'Unacceptable' I-85 Traffic Congestion Possible Without Changes, GDOT Says

The computer animated video explains how toll lanes from Old Peachtree Road to Hamilton Mill Road would operate.

If you missed last month's public hearings regarding the extension of the I-85 toll lanes northward, you can now learn more about the project courtesy of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). The GDOT recently posted a short computer animated video depicting how the new toll lanes will operate (see above).  The GDOT has proposed extending the toll lanes from Old Peachtree Road near Suwanee to Hamilton Mill Road, in the Dacula/Buford area. As part of the project, an additional lane would be constructed to avoid losing capacity in the free lanes. According to GDOT, the new toll lanes would provide reliable travel times, improved commute alternatives and expanded commuting choices (see pdf). In the presentation, GDOT explains …

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First Public Hearing on I-85 HOT Lanes Is Thursday

The GDOT is considering extending the toll lanes from Old Peachtree Road near Suwanee to Hamilton Mill Road.

The Georgia Department of Transportation has scheduled two public hearings in March to discuss extending the I-85 HOT lanes another 10 miles northward. The first hearing will be held Thursday, March 21 at 4 p.m. at the Gwinnett Center Atrium located at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. The second hearing will take place Thursday, March 28 at 4 p.m. in Braselton. The meeting will be held in the community room of the Braselton Municipal building located at 4982 Highway 53, Braselton. The GDOT is considering extending the toll lanes from Old Peachtree Road near Suwanee to Hamilton Mill Road, in the Dacula and Buford area or possibly extending the lanes to Chateau Elan near Braselton. As part of the project, an additional lane would be …

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The Week In Review

SUWANEE/GWINNETT NEWS WEEK: A $1.8 Million Moment ...

Reviewing some top news stories from the area.

Click on the links below for more information. SUWANEE WINS YEARS-LONG LEGAL BATTLE: "It reaffirms that we were right all along," Suwanee City Manager Marty Allen said of a recent Georgia Supreme Court decision. The city won its appeal vs. developers Settles Bridge Farm LLC, which also voided a $1.8 million jury award. NO CHARGES EXPECTED IN DOMESTIC SHOOTING: A domestic shooting in October 2012 left Charissa Thomas dead in her Chattahoochee Ridge home. Her husband, Steven Thomas, acknowledged pulling the trigger, and told police it was an "accident." Suwanee Police anticipate no charges in the case, although it remains open, typical of a homicide. GUN RALLY AT GJAC: The national gun discussion played out at the Gwinnett Justice and …

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Georgia DOT Wants To Extend HOT Lanes in Gwinnett

The extension would take the lanes from Old Peachtree Road to Hamilton Mill Road. Share your thoughts.

Attention, Gwinnett commuters. The I-85 HOT lanes may be extended another 10 miles northward soon. According to wsbtv.com, the state Department of Transportation wants to extend the toll lanes from Old Peachtree Road near Suwanee to Hamilton Mill Road, in the Dacula and Buford areas. Two public hearings will be held in March, one in Gwinnett, for DOT officials to present their plans, according to the report. The work could begin in 2014 and be completed in three years. "The design work proposal is under way that would pick up the express lane that currently ends at Old Peachtree," GDOT spokesperson Teri Pope told WSB. "The great thing about this project is that it’s new construction.  We'll be adding that express lane.  It will not take …

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HOT Lanes Foes Form Coalition

Organizers claim thousands have backed their cause.

In an effort to address a controversial issue with a single, stronger voice, organizers of three groups opposed to the controversial I-85 toll lanes have joined forces to create StolenLanes.org. Victor A. Ramkisson of Against The Peach Pass, Howard Rodgers of Stop the HOT Lane! and Chris K. Haley of Stop Peach Pass hope to solidify the community’s opposition to the HOT (High Occupancy Toll) lanes. According to StolenLanes.org, nearly 10,000 people have rallied behind the cause. "The number of citizens represented by our combined coalition is a force to be reckoned with," said Rodgers in a released statement. "The number of people opposed to the recent implementation of the HOT lanes keeps growing," added Victor Ramkisson. "This is not a …

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Gov. Deal Reduces HOT Lane Rates on I-85

After just six days in operation, the governor is lowering the cost and reducing the number of required passengers for the I-85 toll lanes.

Less than a week after the I-85 toll lanes were introduced, Gov. Nathan Deal announced Thursday that he's making some changes to the rules of usage for the controversal High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes. The changes he hopes will encourage more people to use the toll lanes. “Looking at what we’ve learned from our first four work days with the HOT lanes, I’ve asked the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) to improve utilization of the express lanes,” Deal said. “In the short term, the toll rate will lower – starting with Thursday afternoon’s commute – but the effective rate will continue to change to regulate speed and volume. The governor acknowledged that even before opening the toll lanes they realized improvements to access and exit …

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Bob Williams

7:42 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011

I've been in lane three of the four days this week. My car pool group joined with another to create a five person car pool. While we meet on Sugarloaf, we have to pass under I-85 and drive to 316 to gain entry to the lane. So while we are using the lane in "toll-free" mode, we've added miles to the trip and create more traffic on Sugarloaf while getting to 316. As you noted, this isn't a surprise…   more ›

HOT Lanes Now Open on I-85

The new toll lanes opened at midnight Saturday. Here's what you need to know.

At the stroke of midnight Saturday, Oct. 1, the HOT lane on I-85 officially opened to traffic. The High Occupancy Toll, or HOT, lane goes from just south of I-285 at Chamblee Tucker Road to Old Peachtree Road. All drivers must now have a Peach Pass and most will pay a fee of 10 to 90 cents per mile. That number will be based upon congestion and distance if they have less than three people in their vehicle. There are a few exceptions, such as Alternative Fuel Vehicles with the proper plates, emergency vehicles and motorcycles. WSB-TV's Kerry Kavanaugh tells drivers what they can expect on the ride in the HOT Lane. CBS Atlanta's Renee Starsyk talked to commuters at Discover Mills who say their commute will now be longer because of the HOT …

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I-85 Express Toll Lanes Set to Open Oct. 1

Do you have your Peach Pass yet? Get it online or at offices in Norcross and Lawrenceville.

With preparations nearing completion, the I-85 Express Lanes are set to begin official operations Oct. 1.  “The opening of the I-85 Express Lanes will represent a new era in transportation innovation,” said Dr. Gena L. Evans, executive director of the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA). “This all-electronic commuting choice gives registered Peach Pass customers access to a more reliable travel option in the I-85 corridor. The Express Lanes concept has been proven successful in eight other cities, and we are excited about its ability to positively impact I-85 traffic and keep Metro Atlantans moving.” Motorists have seen sign changes, with the permanent Express Lane text now featuring the Peach Pass logo.  Final Road I-85 Express Lane …

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I-85 HOT Lanes Change More Than Access Rules for Suwanee Commuters

New entry points on I-85 South leave six-mile gap between Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road and Beaver Ruin road without an entry.

The conversion of the existing HOV lanes on I-85 to toll lanes is almost complete.  But there are more changes than the access rules for many commuters. Gwinnett residents may have noticed the recent restriping of access points to the lane. Designated access and exit points are marked with a dashed double white line.  For the upcoming HOT lanes, the access and exit points are in different locations for northbound and southbound traffic.  According to Teri Pope, Communications Officer for the Georgia Department of Transportation, the access points are: I-85 northbound HOT lane access points: ENTER the HOT lanes at:                                     EXIT the HOT lanes at:  I-85 southbound HOT lane access points:     ENTER the HOT lanes at…

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