Capital projects round-up: sidewalks, neighborhood pedestrian concepts and reconnecting communities planning grant

Capital projects and staff updates covered several projects being prepared for mayor-and-commission review in coming agenda cycles.

Jason outlined four items expected on a future mayor/commission voting agenda: West Broad and Hancock neighborhood pedestrian improvement concept approval; Hawthorne–Overthorpe intersection eminent-domain resolution; Stonehenge neighborhood sidewalk concept; and Sycamore Drive sidewalk concept. He said those items had appeared in the agenda-setting work session and would move to a voting meeting in October.

Staff also described a Reconnecting Communities Pilot planning grant awarded by USDOT that will fund planning and concept development for accessibility and connectivity improvements in the Hawthorne South and Oglethorpe Avenue corridors; staff said they were close to awarding a consultant to execute the work. Jason urged commissioners to check the mayor/commission agenda site for attachments and concept materials when the items post.

Additional items in pipeline include a residential traffic management program (RTMP) list financed in part by recent budget allocations and the pavement management program for calendar year 2026, which staff said will appear in a fall work session for review and maps. Staff noted many projects require right-of-way, utility or railroad coordination and that timing may push some projects into later cycles.

Commissioners asked for access to concept attachments and maps ahead of votes and for clearer descriptions of acronyms when posted on agendas. Staff agreed to provide attachments and to write out acronyms in future materials.