Purpose of Project

The purpose of the Virginia Avenue Smart Corridor Study led by the ATL Airport Community Improvement Districts was to evaluate technology projects or strategies to address mobility, walkability, and safety along the 2-mile corridor between US 29/Main Street and S. Central Avenue.  The outcome of the study was a recommended project list and implementation plan.

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Our Role on the Project

Modern Mobility Partners (MMP) led or oversaw all elements of the Virginia Avenue Smart Corridor Study, the first of its kind in the Atlanta metropolitan region and a model for subsequent smart corridor studies. MMP's scope included public engagement, stakeholder coordination, assessment of existing conditions along the corridor, identification of needs and opportunities, a comprehensive best-practices report on new and emerging technologies, project prioritization, recommendations, and the development of an implementation and phasing plan.

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For the best practices report, MMP conducted an extensive review of trends in emerging technologies and summarized the findings in an illustrative, comprehensive technical report. Over 30 types of technology strategies were researched in detail, including traffic signals, bicycle and pedestrian safety, transit, street lighting, pavement and sidewalks, wayfinding, parking, electric vehicle charging, video surveillance, public Wi-Fi, curbside management, phone apps, and data exchange. MMP synthesized complex telecommunications models and methods, such as Cellular-Vehicle to Everything (C-V2X) and Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC), alongside various technology applications, into a practical and accessible document.

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Projects were evaluated using a prioritization framework developed by MMP to account for sustainable technology considerations, project readiness, costs, and return on investment. A comprehensive implementation, phasing, and funding plan was developed to ensure continued implementation of the study's recommendations, including a 100-day action plan and a robust funding strategy detailing potential funding sources and a grant strategy for each project component.

As a result of early and regular coordination with GDOT during the study, signal upgrade recommendations and communications capabilities were implemented prior to the completion of the 9-month study.

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Problem Solvers

Early in the study, we found that of the 10 traffic signals along the corridor, only one was owned and maintained by GDOT.  The other nine were owned by three different jurisdictions (Cities of College Park, East Point, and Hapeville), none of which had resources to upgrade and/or retime the signals.  By coordinating early and facilitating regular communication between GDOT and the three cities, we were able to get several recommendations implemented prior to the completion of the study at no cost to the jurisdictions.  GDOT replaced two outdated signal cabinets and updated all ten traffic signals along the corridor with 4G LTE routers and MaxTime software, which included the capability of signal phasing and timing (SPaT) information for connected vehicles (CV).   GDOT also re-timed the signals along the corridor to optimize traffic along the corridor.  Furthermore, GDOT agreed to install 4G LTE routers and MaxTime software at ALL traffic signals in the ENTIRETY of the Cities of College Park, East Point, and Hapeville, regardless of who owns and maintains them and completed all of these upgrades shortly after the end of the study.  GDOT also trained the three cities in how to re-time signals in the future using MaxView from their desktops in their office.