Transportation
Sycamore Consulting uses a progressive and integrated approach to transportation planning. It’s not just about figuring out how to move people more efficiently in cars. Rather, transportation planning now emphasizes managing transportation systems through techniques such as traffic-calming, access management, improved connectivity among uses, and transit-oriented design.
SCI specializes in linking transportation with community planning, transit, providing support services for road improvement initiatives and the management of transportation planning studies.
Station area planning is an area of transit planning that SCI excels at. Sycamore Consulting assists with identifying station sites, developing transit-oriented development (TOD) guidelines, and implementing procedures to ensure full collaboration between transit providers and the community in question.
Sycamore has been involved with planning for transit/rail in the expansive Atlanta Region both at a regional level and project level. This transit planning niche has been defined by our ability to develop community partnerships and effectively integrate a variety of goals and objectives into the technical planning process. Sycamore also specializes in effective design and documentation of the planning process.
Specifically for transit/rail operations, Sycamore has conducted numerous ridership surveys and assessed the results to supply transit/rail managers with a clear picture of current trips and passenger needs.
Clifton Corridor Alternatives Analysis
The Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transportation Agency (MARTA )Clifton Corridor Alternatives Analysis Study is investigating the possibility of using alternative transit as a solution to the transportation problems in the area, around Emory University and Emory Hospital, which is a major employment hub. Sycamore Consulting is a key member of the consultant team for the project, which is part of a multiyear MARTA general planning contract. Sycamore created a public involvement plan that drives the process and seeks input from every aspect of the broad spectrum of users and interests.
The MARTA I-20 East Transit Initiative
This project, part of a multiyear general planning contract Sycamore has with MARTA, is identifying and summarizing the transportation and environmental impacts associated with the implementation of new east-west transit service from downtown Atlanta to the Mall at Stonecrest in eastern DeKalb County, GA. The project will identify transit investments that would improve mobility and accessibility to jobs and housing within the corridor. Sycamore’s activities include organizing and managing public meetings, producing newsletters, creating information kiosks, and establishing two advisory committees: the stakeholder advisory committee and the technical advisory committee. Explicit efforts to reach environmental justice communities are being implemented when applicable.
I-285 DEIS Project
One of the most congested areas in the Atlanta metropolitan area lies between I-75 and I-85 on the top end of I-285. In 2006, the Georgia Department of Transportation and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority launched revive285 top end to develop a solution to the traffic challenges on this vital corridor. Sycamore is sharing our expertise in identifying avenues of public involvement and in generating community interest and engagement. Sycamore also is assisting with environmental studies and station area planning. We collect, edit, and format data (transportation, demographic, economic, and environmental) for land use, demographic and economic existing conditions as well as assist with the draft and final existing conditions report.
Sycamore also has conducted field briefings, established a speakers bureau, and conducted stakeholder interviews, coordinated meeting logistics and publicity, and assisted with the development of a station area planning workshop.
Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP)
Sycamore Consulting was the lead on this Georgia Department of Transportation project for each of three STIP development cycles, including FY 2007, 2008, and 2009. As part of the project, Sycamore analyzed US Census data and other resource s to identify environmental justice populations of concern for the six rural GDOT districts. Working closely with each district office to learn more about the known environment, outreach techniques were identified to ensure that the needs of the populations in each area were heard. An environmental justice outreach strategy report was also developed. Sycamore was charged with preparing all display maps depicting STIP projects by district and attending all meetings to document FAQs and written comments and subsequent analysis and producing an annual Public Involvement Report.
I-16/I-75 Improvement Project
Sycamore Consulting developed a comprehensive public involvement plan for this project, a challenge that required a unique approach owing to much attention from public interest groups and area officials. To address the various interests, Sycamore facilitated a project advisory committee composed of individuals representing various groups and constituencies affected by and involved with Macon and the I-16/I-75 interchange. Periodic committee meetings provided unique opportunities for partnership building and public involvement through collaboration and consensus building. Sycamore’s communications program included the production of newsletters and the maintenance of informational kiosks in key local sites. Staff also gathered and documented community concerns as well as public agency concerns. In addition, Sycamore developed and completed a Community Impact Assessment to meet environmental justice requirements including an evaluation of existing conditions and potential impacts.