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GDOT updates Brookhaven on I‑285 Top End express lanes; NEPA record of decision expected this year
Summary
Georgia DOT told the Brookhaven council the I‑285 Top End express lanes procurement is active, an environmental impact statement is nearing approval, and the project team is coordinating BRT, trail connections and mitigation; council members pressed DOT on noise, tree loss and stormwater concerns.
Georgia Department of Transportation officials updated Brookhaven city leaders on the I‑285 Top End express lanes project and said the procurement is underway and the project’s large environmental review is nearing completion.
"We are on the cusp of getting the environmental document approved," Tim Matthews, assistant division director for GDOT's P3 division, told the council. He said the department has addressed agency comments and is waiting on final concurrence that will allow a Record of Decision toward the end of this year.
GDOT described a phased approach: Top End East (the segment currently under procurement) will be delivered in phases, with phase 1 focusing on the westbound direction and subsequent phases negotiated through a comprehensive development agreement. Matthews said the procurement shortlisted four teams and that the draft RFP process is advanced.
GDOT emphasized the project would add new, barrier‑separated express lanes and would not remove existing general‑purpose lanes. Matthews said that because the program uses private developer financing and longer operating terms, the contracting approach creates opportunities to include enhancements beyond what law requires — for example, visual mitigation in places that do not qualify for noise walls under federal practice.
Council members asked detailed questions about environmental and neighborhood impacts. Members raised noise, visual impacts, tree loss, stormwater runoff into Nancy Creek, air quality and wildlife habitat as concerns for corridors that thread through residential areas. GDOT said it expects to present final design elements for noise and visual mitigation during later design phases and that any noise walls that meet federal eligibility criteria would be subject to public review.
GDOT also said it is coordinating the express lanes with bus rapid transit (BRT) and local trail plans. "If it falls within our right of way, we will help you out," Matthews said, describing efforts to include trail and station access points such as Indian Creek MARTA Station and La Vista in procurement baseline requirements.
GDOT representatives told the council they have advanced right‑of‑way acquisition for parcels they know will be impacted to avoid long delays between award and construction, and that the department has reached a 30% design level for the owner’s package; the developer team will prepare final design.
Council members asked GDOT to continue close coordination on stormwater management and erosion control, noting the city’s proactive stormwater work and concerns about runoff into Nancy Creek. GDOT said stormwater controls and MS4 best management practices are part of the project scope.
The project timeline described by DOT anticipates multi‑phase work over a period that could span up to 10 years for full corridor build‑out; GDOT said the Record of Decision and award of commercial terms would clarify access points and final mitigations.
Next steps: DOT said it will conclude procurement steps this year and expects further community briefings as final design and contract terms are established.
