Gwinnett County will study bus rapid transit along the I-85 corridor.
County commissioners agreed Tuesday to spend $800,000 on a study that will establish recommendations for the permanent, high-capacity bus service. The study will be conducted for a 10-mile corridor west of I-85 from Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross to the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth.
The county is working on transit plans for that area and the rest of the county. Both bus rapid transit and heavy rail have been discussed as long-term options for transit to connect from Atlanta to the Infinite Energy Center.
A request for proposals said the study is recommended because “beyond the infrastructure and system logistics needed for a successful transit system, complementary land uses are essential for creating a sustainable transit system. Integrating land uses with transit corridors enables the system to efficiently and effectively connect the greatest number of people to the greatest number of destinations.”
The study is meant to look at land-use and transportation issues so proposed bus rapid transit stations will be well-placed in connected areas that will be well-used.
The study will be funded by three community improvement districts and the Atlanta Regional Commission, in addition to the county. It will be finished by November and will be conducted by Kimley-Horn.
