you'll have that, but um they have been patrolling the area um more uh in one of the the big categories that I think is always important to note is when you see the police cars actually stationed or positioned along the road.

9:43

And so I I would uh bet that the public would say that they are seeing the the police cars out there, uh especially during uh the school time, whether it's when uh they're going into the school or coming out, uh, but um we will get those those facts.

10:01

Uh Chief uh Pedrick was working on that.

10:03

That was an assignment from our last meeting.

10:06

I appreciate that.

10:07

And then to the extent that I believe there was some requests in terms of additional signage.

10:12

Um, I'm not certain if we've done an analysis on the their signage request and the feasibility of it, but to the extent that um you know it's something that we have the capacity to do and it's feasible to do.

10:27

Um, then if someone could follow up with me related to that as well, uh Director Fulham is public safety, that would be fantastic.

10:44

Thank you.

10:44

There's all yes, ma'am.

10:45

Yes, ma'am, we'll do.

10:46

Thank you, Mr.

10:48

Sat.

10:49

Striping.

10:51

Oh the uh speed study locations are right there.

10:55

We just uh highlighted that, and um, I guess the last slide is our study recommendations.

11:02

So these were what came out of the study, the restriping, which we have a project in to restripe the road.

11:10

That's I believe in procurement right now, and then we uh we're looking at uh trimming the vegetation.

11:15

We had to go out there and mark the um right away.

11:19

And we're the actual the sign, they their sign is actually on the right-of-way, but we didn't think it'd be popular to move their sign right now.

11:27

And since there is not a real you know, bad crash problem there, we figured just clearing out that bush or part of it would uh suffice.

11:38

Um the other is uh speed enforcement.

11:41

We already went over that.

11:42

Um then the last two we checked the head visibility.

11:46

We are thinking about putting some reflective striping just to make it stand out a little more.

11:51

And we did check the yellow and all red clearance times, and uh we actually made a couple little tweaks to it, but it it was it was uh safe as it was.

12:02

Thank you.

12:02

Robert, when can we get the I see the recommendation of trimming vegetation?

12:06

When can that be done?

12:09

Um I'll check and uh see and give you a heads up.

12:12

Um I would think we can get it done pretty quick.

12:14

I know there's been a hot item.

12:17

Let's see if we can get that done sooner rather than later.

12:20

Yes, sir.

12:22

And then for just you know, a general completion, is there a time frame that um and I I know the apprehension um because if something um you know there's a delay for one reason or another, then it becomes a bit of a challenge.

12:37

But just for my own knowledge, do we have um you know some time frame to where you know realistically would be able to um you know get the the recommendations um completed just so that I'm you know I'm cognizant of it.

12:57

Yeah, and so that's the timeline when I just give us um give us till this time well by Tuesday.

13:06

Okay, we will have anticipated timelines for each of these things.

13:11

And I know the issue with uh the striping, which is something we really want to happen.

13:16

I think a final throws, correct me if I'm wrong, Peggy, of getting a contractor on board who's going to do the work.

13:22

So it's a matter of getting that contract signed and then getting it scheduled.

13:28

Um so I think that's kind of part of the delay.

13:32

But or I don't even know if I'd say delay, but that's part of the the issue that it's not done.

13:37

Um yes, sir.

13:38

The uh the striping uh of Columbia Drive is on a short list of projects, and we we are working to move that list forward uh quickly.

13:49

The uh long list of projects we're going through the normal process of going out to bid and let a contract for all of the streets in the county.

13:57

We have a short list of which Columbia Drive is on that list to get to move forward quicker.

14:04

And so we'll put dates on those by this by Tuesday.

14:08

All right, and then in terms of the signal head visibility and the um yellow and red clearance time.

14:16

Um would that be us or is that a G dot?

14:19

Is that us?

14:21

Well, the red and yellow is already taken care of.

14:23

Okay, all right, fantastic.

14:24

There's nothing to do with that.

14:26

So the red, yellows taken care of and the signal head visibility.

14:29

Is that taken care of as well?

14:30

Well, we're we're gonna put tape on it, and that's uh we'll have to come through uh Peggy.

14:35

And uh I I did talk to Gerald about it.

14:37

He says they do have tape.

14:39

Okay.

14:39

Um I'll get a I'll get a timeline on on that.

14:44

I'll get get back up.

14:46

I didn't didn't know you had send it over to me yet.

14:48

So I'll get a oh I yeah, I'm sorry.

14:51

I just talked to them to ask them if they had that.

14:54

Is that something y'all did in stock?

14:57

Okay, then uh we'll we'll have that uh timeline for for you as well.

15:00

Okay then I'll we'll we'll have that uh timeline for for you as well all right um and so is there anything that I can do to help.

15:12

Let us give that some thought too commissioner because I think at the end of the day you may have a couple of things uh and we will address each of these issues that have been presented.

15:23

Okay.

15:23

But there may be underlying concern um you know that we need to either you know just kind of put on the table and address those issues but I think the first thing is the community has identified specific concerns and what we need to do is provide them with that response.

15:42

So we will get that information to you and them in terms of here's what is going to happen.

15:49

So that that's how I see it.

15:51

All right fantastic well something changes something comes up and way that I can be more of a service to help then you know just let me know um if there needs to be you know I know this is a PWI item I'm not on PWI anymore but if there you know I'm not opposed to this being um you know community wellness and service in some way right um and you need to come before PEX then that's fine but just essentially just wanting the open org um post something just the point is whatever I can do to um you know to help educate and resolve then you know then then let me know.

16:32

Understood understand all right well that's all I have for that um you know one other question in terms of um 174 to CD walk cedar walk lane um you know it's been just a lot of back and forth the last year and I think even this morning um you know there was some back and forth and it had um Sir Kingsbury and Miss Allen on it.

17:00

So um do we have an update about that's not I'm not familiar with it uh Peggy we're gonna double check last year's rating I I'm going on memory commission it was a 26 so it didn't make the list okay right and um I I saw the email this morning I'm gonna double check the latest rating see if it's similar to to last year and then I'll just send the driver out to uh to drive the street but it was in very good condition when we checked last year uh we'll we'll retrack check and uh get that back out to you as well.

17:37

Fantastic well then that's all I have do you guys have anything else for me and I appreciate everyone's availability and you know try to make themselves um available for this call thank you is anything else you guys have for me for me I think what Jack said earlier commissioner everybody was gonna be on the call that we got the email addresses we're gonna send them the the PowerPoints we just looked at right PDFs and the slides.

18:04

There you go and then just you know follow up making your office every everybody in a brother get a set all right and then make sure you share the information that I asked and you know um I wish there was someone you know from the community um that was able to you know or willing to is what I will say um participate I think it was you know it could have been informative and um you know you you've got to at least you know try in any way that you can so thank you everyone who exact this meeting I got a little note when I joined it was being recorded so we can share that link too somehow all the better um you know to the extent um that you know you guys want to share it then all the better and we'll just continue to try to do what we can to um to serve so thank you all I appreciate it thank you take care enjoy the rest of your day thank you thanks bye

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████59%
Transportation Safety████████████████████████31%
Community Engagement████████10%
Summary of Proceedings

Dekalb County Transportation Update Meeting - March 18, 2026

This meeting was a briefing for a commissioner on transportation and public safety concerns in the Columbia Drive area, including road resurfacing, crash analysis, speed studies, and specific community requests. Staff provided detailed data on project statuses, safety assessments, and upcoming actions.

Discussion Items

  • Columbia Drive Resurfacing: The section from Clarendon Avenue to Katie Kerr is on the LMEC list (funding from the state, recently approved by the board) and will be resurfaced soon. The section at Columbia and Rainbow was resurfaced in 2019 and is currently rated 1 (best condition). Three sections marked with a yellow dot were not rated high enough for the SPLOST 1 300-mile list or SPLOST 2 200-mile list but now meet the criteria; they will be considered for the next SPLOST resurfacing cycle. A timeline for the next list is not yet available.
  • Spring Valley Subdivision: One street is rated 29 and is on the SPLOST 200-mile list. None of the other streets are rated high enough or listed.
  • Pothole/Sinkhole Repair: A small sinkhole on a street was repaired the same day it was reported. The commissioner requested photos and the date of repair to share with constituents.
  • Crash Analysis: A GDOT analysis of Columbia Drive found 33 crashes over five years (6.6 per year), primarily rear-end (14) and side-swipe (8). The crash rate ranked 613 out of 1,000 compared to Cobb County and did not appear on any high-crash lists. Countywide, there were approximately 34,000 crashes last year (per Chief Pedro).
  • Speed Study: The 85th percentile speed was 46 mph (6 mph over the posted limit). Police are conducting aggressive enforcement, especially during school hours.
  • Signage and Vegetation: A sign on the right-of-way will remain, but vegetation will be trimmed to improve visibility. Reflective striping on signal heads was considered. Yellow and red clearance times were already adjusted.
  • Road Restriping: A restriping project for Columbia Drive is in procurement. It is on a short list to be fast-tracked.
  • Cedar Walk Lane (174 to CD Walk): Last year's rating was 26, which did not qualify for resurfacing. Staff will recheck the current rating and inspect the street.

Key Outcomes

  • Staff will provide the commissioner with: photos and date of the pothole repair, crash data and GDOT analysis (including pedestrian incidents), speed enforcement data, timelines for each recommended action, and updated information on the striping project.
  • Vegetation trimming will be prioritized.
  • The PowerPoint slides and meeting recording will be shared with the community.
  • The commissioner offered to assist with community education and resolution, suggesting the item could be brought to the PEX committee if needed.

Meeting Transcript

Look all the way to the right, you'll see that Columbia Drive from Clarendon Avenue to Katie Kerr is currently on the LME 26 uh list. Uh and that's the LMEC funds that the board recently approved that we get from the state. So that will come up soon for resurfacing. You also look up near the top of the list, you see Columbia and Rainbow. That section of Columbia Drive was resurfaced in 2019, and it's currently rated at a one. Now, also looking on the right, you see these three sections with a yellow dot. Those three sections, while when we created the 300, uh the splot one list of 300 miles, none of those streets were rated high enough. When we created the 200 mile list of splots two, those three highlighted sections were not rated high enough to be placed on that list. Currently, as of the most recent rating, those three sections that have the yellow dot are now rated high enough to be considered for resurfacing. But again, they don't currently appear on the 200 mile list because they weren't rated high enough at that time. So uh with that being said, those streets uh should we have another splot should appear on the next group of splots resurfaced. We we can't give them an exact time uh because we don't know uh when that next list will will come out, but they will stay on the list and they will move up accordingly as time goes. Now, another section of streets uh the community wanted us to look at Spring Valley Subdivision that's in the Columbia Drive area. We uh pull those streets up as well. If you will look at the rating uh column to the right, you will see that the that um there's one street that um rated 29, and it is listed. That section of street is currently listed on the Elmic, not L me is currently listed on the SPLOS 200 mile list of streets. So that one section is currently listed on that on that list to be resurfaced. None of the other streets in the Spring Valley subdivision are currently rated high enough or listed on the 200 mile list of streets. So those were the two uh streets that uh the community wanted us to look at Columbia Drive and the Spring Valley subdivision, and we provided this information to them uh on uh a number of occasions. So, and then one of the other questions that they they asked us was well was for plans or construction plans. We don't do construction plans for uh resurfacing, but I did provide in the presentation a typical section just so they would be able to see the one and one half inch uh layer of resurfacing. This is after the street is milled and prepped and resurfaced. So that's all of the information in this presentation that's regarding the resurfacing process and the situation where their streets fell in the process. Okay. Wasn't there an issue of it? Um pardon me, Zach, you're breaking up. Was there an issue about a pot a pothole? Oh, yes, there was a question uh that was raised last week about a small sinkhole on a street. Um, and um initially I thought it was one that we had taken care of a month ago, but it wasn't. We went out on that same day and uh took care of that. So that small depression in the road has been taken care of. All right, uh, if there's pictures related to that, um, can someone send that to me? Um, or and whatever else you can share about that repair and that repair being done, so I can um and the date that it was done, so I can articulate that it's been done as you um guys are you know, maybe over you could imagine not everyone's um emails may be sent out and you know, information provided. Not everyone has it um or has accessed it, is what I will say. And so when it comes up as a question, I want to be able to speak to when we did it um when we got it done because um, as you can imagine, folks will argue that it's still not done, even though it had been completed. You can certainly get that photograph to you, Commissioner. I I think actually one of the members of the community saw the crew out there and um taking care of it and responded to that effect. But we'll get the photo and the date. Thank you. So there was also discussion regarding uh traffic study crash analysis. Um data showed what uh that is correct. I pulled the slide up, and Tim is available to share that information. And I appreciate that in hearing that because um, you know, um Isaac White constituent services, he's gone out there. They were insistent, of course, meeting on the road and you know, in a side road there. Um and so just to show some of the dangers there and which he was able to observe some. So I'm glad that we're addressing this as well. Yep. And so we've done a study uh or an assessment and compared that to other areas throughout the county. I believe the average per year uh was like 6.6 crashes, which is actually low compared. Well, it's all relative, right?

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