Project Updates Abound at Cobb Commission Workshop

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners received updates on several projects Tuesday, including a nearly completed parking deck, a $1.36 million federal transportation study, and an urban design for Johnson Ferry Road.

The new $7 million parking deck—being built in downtown Marietta near the new courthouse—should be complete in a matter of weeks.

Built to match the architecture of the new courthouse, the deck will be paid for by fees charged to park in the 534-space deck.

Commissioners also heard an update at an afternoon work session on a competitive federal grant the county applied for and received in December.

The $1.36 million from the Federal Transit Administration will fund—with a local match of 20 percent—a study of a corridor that runs from Acworth to Atlanta. The major road areas included are U.S. 41 and Interstate 75.

The study will try to find the best means to connect MARTA’s Arts Center Station and key Cobb destinations like Kennesaw State University, Dobbins Air Reserve Base and others. Among the possibilities: light rail, a train service using existing track and different types of bus services.

Another update the commissioners received prior to their 7 p.m. regular meeting was on the Johnson Ferry Road Urban Design Plan.

During focus groups and public meetings since 2008, staff has met with residents, businesspeople and commercial property owners to develop a plan for improvements in this East Cobb community.

Many aspects were taken into consideration including zoning, street patterns and demographics. Short-term goals include developing design guidelines and improving landscaping and lighting.

Long-term goals, five to 10 years out, include design engineering for a roadway retrofit.

 A final draft of the plan will come before commissioners at one of their meetings in the next few months.