Purpose and Intent of the Plan

The Suwanee Pedestrian and Bicycle Loop Study (adopted in 2021) provides a long-term framework for completing a continuous, safe, and well-branded pedestrian and bicycle loop connecting Suwanee’s parks, neighborhoods, downtown, and regional trail systems. The plan is intended to guide capital investments, inform future transportation and land use decisions, and advance the City’s broader goals related to walkability, public health, sustainability, and community connectivity.

VIEW THE LOOP PLAN

Importantly, the study also functions as a grant-readiness tool. State and federal funding programs (which often fund as much as 80% of the project) increasingly require communities to demonstrate that proposed projects are grounded in adopted plans, informed by public input, and supported by technical analysis. Plans such as this establish credibility, show that alternatives have been evaluated, and document that investments are part of a thoughtful, citywide strategy rather than isolated or impulsive projects.

The study serves as a supporting document to the City’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan and builds on Suwanee’s long-standing commitment to trail development and transportation.

Planning Process and Public Participation

The City completed the Loop Study over a six-month period with a process that included robust public engagement and recommendations reflecting real-world conditions and community priorities.

Advisory Committee
A citizen Advisory Committee, representing a cross-section of neighborhoods, user groups, and community interests, met three times during the study. The committee helped guide the process, reviewed draft concepts, identified safety concerns, and provided feedback on alignment options, amenities, branding, and public art integration.

Community Engagement
Public input was gathered through multiple methods:

• Pop-up engagement events held at parks and community destinations
• An online project website with interactive mapping tools (WikiMap)
• A community survey
• A public open house

These efforts captured input from walkers, runners, cyclists, families, and residents across the city. Themes that emerged repeatedly included the desire for safer crossings of major roads, completion of sidewalk gaps, better connections between neighborhoods and parks, improved comfort and visibility, and enhanced trail amenities such as lighting, trash receptacles, and wayfinding.

Technical Analysis
The consultant team conducted an onsite audit and technical analysis that examined:

• Existing and planned trail infrastructure
• Roadway classifications and traffic conditions
• Physical constraints such as topography, hydrology, and floodplains
• Barriers to access, including major arterials, railroads, and intimidating intersections

This analysis helped identify where people want to go, what currently prevents them from getting there safely, and how those barriers can be addressed.

Key Plan Recommendations

Completion of the Suwanee Loop
The plan recommends completing a continuous loop using a combination of:

• Existing greenways and park trails
• New shared-use paths
• Sidewalk improvements
• On-street bicycle facilities where appropriate

Rather than relying on a single facility type, the loop is conceived as a flexible system that adapts to context and constraints while prioritizing safety and user comfort.

Sidewalk Feasibility Projects
The study includes focused sidewalk feasibility analyses for several corridors with documented safety and connectivity concerns, including:

• Martin Farm Road
• White Street
• Westbrook Road
• Russell Street

These corridors were repeatedly identified by residents as uncomfortable or unsafe due to traffic speeds, limited visibility, lack of sidewalks, and drainage issues.

Crossing Improvements and Barriers
A central theme of the plan is addressing barriers created by major roads and infrastructure. The study evaluates both enhanced at-grade crossings and grade-separated crossings (bridges or tunnels), recognizing that different contexts require different solutions.

Pedestrian Bridge over Peachtree Industrial Boulevard

One of the most significant and the highest priority recommendation of the plan is a grade-separated pedestrian and bicycle crossing of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (PIB).

Justification
Peachtree Industrial Boulevard functions as a major regional arterial and represents one of the most significant barriers to safe east–west movement in Suwanee. Public input consistently identified PIB as intimidating and unsafe to cross, particularly for families, cyclists, and less confident users.

Key factors supporting a pedestrian bridge include:

• High traffic volumes and vehicle speeds that make at-grade crossings uncomfortable even when signalized
• The importance of connecting neighborhoods, parks, and trails on both sides of PIB
• The role of PIB as a regional barrier to pedestrian transportation that cannot be fully addressed through signage or striping alone
• The need to provide a crossing that is intuitive, visible, and comfortable for users of all ages and abilities

Strategic Value
The proposed bridge is not simply a single project, but a critical piece of citywide and regional connectivity. It would:

• Complete missing links in the Suwanee Loop
• Improve access to existing and planned regional trails, including the Western Gwinnett Bikeway
• Reduce the likelihood of informal and unsafe crossings
• Support Suwanee’s long-term goals for walkability, active transportation, and public safety

The plan recognizes that while a bridge represents a significant investment, it provides long-term safety and connectivity benefits that cannot be matched through lower-cost interim measures.

Funding and Cost Considerations

A common concern related to comprehensive large-scale efforts such as what is proposed by the plan is overall cost. The plan is intentionally structured so that major elements, particularly high-cost infrastructure such as trail segments and the pedestrian bridge over Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, are not assumed to be funded solely by the City.

State and Federal Funding Strategy

The Loop Study was developed with an understanding of how such transportation, sidewalk and active mobility projects are typically funded. Most large-scale pedestrian and bicycle projects are implemented using state and federal grant programs, including ARC-administered Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) funds, Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grants, and other competitive funding sources.

These programs commonly require a local match in the range of 20 percent, with the remaining 80 percent funded by state or federal sources. The study provides the technical justification, planning-level cost estimates, and policy foundation necessary to compete successfully for these funds. This positions the City to leverage outside dollars efficiently while minimizing local financial exposure.

Role of the City
The City’s role is primarily to:

• Establish a clear, adopted vision and priority framework
• Identify feasible alignments and projects in advance
• Provide the required local match when grant opportunities arise
• Coordinate with regional and state partners

Adoption of the plan does not commit the City to immediate construction or full funding of any single project. Projects would only move forward as funding opportunities become available and as they align with broader capital planning priorities.

Why the Plan Matters for Funding
Without an adopted, well-documented plan, Suwanee would be at a disadvantage when competing for outside funding. The Loop Study demonstrates:

• Documented public support
• Clear safety and connectivity needs
• Regional significance and trail connections
• Thoughtful consideration of cost, feasibility, and phasing

Implementation and Use of the Plan
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Loop Study is intended to be a living implementation tool. It provides:

• A framework for prioritizing capital projects
• Technical justification for grant applications
• Policy support for future development and redevelopment decisions
• Guidance for coordinating City projects with County and regional initiatives

Importantly, the plan does not mandate immediate construction of all elements. Instead, it establishes a vision and defensible rationale so that projects can be advanced incrementally as funding opportunities, partnerships, and redevelopment occur.

Summary
The Suwanee Pedestrian and Bicycle Loop Study reflects a careful balance of community input, technical analysis, and long-term vision. It reinforces Suwanee’s reputation as a connected, active, and people-focused city while providing Council with a clear foundation for future decisions related to transportation, safety, and quality of life.