Paulding County seeks CMAQ funding as right‑of‑way costs rise for Cedar Crest widening

Paulding County staff asked the Board of Commissioners on Oct. 28 to authorize a resolution supporting a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant application and to approve a supplemental agreement with consultant BM&K to continue right‑of‑way acquisition work for the Cedar Crest Road widening project.

The request to adopt Resolution 2025‑39 would allow the county to submit an application to the Georgia Department of Transportation for federal CMAQ funding. Jones, a county staff member presenting the item, said the construction phase needs an estimated $37,200,000 after accounting for other awards and that the Atlanta Regional Commission has committed $5,000,000. The county has identified $1,000,000 in matching funds, Jones said. “Applications are due by 10/31/2025,” Jones added, and GDOT requires a local resolution to verify government support.

Jones also told the board the project’s parcel count for right‑of‑way had risen to 153 from an initial 119 because of lot splits, properties with multiple interests, plan revisions and other issues. Staff requested approval of Supplemental Agreement No. 2 with BM&K in the amount of $220,850 to cover additional appraisal and acquisition work, which would raise the BM&K contract from $1,396,375 to $1,617,225. Jones said approximately 68 options have been executed to date and that the project remains on schedule for a May 2027 construction let date.

The presentation noted CMAQ grants are competitive, provide up to 80% federal funding with a required minimum 20% local match, and that awards are not guaranteed. Jones said a detailed project description and funding breakdown would be presented to the board for acceptance if the county is awarded funding.

No vote on the grants resolution or the supplemental agreement is recorded in the public portion of the transcript; staff presented the items and answered questions during the work session.

If approved and funded, the widening would extend from Harmony Grove Church Road to the Cobb County line and would require subsequent agenda items to accept and manage any awarded grant funds and to authorize the local share.