During a joint Technical Coordinating Committee and Policy Committee meeting on November 4th, the Cartersville-Bartow Metropolitan Planning Organization approved its final Fiscal Year 2027-2030 Transportation Improvement Program. It also advanced a draft calendar-year 2027 Unified Planning Work Program for public review.
Transportation Planner Shanice Amos presented the final TIP after a 30-day public comment period that drew zero comments. The document lists surface transportation projects and phases scheduled for state fiscal years 2027 through 2030. It remains consistent with the adopted 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. We’ll share more about the approved projects tomorrow.
Amos also presented the draft CY 2027 Unified Planning Work Program. Staff incorporated 38 comments from the Federal Highway Administration and the Georgia Department of Transportation. Revisions clarified Metropolitan Transportation Plan and TIP activities, updated planning tasks and deliverables, and refined the special-studies section with potential projects and cost estimates. The document will cover January 1st through December 31st, 2027, reflecting the MPO’s calendar-year operating cycle.
The committees approved putting out the draft UPWP for public review. The 15-day public comment period runs through November 20th. The draft is available on the Bartow County website and through MPO staff.
In related updates, the county has contracted VHB to develop the 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the long-range document that identifies projects beyond the current TIP years. A kickoff meeting occurred on August 26th. Staff is coordinating with the county’s Comprehensive Plan update to align schedules and public outreach.
Bartow County selected VHB to conduct a scoping study of the Grassdale Road corridor after receiving four proposals. The study will evaluate existing conditions and potential improvement alternatives.
The MPO is also preparing a spring Planning Funds application for a proposed Cartersville-Bartow County Regional Freight Plan. The estimated cost is approximately $300,000, with 80 percent federal funding and a 20 percent local match shared equally by Bartow County and the City of Cartersville. Both governments must pass a joint resolution by the end of February to support the application.
Residents can review the draft CY 2027 Unified Planning Work Program and submit comments through November 20th by contacting Shanice Amos or Dayonna Cook, or by visiting the Bartow County MPO webpage.