Georgia's State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) today announced that it will grant $500,000 to the Stone Mountain Community Improvement District (CID). The SRTA's contribution enables the CID to plan and execute several road-related enhancement projects within the Mountain Industrial Boulevard corridor. CID President Emory Morsberger said these much-needed improvements likely would not occur without the SRTA support.
"The Stone Mountain CID greatly appreciates this significant investment to help us restore this area's standing as an economic development powerhouse," Morsberger said. "Our great state leaders recognize the importance of what we are undertaking. We are focused on making improvements that will lead to 2,000 new jobs coming here by the end of 2013."
The $500,000 SRTA grant will assist the Stone Mountain CID with the following initiatives:
1. Improve turning distances and the width and length of turning lanes at the Mountain Industrial Boulevard/East Ponce de Leon Avenue intersection. Existing conditions result in trucks with long wheelbases hitting curbs, which damages freight.
2. Improve traffic safety by replacing the damaged guardrail on Mountain Industrial Boulevard's crossing of the CSX rail line.
3. Add street signs illuminated by light-emitting diodes (LED) to the new intersection mast arms, which will greatly increase the area's navigability.
4. Remove the abandoned CSX rail crossings, which are rough areas on roadways.
5. Add streetlights to improve safety and travel at the Mountain Industrial Boulevard/U.S. Highway 78 interchange. This one of the CID's gateway intersections.
CID Board Member Rusty McKellar expressed his appreciation for the SRTA support. He said the CID's planned improvements are greatly needed in the Mountain Industrial area.
"It is very encouraging to see our state leaders working with the CIDs to make these efforts possible," McKellar said. "Our CID is grateful for the funding and will use it to further enhance our community."