By Eric Curl
March 13, 2023 – Chatham County is searching for the best candidate to help eliminate one major source of stress for Savannah’s downtown commuters.
The county, in coordination with the city and the Coastal Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (CORE MPO), is requesting statements of qualifications from engineering firms to conduct a railroad crossing elimination study for President Street at its intersection with Truman Parkway.
The study is to evaluate the existing and future capacity, operation and safety conditions of the interchange and develop alternative proposals, along with costs, to eliminate the at-grade railroad crossing.
Elimination of the rail crossing is expected to eliminate delays and improve safety for about 40,000 vehicles a day. Meanwhile, industries served by the railroad expect the total number of truck trips using the intersection – about 445,000 – to more than double by 2032.
It is”imperative” that planning start now to reduce congestion and delays associated with the at-grade rail crossing as well as improve the safety and mobility through the interchange, according to the RFQ.
The results of the study will be used as a basis to apply for future federal funding through the Federal Railroad Administration’s At-Grade Crossing Elimination Program, as well as other sources of federal funds. There was $41.5 million in funding for a flyover over the railroad crossing included in the proposed TSPLOST last year, however, voters rejected the 1% sales-tax for transportation projects.
Chatham County was awarded $240,000 for the study through the CORE MPO. With a required $60,000 local match, the total budget for the study is $300,000.
#StayEngagedSavannah
[email-subscribers-form id=”1″]
If you find value in this website, please consider contributing via Paypal to help cover the costs. You can also send contributions via Venmo @Eric-Curl and via CashApp at $ECrl77. Your support, no matter how much you give, is appreciated and will help ensure the future viability of this community resource. You can also show your support by subscribing or sharing Savannah Agenda with others via email or social media by clicking the icons below. Increasing readership is critical to the long-term success of this site.