Two express bus routes start Tuesday

Two new express bus routes will debut Tuesday as the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority continues to roll out its regional bus network.

KRISTA NILES/AP (ENLARGE)
A section of I-85 will be named for singer Alan Jackson.
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Starting at 5:30 a.m., buses will roll from the multimodal center on Dorris Road in Douglasville to downtown Atlanta, and from the park-and-ride lot at Cumming Fairgrounds in Forsyth County to MARTA's North Springs station. Morning buses will run every half-hour until 7:30 a.m., Monday through Friday.

The Douglasville bus also stops at Arbor Place mall.

Return runs on weekday evenings begin at 4 p.m. and leave each half-hour until 5:40 p.m.

Fares are $3 one way and $5 round trip. A 20-ride pass costs $45; a 31-day pass is $80. Express bus riders may transfer onto the MARTA system for no additional cost.

This is the second pair of express bus routes to be launched by GRTA. The first two, from Hampton and Conyers, began in June. GRTA plans to have 12 routes by the end of 2004.

For more information on GRTA's express buses, call 404-463-4782 or check GRTA's Web site, www.grta.org.

— Julie B. Hairston

Alan Jackson honored in Coweta

No, it's not the name of his latest album. Alan Jackson Highway is a stretch of I-85 in Coweta County that will be named after the country crooner, a Newnan native.

The ceremony begins at noon Friday at the Centre for the Performing and Visual Arts, 1523 Lower Fayetteville Road, Newnan.

Admission is free, but tickets are required. They'll be available on a first-come, first-served basis from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the performing arts center, with a limit of four per person.

The Legislature this year approved naming part of the interstate for the Grammy winner. Alan Jackson Highway will run from the Fulton County line to the McCollum/Sharpsburg exit.

The road-naming also honors Jackson for his help in starting Angel House, a new shelter for abused and neglected children in Newnan.

— Kevin Duffy

Developer has plans for Adairsville

The little city of Adairsville in northern Bartow County is beginning to catch a wave of growth.

The Barnslee Forest subdivision, with its 289 homes, is under construction on the south side of town, and another company wants to bring another 513 homes to town.

Carrington Ventures of Kingston is going through the city planning process now for the Iron Mountain development.

Larry Pratt, the city administrator, said the city Planning Commission recommended approval of annexing and rezoning 187 acres about a mile east of I-75, at U.S. 41, to accommodate the proposed 155 townhomes, 120 condominium ranch homes and 238 single-family homes.

The development will also include 29 acres of green space, Pratt said. Build-out is projected for 2012.

When homes in the two subdivisions are filled, it could likely double Adairsville's population of about 2,600 residents, he said.

— Christopher Quinn

Planners oppose Henry subdivision

A McDonough developer plans to build 25 houses in a low-density subdivision in rural Henry County.

Normally, low-density plans are looked upon favorably in Henry, but the county planning staff recommends denial of Larry Phillips' rezoning request. The staff says the road accessing Phillips' site is too small.

The Henry County Commission is scheduled to vote on the request at its Tuesday meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. in the county administration building, 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough.

Phillips wants to build on Wynn Road, east of McDonough near the Newton County line.

Wynn is designated a collector road, one that connects local streets to major and minor arterial highways.

According to Henry County law, developments over 8 acres can't be built on collector roads. Phillips' site is nearly 28 acres.

— Kevin Duffy

Buckhead leaders encourage activists

An influential group of Buckhead business leaders wants to help civic leaders improve their impact on the government and elected officials.

The Buckhead Coalition has mailed copies of "The One-Hour Activist" to the heads of 50 neighborhood associations in Buckhead.

The 209-page book by Christopher Kush was released in April and has a list price of $14.95. The coalition bought the books and paid postage.

The publisher's note says the book provides 15 actions, each taking less than an hour, to get attention and build relationships with government officials. The suggestions are provided by elected officials, lobbyists and journalists.

Sam Massell, president of the coalition, says it makes sense for business and neighborhood leaders to join forces in calling for better public schools and public safety, and a lower cost of government.

"The power of numbers will translate into improved quality of government," Massell says.

— David Pendered

Wal-Mart proposal subject of hearing

The next step for a controversial Wal-Mart in southern Forsyth County will be a hearing by the Planning Commission on Aug. 31 to consider a conceptual site plan, said John Barlow, a planner with the county.

The proposed Supercenter would be located on 31.7 acres at Bagley Drive and Peachtree Parkway (Ga. 141) near the Laurel Springs subdivision.

Wal-Mart is proposing a building of 203,000 square feet with 1,016 parking spots.

The land was rezoned in the 1980s to accommodate commercial projects and does not need rezoning, but the site plan needs approval, Barlow said.

If the Planning Commission turns down the site plan, the decision can be appealed to the Forsyth County Commission.

— Janet Frankston