DeKalb officials review I‑285 “Top End” station‑area study and urge local planning for Memorial Drive

Commissioners at the DeKalb County Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on Monday reviewed a station‑area analysis tied to the I‑285 “Top End” transit planning effort and discussed local steps DeKalb can take to prepare for future transit service.

Eric Bozeman, who led the presentation for the Top End Transit effort, said the study grew out of feasibility work that began in 2019 and moved from an initial rubber‑wheel vs. rail analysis to a station‑area focus. "Transit works best when people can walk to and from their destination to a transit station and not have to get into a vehicle first," Bozeman said while describing development and connectivity analyses for potential stations around the top of I‑285.

The study examined existing municipal comprehensive plans and small‑area/TOD plans, used tax parcel data to identify parcels "susceptible to change," and evaluated first‑and‑last‑mile needs for walking, bicycling and micromobility connections. Using Memorial Drive as an example, the team reported that within a one‑mile radius of the potential station area the analysis covers roughly 530 acres and about 200 acres within a half‑mile; if parcels were developed to their local policy maximums over a 20‑ to 25‑year horizon, the consultants estimated potential capacity to accommodate about 21,000 additional residents and 2,500 employees.

Commissioner Shakira Johnson said she was "personally, very excited" that Memorial Drive was emphasized in the presentation and asked for clarification on the map markers; Bozeman explained that darker blue circles indicate stations with higher short‑term potential in MARTA's operational analysis, while lighter blue circles are studied locations not slated for near‑term stops. Commissioner Terry and others pressed for near‑term local planning work so county projects and right‑of‑way investments can align with the long‑range transit option.

Patty Hanson, identified in the briefing as the director of strategic partnerships for the City of Brookhaven and the Top End Transit executive committee liaison, said the plan will be posted on the City of Brookhaven website in the coming weeks and encouraged commissioners to attend MARTA and project meetings. Eric Harris, MARTA's project manager for the Top End initiative, and other project team members said MARTA now is the lead agency on the transit service side and that they are coordinating with GDOT's separate I‑285 express‑lane construction and procurement work.

Bozeman and project staff emphasized that the study is intended as a local policy and advocacy tool that can help jurisdictions prepare land use policy changes and project lists for sidewalks, bike lanes and streetscape work that would make future stations more accessible and increase the likelihood of ridership. They recommended prioritizing access points to and from the express lanes, orienting land‑use policies to support transit‑oriented development, and targeting pedestrian and bicycle connectivity projects in station areas.

Commissioners asked about next steps. Project staff said the procurement and technical design work with CDM Smith and MARTA is ongoing, and that county officials can be added to the project's contact list; they noted that some express‑lane segments are being advanced by GDOT and that timelines for the Peach‑Pass lanes and a final station selection will depend in part on GDOT procurement and construction schedules.

The briefing concluded with county officials agreeing to maintain engagement and to explore near‑term projects in areas the county controls—Memorial Drive and Shallowford Road were singled out as opportunities where DeKalb's plans and capital projects can be phased to support future transit.

Ending: The project team said the corridor‑wide executive summary and the station‑by‑station recommendations would be available soon on the Brookhaven site and invited commissioners to follow MARTA and project‑level meetings as the procurement and design work moves forward.