In Sync

Through an intergovernmental agreement Gwinnett County DOT manages the county and state roads inside Norcross city limits. Over multiple years and with federal grants, SPLOST, and other funding, several sets of traffic signals on busy Norcross roads have been synchronized for improved traffic low, less idling time, and quicker commutes. Less idling reduces fuel consumption for drivers and also reduces air pollution for everyone. On a per corridor analysis it has been estimated from before and after studies that annual fuel consumption can be lowered by 7% and CO/VOC emissions lowered by 17 & 12% respectively with these synchronized traffic signals. Here are some of the sets of synchronized lights in and near Norcross: 9 cameras, 15 traffic signals on 3.6 miles of Indian Trail Road between Beaver Ruin Road and US Highway 29/Lawrenceville Highway. Peachtree Industrial Blvd from Holcomb Bridge to Rogers Bridge and upgrade of existing infrastructure along Jimmy Carter Blvd from US 29 to Holcomb Bridge at the river. A similar project from Beaver Ruin Rd SR 378 from Buford Hwy SR 13/US 23 to Lawrenceville Hwy US 29 was completed around May 2010. Buford Hwy SR 13/US 23 from Global Forum Blvd to Sugarloaf Pkwy. The portion inside Norcross city limits includes 6 intersections of Buford Hwy with: Jimmy Carter Blvd, North Norcross - Tucker Rd, Cemetery St, Mitchell Rd, Beaver Ruin Rd/Lawrenceville St, Langford Rd/Old Norcross Rd. Construction started Fall 2009 and was finished in approximately April 2011. The Vision Statement of Gwinnett County Department of Transportation lists among its aspirations to “…be known as the place with …synchronized traffic signals…”among other things. To this end the division maintains over 700 signals, 170 flashers, over 200 miles of fiber optic communications cable, 207 CCTV cameras and the operation of the Traffic Control Center. Some of these signals are synchronized and we are pleased that some of them are in and around Norcross. They aid Norcross in becoming and remaining a Green Community.

Part 2 - You Gotta Look Where You’ve Been to Know Where You’re Going

After our long look back a day or so ago, it’s time to peer through the windshield, crank up the ole GPS and try to figure our where we are going and especially how we are gonna get there.

During our organizational meetings last year we mainly tackled some of the basic housekeeping details such as who, what, when, where, how and why. We did a pretty thorough job on the who, what and why. When is often a result of what. And…Who’s on first?

Back up a minute. Let’s try that again in plain English. Sustainable Norcross members participated in several brainstorming sessions sharing what is important to them; things they would like to learn about and do, expertise they are willing to share. All of that was distilled into the Goals of the organization, using categories found in the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Green Communities Certification Check List http://www.atlantaregional.com/documents/env_green_comm_checklist_102208.xls the City of Norcross 2030 Comprehensive Plan http://www.norcrossga.net/page.php?page_ID=1186086012 and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Quality Community Objectives. http://www.dca.state.ga.us/development/PlanningQualityGrowth/programs/downloads/PQGAssessment.pdf That is our “What”.

We will focus our attention and efforts in the resulting areas. To figure out exactly what and how, we will use some guidelines.

So Guideline #1: Stick to our knitting! Things that the group decides to tackle must fit in one of these categories. Don’t worry, they are very inclusive.

Which leads me to Guideline #2: Narrow down. We have wonderfully creative and diverse people involved. No doubt if turned loose we will come up with a million and one exciting and productive things to do in these categories. But to actually stand a chance of getting somewhere that we want to be and to maintain our sanity during the trip, we must choose wisely.

Guideline #3: Don’t reinvent the wheel. Let’s not waste our energy and other precious resources creating from scratch something that already exists. Lucky for us that tool is available. It is a road map. A play book. A manual. (See http://www.atlantaregional.com/documents/env_green_comm_manual_010709.pdf) It guides us straight to certification as a Green Community. This coveted designation is becoming a recognized measure of success among municipalities specifically in the 10 county metropolitan Atlanta area. Although similar programs are popping up all over the country. And this is year one for the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) award. We could be among the first at the award ceremony in the fall.

Guideline # 4: Pick low hanging fruit. Based on my height, I am hard pressed to pick anything but. So we will be concentrating on the quick successes, the easy wins – those checklist items that we can reasonably accomplish and document by June 30. I know, I know, that is only five months away. But don’t you get more done when you have a deadline?

Guideline #5: Divide and conquer. We have divided the 10 categories among the 5 Sustainable Norcross Commission members. Each has been challenged to become the Champion of their categories. That means they will be the drivers of activity, the conduit of information between the interested parties related to that topic. It does not mean they have all the fun; just that they become the funnel.

The “Funnels” stack up like this:

Trees and Green Space, Recycling and Waste Reduction – Kathy Nau

Green Building, Energy Efficiency – Heather Royston

Green Power, Land Use – Chuck Cimarik

Water Use Reduction and Efficiency, Education – Jim Scarbrough

Transportation and Air Quality, Innovation – Connie Weathers

Guideline #6: It Takes A Village. Not just to raise a child, but to grow an organization. Each and every one is important and necessary for the success of our endeavor.

Exactly which endeavor was that again? This journey that we all started together on June 1, 2008. The drive toward preserving our future by living smarter today.

Load up!

Watch for details of our first general meeting (par-dee) in 2009.