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Milton council approves MOU with Georgia DOT to begin State Route 9 widening process
Summary
Council authorized a memorandum of understanding with Georgia Department of Transportation for the State Route 9 widening project from Windward Parkway to the Forsyth County line; Georgia DOT will reimburse engineering and right-of-way costs with conditions.
The Milton City Council on Sept. 15 approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Georgia Department of Transportation to begin project delivery work for the widening of State Route 9 (SR 9) from Windward Parkway to the Forsyth County line.
Rob Del Ross, the city's project lead for the item, described the MOU as an initial step to define financial commitments and the roles of the city and Georgia DOT. "We are asking for your approval for a memorandum of understanding with Georgia DOT for the widening of State Route 9 in our city boundary," Del Ross said. He said the MOU outlines that Georgia DOT will reimburse 100% of the city's engineering and right-of-way costs, while noting one caveat: if the new project footprint exceeds the prior footprint, Milton may be expected to cover any additional right-of-way costs.
Del Ross said the city intends to manage day-to-day project delivery while Georgia DOT retains approval authority and will execute future contracts that formalize reimbursements, including a project framework agreement and a right-of-way agreement when acquisitions begin. He also said staff is currently in procurement for design partners and will share schedules after contracting.
Councilors and staff framed the project as important to the Deerfield District, which Del Ross described as Milton's commercial core and a vital tax base. He said preserving regional mobility on SR 9 is critical and that staff will include public outreach as design proceeds.
During a brief exchange about the project footprint and speed limits, Mayor Payton Jamieson asked whether a reduced speed design might require a smaller footprint; Del Ross replied, "That's correct." After no public comment, Councilor Jan Jacobus moved to approve the MOU and Councilor Berhoff seconded; the motion passed unanimously despite a temporary voting-screen glitch.
Discussion items included procurement for design partners, the timing of forthcoming agreements (project framework agreement and right-of-way agreement), and the city's responsibility for project delivery under Georgia DOT oversight. Formal action: approval of the MOU to proceed to the next project steps.
Authorities cited in the presentation included the MOU and references to the forthcoming project framework agreement and right-of-way agreement (project identification number 0021273). The council vote authorizes staff to proceed with the procurement and negotiations described in the MOU.
