GA 400
In July 2012, Gov. Nathan Deal announced that the state would pay off its bond debt and end tolls on GA 400 by December 2013. The ending date for GA 400 tolls has been tentatively set for Thursday, November 21, weather permitting. This date was selected to lessen the impact on Thanksgiving holiday travel. In the case of inclement weather, the ending date will be moved to November 22 or 23.
Plans for the demolition of the toll booths and other aspects of the project are still being finalized. However, preliminary plans call for all GA 400 traffic to shift into three general purpose lanes where motorists currently use the electronic tolling lanes. Construction activities will likely begin in October 2013 to make preparations for the traffic shift in November. Once traffic is shifted, there is no heavy demolition work expected to take place during the winter holidays.
Click here for additional details on the GA 400 Demolition Project.
Atlanta’s commuters rely heavily on the GA 400 Extension to facilitate commutes between work and home. Completed in 1993, the GA 400 extension got its start with funding through the 1987 Federal Highway Act, which provided $98 million for a “High Technology Demonstration Project” to bring electronic toll collection (ETC) using automated vehicle identification to the area. It was the first project of its kind in the United States. Today, about 119,000 people use the 6.2-mile system every weekday. SRTA brings convenience to motorists by offering the option of electronic toll collection. Approximately 41% percent of all vehicles traveling GA 400 use the windshield-mounted “Cruise Card,” for cashless payment of tolls.
The average weekday revenue collected at the toll plaza on GA 400 is approximately $59,000.00 per day. All tolls collected are used to pay down bond debt, operate and maintain the road, and assist in financing SRTA’s overall operations. SRTA’s Board, which is chaired by the Governor, is responsible for the accounting of these funds and annually adopts a budget allocating all revenue in order to ensure safe and efficient operations of the system.
The toll rate for most cars is .50 cents. See the attached Toll Rates Chart for toll amounts for multiple axles.
GA 400 Improvement Projects
In September 2010, the governing boards of the State Road and Tollway Authority – known as SRTA – and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) voted to extend the ground lease for the GA 400 Toll Road and the fifty-cent toll for up to 10 years. Toll revenues will be used to fund new transportation improvement projects along the Georgia 400 corridor.
SRTA and GDOT initially developed a list of 160 possible projects with input from the North Fulton Atlanta Mayors Association; Buckhead, North Fulton and Perimeter CIDs; Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and various city and county planning and transportation entities. Those projects were then reviewed based on their impact to GA 400 corridor, mobility, strategic objectives and project schedule. The short-list of projects, ranked the highest based on these criteria, and their current statuses are detailed in the table below:
GA 400 IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS UPDATE - WEB
| PROJECT | PROJECTED COMPLETION DATE | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
| A. I-85/GA 400 Connector Ramps | December 2013 |
95% of construction design completed 45% of construction completed Bridge deck installation, beam setting and retaining wall installation underway |
| B. I-85 Southbound/GA 400 Southbound Merge Modification | March 2011 | Completed March 2011, ahead of schedule |
| C. GA 400 Lane Widening from McFarland Parkway to SR 20 (Preliminary Engineering Plan Only) | TBD | Feasibility Study, In Process |
| D. GA 400 Managed Lanes Project from I-285 to McFarland Parkway (Preliminary Engineering Plan Only) | TBD | Feasibility Study, In Process |
| E. GA 400 Northbound Third Transition Lane Extension at McFarland Parkway | January 2013 |
Completed November 2012, ahead of schedule |
|
1. March 2013
2. Ongoing |
1.60% of construction complete; open cut trenching, silt fencing and boring for conduit installation underway 2. Two new trucks purchased and assigned to GA 400 Service currently in operation |
|
| F2. GA 400 HERO Expansion from McFarland Parkway to SR 20 | ||
| G. SR 140 (Holcomb Bridge Road) ATMS |
June 2013 Postponed 1 Year due to new requirements by City of Roswell |
Bidding process completed in March 2013; contract being finalized |
| H. Mansell Road Triple Left Turn Lane (GA 400 to North Point Parkway) | November 2011 | Completed November 2011 |
| I. GRTA Xpress Bus Service on GA 400 | Ongoing |
2 routes currently in operation |
| J. GA 400 Northbound Ramp Extension at Abernathy Road | January 2013 |
Completed November 2012, ahead of schedule |
| K. Improvements to GA 400 at Northridge Road Interchange |
March 2015
|
Projected awarded in January 2013; notice to proceed for design issued in February 2013 Construction expected to start in late fall 2013 |
| L. Enhanced Maintenance Improvements along GA 400 Corridor | Ongoing |
Graffiti removal throughout the GA 400 Corridor Sound barrier and guardrail repairs throughout the GA 400 Corridor Replacement of reflective raised pavement markings damaged by snow removal throughout GA 400 corridor and its overpasses Restriping throughout GA 400 corridor and its overpasses |
|
M. MARTA Buckhead Pedestrian Bridge |
November 2013 |
Beams have been placed over southbound and northbound lanes Installation of bridge walls and roofing, electrical wiring, mechanical pipes, communication lines, etc., is underway |