Perimeter CID outlines $42M in five‑year projects including bridge aesthetics, trails and vanpool pilot

The Perimeter Community Improvement District (PCID) presented its updated five‑year project priorities to the Sandy Springs City Council on May 6, 2025, listing multimillion‑dollar investments in bridge aesthetics, trails and transportation demand management.

PCID representative Miss Hanlon told the council, "We have not been before you in quite a while to give an update on the CID," and said the board reprioritized projects after COVID and changes in the office market. She said the board has allocated funding across several “big buckets” including bridge aesthetics, trails and pedestrian improvements, intersection capacity work, local intersection fixes, transportation demand management (TDM), traffic officers, signal optimization, landscaping and asset management.

The update lists four bridge structures for aesthetic upgrades—Johnson Ferry, Mount Vernon, Glenridge Connector and Hammond Drive—some to be pursued through GDOT’s MMIP process and others by encroachment permit. "This is was and still is a big priority for the Fulton PCID board of directors and also the DeKalb PCID board of directors," Hanlon said.

Why it matters: the PCID is a funding partner for projects inside the CID boundaries; many projects still must be delivered by the city or state agencies. Council members and staff pressed on timing and coordination where work overlaps GDOT projects and MARTA.

Key amounts and programs identified by the PCID (five‑year totals, per presentation): - Trails and pedestrian improvements: $18,400,000 (partnership projects already underway with the city and in stages of delivery). - Intersection capacity and local intersection improvements: $6,900,000 for large interchange capacity items and $8,200,000 for local intersection work. - Transportation demand management / “Perimeter Connects” (including a vanpool pilot): $4,300,000. - Traffic officer program for key bottlenecks: $1,700,000. - Signal optimization partner funding: $2,000,000 (subject to city or GDOT control). - Landscaping: $1,500,000 and asset management funding to support plaza and streetscape amenities.

On transit, Hanlon described a vanpool pilot to help commuters affected by cuts to express bus routes: three express routes will be eliminated on June 1 and the CID plans an additional subsidy layered on top of ATL Link Authority subsidies, with branded vehicles and commuter outreach. On the TDM pilot she said the CID is distributing a commuter survey to office buildings, restaurants, hotels and retail to inform the program.

Council members asked staff to confirm timing and acceptance of recently completed GDOT work before the CID proceeds with intersection studies. Public Works Director Marty Martin said the city expects to receive the intersections back from GDOT and the MPC by the end of the year, after which traffic assessments can proceed. Marty said staff will identify problems to take back to GDOT if the contractor’s work needs follow‑up or correction.

Several council members expressed support for continued CID partnership funding for trails, safety officers and aesthetic improvements. Hanlon said the CID also plans more public art and communications programming after a successful mural at the Dunwoody MARTA station.

Ending: The PCID offered to return with survey results and additional detail; no formal council action was required at the presentation.