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Staff outlines RCP study area and Replica modeling for plan revision
Summary
Staff said the federally funded Reconnecting Communities Program (RCP) contract (Kimley‑Horn as consultant) is in negotiations and will study Hawthorne Avenue and adjacent corridors; GDOT‑funded Replica HQ modeling will inform a plan revision and prioritize bicycle and pedestrian investments around campus and nearby neighborhoods.
Commissioners heard staff describe two linked planning efforts: the RCP study and the Athens plan revision backed by a Replica HQ origin‑destination model funded by GDOT.
Staff reported that Kimley‑Horn has been awarded the RCP contract and that the study area focuses on historic areas divided by Hawthorne Avenue, roughly from Prince Avenue to Baxter and including segments tying Prince to Mitchell Bridge Road. The consultant team will evaluate intersection improvements, roundabouts, lane reallocations and zoning recommendations, while emphasizing community engagement rather than single large capital fixes.
Separately, staff said AECOM will deliver safety action plan data and that GDOT is covering Replica HQ analysis to model trips to campus. Staff said Replica outputs will show origin‑destination patterns — including short trips suitable for biking — and help estimate mode‑shift scenarios for students, faculty and staff. These modeling results will be incorporated into the Athens plan revision and prioritization process.
Commissioners asked about neighborhood impacts and zoning sensitivity; staff reiterated the RCP emphasis on community engagement and clarified that the grant supports planning and study work, not immediate large capital projects.
Next steps include integrating Replica outputs into the plan document, receiving logical project termini from consultants, and scheduling opportunities for commissioner feedback before the mayor/commission work session later in the year.
