Upcoming Dates:

• March 16 - Drop-in public meeting from 5:30-7:30 PM at Snipes Water Resources Center (780 Barber Street)
• March 29 - Public survey closes

Description: 

North Chase Street is a critical north-south connector for Athens. The North Chase Street Corridor Improvement Project includes:

• ADA-Accessible sidewalks on both sides of Chase Street between Newton Bridge Parkway and Oneta Street, connecting pedestrian traffic between Newton Bridge Parkway to Chase Street Elementary School and beyond.
• A single-lane roundabout at the Oneta Street intersection with Chase Street to accommodate all turning movements from the heavy truck traffic.
• Two single-lane roundabout interchanges at the SR10 Loop interchange with Chase Street 
• Pedestrian improvements at the Chase Street and Barber Street / Newton Bridge Parkway Intersection to connect the Chase Street sidewalks to the planned Barber Street multiuse path.
• Raised curbs over the existing railroad bridge to calm traffic speeds
• Conversion of the westbound Rowe Road approach to a right-in / right-out movement with truck aprons to calm vehicular traffic and accommodate larger truck traffic.

Related Documents

• North Chase Street Project Concept
• North Chase Street Existing and Proposed Sections
• Athens in Motion Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan includes this area for bike and pedestrian improvements
• North Chase Street Corridor Study (2018)
• Video: Get to Know Roundabouts (GDOT video showcasing how vehicles, including freight trucks, navigate roundabouts)

In 2019, Athens-Clarke County was awarded a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to move recommendations from these previous plans toward installation. The project is GDOT PI# 0015390.

This grant focuses on roadway and intersection changes to address congestion, provide traffic calming, and create new bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

The preliminary design for North Chase Street from Barber Street to Bryan Street includes features to improve each of these.

As funding allows, ACCGov has long-term goals to extend bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure south to Prince Avenue in a future phase.

Goals and Objectives

To make multimodal changes to the N. Chase Street corridor that will provide low-stress, safe, and comfortable facilities for all users.

ACCGov is in the final stages of obtaining concept approval from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).

Project History 

• 2010: Approved in the SPLOST 2011 Program referendum as Project #26, Road and Bridge Improvements and Replacement Program. 
• 2017-2018: A corridor study developed recommendations for the corridor to meet current and future multimodal demands. The corridor study included the recommendation to make bicycle and pedestrian improvements as prioritized in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (AiM).
• 2019: ACCGov was awarded the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant in the amount of $1 million ($800,000 in federal funds with a $200,000 local ACC match). The TAP funding provides an opportunity for local governments to pursue non-traditional transportation-related activities such as pedestrian facilities, bicycle facilities, and pedestrian streetscaping projects with the goal of improving the quality of life for citizens across the State of Georgia.
• December 2020: Alfred Benesch & Company was awarded the contract to provide Preliminary Engineering & Design Services.