Summary:

• Dr. Robert Williams opened the meeting and expressed his appreciation for the project team attending to inform the community of the project prior to any construction or right of way purchasing. He introduced Mr. Joseph Palladi. Mr. Palladi explained his position with GDOT and began to describe the I-16/I-75 Improvement Project. He provided information on the need and purpose of the project, and explained the public involvement process.
• Ms. Liz Sanford facilitated a discussion to determine any needs and concerns on the part of the community related to this project. Specific comments/questions were:
  • What is the time frame?
  • Prior to construction of I-75 in the 1960's, many residents were not aware of the project until they started to demolish property. What measures will GDOT take to ensure residents are better informed with this project?
  • Will there be minority participation in every phase of the project?
  • How was the Advisory Committee selected?
  • How will the project be phased during construction?
  • Who is funding this project and how much will it cost?
• Mr. Palladi addressed each of the comments and explained the project in more detail. He discussed the concept maps that were displayed including access from 2nd St. off I-16, signage improvements, braided ramps at Riverside Drive and a half diamond interchange at Riverside Drive. Mr. Palladi asked the group to identify the benefits of this type of interchange to the Pleasant Hill Community. He also asked if there were other interstate improvements that could be made in the area to improve the community. Mr. Palladi explained that the purpose of this meeting was to provide information and to get feedback from the community.
• Specific comments included:
  • Will this eliminate accidents at Riverside?
  • Have the people who are renovating around the stadium been informed?
  • Residents need to know more about the impacts as plans progress. (For example, it is the community's understanding that a collector road was discussed during the planning for I-75 but the community didn't want it. Pleasant Hill residents were never asked for their input.)
  • The Advisory Committee needs to stay in touch with the community.
  • Are any residents from Pleasant Hill on the Advisory Committee? Mr. Palladi responded that currently there were not any Pleasant Hill residents serving on the Advisory Committee. He then offered to include a Pleasant Hill resident if the group would select someone and send his/her address and phone # to him.
  • Reverend Michael Chambers offered to attend the meetings or to help the group decide on a representative.
• Ms. Sanford explained how the current Advisory Committee members were identified and selected. Mr. David Grachen, FHWA, reminded the group that there has been and will be public informational meetings that they all can attend to provide input. Mr. Palladi provided his direct phone number if they want to talk with him directly, 404/656-5446. He also informed the group that Mrs. Angela T. Alexander, his assistant, or Mrs. Genetha Rice-Singleton, Project Manager, could be contacted. He also reminded them of the project hotline number and P.O. Box.

• Mr. Palladi offered to add a representative from the Pleasant Hill Community to the Advisory Committee. A letter will be sent to Dr. Williams asking for the name and address of their representative. This person will be invited to the next Advisory Committee meeting in late July. A copy of all previous Advisory Committee meeting materials will be provided to this person for their review prior to the meeting.

• Seven comment forms were received at the meeting. Three were requesting representation at meetings from Pleasant Hill. One asked how this project will effect Third Avenue and 4th Avenue. The others were requesting to be added to the mailing list.