MMG completes project for Northeast Georgia Regional Development Commission
After a year of work, The MillionMile Greenway technical committee provided the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Commission with a Greenway Analyst report on the best areas to build and connect existing greenways in its 12-county area.
Awarded the first MMG Community Technology Grant in September of 2008, the MMG Technical Committee developed a siting model specific to the RDC’s needs. John Devine (Senior Planner) of the RDC provided guidance when developing the model. For example, the RDC is coordinating future Rails-to-Trails projects, so areas with inactive railroads received more points than areas with roads and active railways. Streams, existing greenspace and trails also received more points than developed areas. The siting model was run on GIS data provided by the RDC.
This project completed a first step for the RDC’s Regional Greenway Study. Commissioned by the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Regional Greenway Study will help develop bicycle and pedestrian trails — including rails-to-trails, safe routes to school and a greenway plan for Athens-Clarke County.
The suitability maps developed from the model will be used to locate the best places for these trails and to help identity where new trails can connect to existing trails.
Along with this project, other Northeast Georgia RDC initiatives meet MMG’s mission of conservation, connection and recreation. These projects include the 38-mile trail connecting Athens to Union City, preparing Safe Routes to School plans for two communities and coordinating the Bike to Work Day.
