Joint Henry County/Cities

Transportation Plan
October 2005 Project Fact Sheet

What is the Joint Henry County/Cities Transportation Plan?

In August, 2005, the Henry County Board of Commissioners initiated the development of its first Comprehensive
Transportation Plan in collaboration with the Cities of Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough, and Stockbridge. The
Plan was initiated in response to the concerns of local elected officials and citizens about the rapid growth of the
County and its impact on the quality of the transportation system in the County and the increasing level of traffic
congestion.

The Plan will identify the current need for transportation system improvements throughout the County, including
new and widened roads, turn lanes at intersections, traffic signals, safety improvements, sidewalks and bicycle
paths, and new and expanded public transportation services for commuters, seniors, and disabled individuals.
Special attention will be given to identifying the needed transportation projects that will be needed to serve newly
developing and expanding areas of the County. The Plan will also examine a range of possible financial resources
which could be used to fund the new transportation system improvements.

How is this rapid growth affecting Henry County?

Henry County, including its cities, is experiencing an unprecedented surge of growth
and development according to U.S. Census figures and information from the Atlanta
Regional Commission (ARC). While new development and growth bring more
opportunities to our area, it also brings some challenges.
• Henry County is currently the sixth-fastest growing county in the entire United
States, and has the fourth-highest rate of new housing construction.
• Henry County’s population is projected to increase to 370,000 people by 2030 – an
increase of more than 200% from 2000.
• Employment in Henry County is projected to increase by 230% by 2030, from 33,000 jobs in 2000 to almost
110,000 jobs in 2030.

What does this growth mean to our transportation system in Henry County?
Based on current development patterns, the Atlanta Regional Commission
(ARC) estimates that this growth will result in:
• 82,000 additional households in the County;
• 250,000 additional vehicles traveling on the roadways in the
County; and
• 8,000,000 more vehicle miles of travel (VMT) each day.

New households and businesses will place additional demands on our

existing transportation system, which is already experiencing high levels
of congestion in many places. If we do not think about and act to
improve our transportation system now, it will be even more difficult to
deal with our transportation difficulties in the future when are roads are
more congested, the improvements cost more, and our ability to improve our roads is more limited. Our ability to
travel conveniently, safely, and economically throughout the County has a direct bearing on our quality of life.
Joint Henry County/Cities Transportation Plan Page 2
October 2005 Project Fact Sheet

What are we doing to address our future transportation needs?

The Cities of Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough, and Stockbridge are working with Henry County to update the
County’s Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plans for the entire County to ensure that the expected
growth is properly planned for and does not undermine the quality of life for our residents.

Specifically, these plans will:

• Identify a long-range vision for the entire County that is consistent with the needs and desires of its
residents.
• Develop specific planning goals and objectives to realize this vision that are jointly supported by Henry
County and its cities.
• Establish growth, development, and transportation policies that can be used by the County and its cities to
make this vision a reality.
• Identify specific transportation projects that will support the type of growth and development desired by the
citizens of Henry County.

How long will it take to develop the Plan?

The Joint Henry County/Cities Transportation Plan will cover a planning period from 2005 though 2030 and will be
completed by January 2007. The Comprehensive Land Use Plan will be finished by April 2007. We are firmly
committed to addressing the County’s future needs through a balanced and coordinated approach to land use and
transportation planning.

Will citizens have an opportunity to participate?

Over the next several months, a number of community meetings will be
held throughout Henry County aimed at understanding the needs and
expectations of our residents, as well as identifying public policies and
actions that can best achieve these common planning goals. Your
participation in these meetings is crucial to creating a workable plan that
successfully guides Henry County’s future. We encourage you to remain
engaged and informed about the development of the Plan by:

9 Attending informative and interactive community workshops.

9 Joining the mailing list to receive newsletters and email notices
about study progress, key decisions and public events.
9 Visiting the County website (www.co.henry.ga.us) on a regular basis to review project information and to
complete comment forms.
9 Checking the local cable access channel for special programming featuring transportation-related topics.

Contact Us
Terry McMickle Lisa Glover Jamie Cochran Mignon Allen
Project Director Project Manager Plan Development Public Input/Communications
Department of Public Works Transportation Planning Parsons Brinckerhoff Dovetail Consulting
Henry County Henry County 3340 Peachtree Road 427 Moreland Avenue
140 Henry Parkway 140 Henry Parkway Tower Place, Suite 2400 Suite 600
McDonough, GA McDonough, GA Atlanta, GA 30326 Atlanta, GA 30307
678-610-6341 (tel) 678-610-6341 (tel) 404-285-7577 (tel) 404-223-1660 (tel)
770-898-7657 (fax) 770-898-7657 (fax) 404-364-5240 (fax) 404-223-1662 (fax)
tmcmickle@co.henry.ga.us lglover@co.henry.ga.us jacoch@bellsouth.net mallen@dovetailconsulting.net