Politics & Government

Major Transportation Projects Approved for Roswell

Transportation Department Director, Steve Acenbrak, lays out some of the city's most important projects for Patch and the process residents can use to have their own say.

Just like many active and growing cities within the metro-Atlanta area, Roswell has plenty of traffic. Luckily, Roswell Transportation Director Steve Acenbrak, his staff within the and the Roswell City Council is consistently hard at work coming up with ways to better the city's transportation options on every front.

Currently the department is managing a very large program, said Acenbrak.

They oversee everything from an Advanced Traffic Management System, which takes real-time traffic data from cameras and senses speed along Highway 92, to improving intersections and making new road connections. So it's probably fair to say the transportation department has a full caseload.

Find out what's happening in Roswellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It's their job to seek solutions that will fix existing issues, as well as look for ways to make improvements through future projects.

And though you might think transportation would revolve strictly around roads, that isn't so. According to Acenbrak, the city is highly dedicated to a mixed-use transportation vision.

Find out what's happening in Roswellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The city council requires us to consider all users when we're designing a new project," he said. "That means we need to consider pedestrians with baby strollers, as well as large trucks. We work really hard on all of our projects to do so."

The city tries to include bike lanes, sidewalks and multi-use trails wherever possible and will often add them in places where it seems reasonable, like the one installed between Horseshoe Bend and .

Recently the city joined forces with the other North Fulton cities to sign off on the North Fulton Comprehensive Transportation Plan, a three-tiered strategy to fix and enhance joint transportation areas of North Fulton. One of the most exciting projects within the plan for Acenbrak is a proposed widening to the section of Highway 140 near Crabapple, where Roswell intersects with Alpharetta and Milton.

"It was a great victory in compromise," he said.

Another major transportation project being undertaken by Roswell is a proposal to redesign the reversible lanes along Atlanta Street. But with it being in a historic district and adjacent to parkland the important project promises to be a massive undertaking.

"It's going to be a lot of work, but good things take a long time," Acebrak said, "I'm happy to see it move forward."

The process used to decide upon projects like that along Atlanta Street isn't arbitrary; a large majority of focus and direction comes directly from Roswell residents.

"The [transportation department] website is designed to be very user-friendly," said Acenbrak. "There are links where people can send us an e-mail to ask us a question or add a comment."

The department sees and takes seriously every instance of resident communication, from "We need a stop sign" to "We need a sidewalk," according to Acenbrak.

"We're a very open organization. We hold a lot of public meetings. The city votes on things, we sketch ideas… it takes a long time, but we get a better buy in from the community because they have stake," he added.

The city's "open line of communication" isn't limited to the web either, according to Acenbrak. He directs people to call the department, send an e-mail or speak with a city council member if they have an issue or idea.

Find a complete map of current transportation projects in Roswell here.


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