For Immediate Release:

Contact: Bill Doughty, APR, 678-512-3274

Johns Creek Receives $700,000 GDOT Transportation Enhancement Grant
Funds will go to trail construction, related signs and amenities throughout city

JOHNS CREEK, Georgia—January 15, 2008—State Transportation Board Vice Chairman Garland Pinholster today announced that the City of Johns Creek has received $700,000 in Transportation Enhancement funding from the Georgia Department of Transportation to be used for trail construction, signage and amenities in the city.

Pinholster praised State Representative Mark Burkhalter, R-Duluth, and State Senators David Shafer, R-Duluth, and Dan Moody, R-Alpharetta, as having been instrumental in securing the funding.

"Without their hard work and commitment to these projects, they likely would not have happened," he said.

Projects to be funded include:

• $300,000 for the Buice Road Extension Multi-Use Trail, to construct a 10-12 foot wide multi-use trail from Old Alabama Road/ Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center to Buice Road;

• $125,000 for the Spruill Road Multi-Use Trail, to construct a 10-12 foot wide multi-use trail along Spruill Road from Old Alabama Road to Buice Road;

• $275,000 for the Trail Signage and Trail Amenities, which will provide trail signage and amenities for the Johns Creek Greenway and Rogers Bridge Road Trail.

"We are thrilled to receive these much needed transportation dollars," Mayor Mike Bodker said. "While we wish the funds could have been enough to cover the total costs of these projects, it will be a tremendous help in moving them forward and in our efforts to improve the quality of life for Johns Creek's residents. My Council colleagues and I join Vice Chairman Pinholster in expressing our thanks to House Speaker Pro Tem Burkhalter, Senator Moody and Senator Shafer for their efforts on our behalf."

The TE program is federally-funded and was originally established in 1991 by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. The program was continued by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy For Users in 2005.

"We're delighted to announce these grants," Pinholster said. "We received a great deal of excellent applications from communities and organizations in the 6th District. Unfortunately, we could not fund them all in this grant phase. The selected projects show great local government commitment to improving their community's quality of life and their local elected leaders are to be commended."

The TE program's goal is to enrich the transportation experience of Georgians through specific types of enhancement projects. The kinds of projects funded by the TE program include multi-use facilities such as walking and biking trails and paths; streetscaping and landscaping projects in cities and towns; historic preservation of transportation-related facilities like railroad depots; and scenic preservation of views and scenic byways.

This year, the Georgia DOT received a total of 285 eligible applications representing combined requests for more than $176 million in federal funds from all 13 congressional districts. In this selection round, $54.6 million in federal funds are available for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009 for distribution statewide.

Up to 80 percent of the funds being used for these projects have been provided by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with the local government funding the remainder of the total project cost. The local government project sponsor is responsible for implementing the TE project and obtaining federal reimbursement from Georgia DOT.

About the City of Johns Creek
The City of Johns Creek, Georgia is located in the northeast corner of Fulton County. It was incorporated December 1, 2006, following a voter referendum July 18, 2006.

For more information, visit the City of Johns Creek Web site at www.JohnsCreekGA.gov.

Press Contact:
Bill Doughty, APR
Director of Communications
City of Johns Creek
P 678-512-3274

The City of Johns Creek believes all press releases were accurate as of their respective dates, but makes no representation as to accuracy on any other date and assumes no responsibility for updating information contained in any press release.