MILTON, Ga. — City staff presented a prioritized list of sidewalk and trail projects at the Oct. 2 Trail Committee meeting and recommended focusing initial spending on a loop that would link existing sidewalks, parks and neighborhoods while using gravel where feasible to stretch roughly $3.5 million–$4 million in TSPLOST funding.

Committee members and staff said the package presented would not exhaust the identified needs across the city but would produce a tangible, deliverable set of projects within the current budget. Staff asked the committee to endorse a direction: cost the loop shown in the presentation, provide assumptions for gravel versus paved surfaces, and identify which additional short connections to schools and parks could fit under the available funding. The committee asked staff to return with those figures at the next meeting, tentatively Nov. 13. No formal vote to allocate the funds was recorded at the Oct. 2 meeting.

Why this matters: the city has roughly $3.5–$4 million earmarked for sidewalks through a transportation-local-option sales tax (TSPLOST) and faces tradeoffs among cost, right-of-way acquisition, construction time and community impacts. Committee members emphasized delivering visible progress quickly while prioritizing school access and high-use park connections.

What staff presented: Public works staff showed a map that combined the existing blueprint, projects already in design or construction, and a set of candidate segments that staff said could be delivered within the $4 million target. Staff divided the candidate list into prioritized segments (labeled A through K in the presentation) and flagged three segments (identified in the slides as E, I and C) as strong near-term candidates because of likely cost, user benefit and limited conflicts with other planned projects. Examples the committee discussed in detail included:
- A1: about 1,000 feet of sidewalk in an area with curb and gutter; staff noted concrete was the conservative estimate for cost and assumed a crosswalk at Birmingham Road to access a park and a fire station.
- A2: roughly 1,400 feet of sidewalk along Birmingham Road between Crossroads and Freemanville, estimated around $300,000 and described as relatively flat and straightforward.
- C (C1/C2): longer and more complex connections between Freemanville, Dinsmore and the Milton City Park & Preserve (MCPP); staff estimated this segment would be a costly item, “over $1 million” due to grading, utilities and length.
- E: continuation of the existing asphalt trail on New Providence, about 3,000 feet and estimated near $700,000; staff said it makes sense to continue asphalt where the existing surface is asphalt.
- H2: a short connector on Hopewell to link Hopewell Plantation to Providence Park, about 1,300 feet and estimated roughly $300,000.
- K: a half-mile extension near Bethany that would extend the Big Creek connection toward a roundabout; staff flagged this as likely to increase access to Cambridge High School and other schools.

Staff assumptions and surfaces: staff said cost estimates were conservative and generally assumed concrete as a worst-case surface. The committee discussed a staged approach in which lower-cost compacted gravel is installed first in some locations and upgraded to asphalt or concrete if utilization warrants it. Committee members and staff noted tradeoffs—gravel can work for pedestrians and equestrian use if properly constructed but is less suitable where bicycle, e-bike or golf-cart use is expected.

Constraints and opportunities: staff identified several constraints that influence prioritization and timing, including:
- Right-of-way and easement needs: acquiring property or easements can add months to delivery and is often the most time-consuming step.
- Overlap with state projects: state DOT widening on SR 140 and other state projects could change local needs and make some city investments redundant.
- Funding rules: committee members and staff noted TSPLOST money requires a transportation component and—according to staff—works best for sidewalks placed in or parallel to road rights-of-way.

Quick wins and next steps: staff said a near-term “quick win” is a gravel connection coordinated with a Crooked Creek homeowners’ association from its entrance to a nearby Publix; that work is permitted and expected to be constructed early next year. The committee asked staff to:
- prepare a costed plan for the proposed loop shown in the presentation, with assumptions for gravel vs. paved surfaces;
- map schools and prominent neighborhoods on the project exhibit so members can better evaluate school-access benefits;
- produce a simple matrix showing cost, relative ease of delivery (right-of-way impacts), and whether a segment advances school or park access;
- investigate school or private-property agreements (MOUs or IGAs) where connections might run across noncity property; and
- return with the updated materials at the next committee meeting, tentatively Nov. 13.

What the committee did not do: the committee did not adopt a final package or allocate the TSPLOST funds at the Oct. 2 meeting. Members repeatedly emphasized balancing quick, visible projects against longer, costlier connections that require negotiations with property owners.

Context: staff said the Oct. 2 list is a near-term selection from a longer blueprint that previously ranked projects citywide. Staff also reminded the committee that future TSPLOST cycles and other funding sources will present additional opportunities to expand the network.

Outlook: staff will return with a costed proposal for the loop and a prioritized list of additional segments that best meet the committee’s twin objectives—connecting neighborhoods to schools and to parks—so the group can recommend a deliverable short-term program to the City Council.