On Thursday, August 20, the realigned intersection of Little Richard Penniman Boulevard and Telfair Street, part of the Second Street Corridor Connector, will open. A media event will be held beginning at 9:00 a.m. to reopen the street and mark the completion of the first of three phases of the Connector’s construction. Once all phases are complete, the Connector will have sidewalks, bicycle lanes, lighting, and landscaping, as well as upgraded storm sewer systems.

“The Second Street Corridor will connect our urban core with the rest of the county with a pedestrian and bike friendly road, including bike lanes, improved sidewalks, and increased greenspace,” says Mayor Robert Reichert. “This is just another step in revitalizing our entire community by strengthening its core.”

“This entire project will spur jobs and reduce blight in an important area of town,” says Chris R. Sheridan, the contractor for the Connector and the Vision Block, which was completed last December.

Phase 2 of this project (set to begin in the next few weeks) will start at the realigned Edgewood Avenue and go up to where the Connector will later be built over the railroad. This phase will also include the realignment of Second Street into the Connector. Phase 3 will be the construction of the Connector over the railroad to Hazel Street, as well as a major storm sewer improvement under Hazel Street.

About the Second Street Corridor
The Second Street Corridor was started with funding from the voter-approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). Eight million dollars was designated to improve the area that stretches from East Macon through Downtown, connecting to Little Richard Penniman and Mercer University Boulevards, and creating gateways into Macon-Bibb at either end. Long-term, Macon-Bibb County wants to extend the Corridor further west along Mercer University Boulevard to the Macon Mall and Middle Georgia State College.

This past December, Macon-Bibb County reopened the block of Second Street between Cherry and Poplar Streets as a Vision Block for the Corridor to show people what will the entire street will look like. It features bike lanes, reverse angle parking, landscaping, shade trees, benches, improved sidewalks, an irrigation system, and more. In addition to the work being completed with SPLOST funds, Georgia Power, Atlanta Gas Light, and the Macon Water Authority used this opportunity to upgrade and improve its electrical system to meet the growth taking place Downtown. Click here for a MaconBibbTV feature on the Vision Block.

As a part of the redevelopment plan for Second Street as a “complete street,” a transit alternative for connecting east and west Macon needed to be identified that could serve as a backbone to a larger regional system. Long-discussed as a fixed light rail system connecting the different areas, another alternative is currently being explored: an electric bus system.

In late February, a team from Macon-Bibb County, the Macon Transit Authority, and Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) visited Tallahassee, FL, and StarMetro – the city’s public transit provider – to learn more about its electric bus system. In August 2013, it was the first transit agency on the east coast to deploy electric buses, and those buses are now 5% of its fleet) and serve a fixed 18-mile route. Click here to read more about the visit and this alternative.

Macon-Bibb County is currently developing Mid-City Square, a new park located at the intersection of Second and Pine Streets. Several of the properties have been purchased and the buildings have been torn down to make way for new greenspace. Also, work is set to begin soon on the creation of Pinnacle Park on Second Street in the Tindall Heights neighborhood. Located on the site of the former Boys and Girls Club, it will be a passive park with trails, benches, landscaping, and a great view of Downtown.

Using Tax Allocation District bond funding, Macon-Bibb will be building a signature pedestrian bridge over Mercer University Drive that will serve as a gateway into the city. Its construction is helping bring almost $50 million in investment to the Tindall Heights area.

About the Forward Together Strategic Plan
The redevelopment and revitalization of the Second Street Corridor is a major project in Macon-Bibb County’s Forward Together Strategic Plan. This project is identified in the Infrastructure Improvement Strategic Focus Area, while the Vision Block is a part of Safe Neighborhoods and Safe Neighborhoods Area. The creation of greenspace and parks (including MidCity Square and Pinnacle Park) will improve the Quality of Life for residents, visitors, and employees all along the Corridor.

In January 2014, Macon-Bibb County began working with the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government to develop the first Forward Together Strategic Plan. This process lasted more than a year and involved multiple retreats, work sessions, and meetings with department heads, organizations, and stakeholders. The planning process was funded with a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

This process helped develop the consolidated government’s new Mission and Vision statements, as well as identify five Strategic Focus areas that are helping focus service delivery, programs, and initiatives: Economic and Community Development; Safe Neighborhoods and Safe Communities; Efficient and Effective Government; Infrastructure Improvement; and Quality of Life.

The new Strategic Plan was the driving force behind the development of the proposed FY2016 budget, which included full implementation of the new pay scale, elimination of double taxation, and a capital improvement program focused on strategic projects.