Morgan Falls - Trail Alternative Proposed to Park Service

July 15th Note: Minor Revisions to stream names & map. Updated attached document.

Hi All,

On June 30th, Linda Bain, the Executive Director of the Sandy Springs Conservancy and I walked the existing trail along the Colonial Pipeline easement from the parking lot at Johnson Ferry north to the dam and Hyde Farm.

Please see the below note and attached document I sent to NPS Superintendent Dan Brown.

My perspective changed just a bit after walking the grounds. ALSO, please understand that the bridge at Morgan Falls– if approved -- would take a few years to be constructed. In the meantime, there’s still a bit that can be achieved.

My recommendations are from a crawl-walk-run perspective.

Bottom line: The very steep and narrow “Old Farm Road” would not safely accommodate both bicyclists and pedestrians. Especially riding downhill at any speed. Linda and I found a “Secondary” road that would be more accommodating. From a bicycle commuter perspective, adding a 3-ft wide bike shoulder on Johnson Ferry would be a reasonable initial alternative. Cobb DOT has told me that for the 2010 SPLOST (vote / if renewed), they will have the Johnson Ferry Bike Lanes as a project. In addition, they will include a corridor improvement project starting at Woodlawn Drive and extending east to Davidson Road. This improvement will connect to the trail at the intersection of Lower Roswell Road and Davidson Road which will be constructed as part of the Lower Roswell Road East D6140 project.

I have created the attached document that details our proposed alternatives with maps and photos. Below is the summary text.

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(Comments to NPS Follow:)

Observations:

The existing “Old Farm Road” on the northeast side of the lower fields is too steep for all but the most physically fit mountain bicyclist to ride up. Riding a bicycle down that steep road would be dangerous alongside pedestrians. If I were a commuter bicyclist, having to climb this short steep approach would really slow me down. As a bicyclist, I would want to ride on routes where the incline grade is comfortable (3-4%). The grade on that hill is more than that.

I propose the following ALTERNATIVES as a “Phase I” - with or without the bridge at Morgan Falls regarding access from Johnson Ferry North, allowing bicycles to ride on the Johnson Ferry North Trail leading up to the lower fields:

1. Build the bridges across the streams along pipeline easement as proposed.
2. Gate off to prevent bike access onto the lesser side trails that access the north side of the marshes (there are 2-3 of them).
3. Build the improved 8’-10’ wide crushed aggregate connecting trail from the parking lot at Johnson Ferry North. End it at Mulberry Creek. (CHANGE)
4. Build the last bridge crossing across Mulberry Creek, but gate it so that bicycles cannot cross. (Pedestrian only + Colonial Pipeline would have the keys, etc.).
5. Keep the existing low-impact “informal trail” along the easement at Mulberry Creek down to the river. (Possible future bridge location).
6. Route pedestrians up to Hyde Farm along an existing “Secondary” Road that travels on the south side of Mulberry Creek –BEFORE the lower fields. The road crosses Mulberry Creek about 300-500 feet inside the woodline, away from the fields.
7. Engage Cobb County and recommend:

• Re-stripe lane width from 12-ft to 11-ft on Johnson Ferry from Columns Drive to Lower Roswell. This will provide a 3-ft wide paved shoulder for bicyclists to use.
 FYI, upcoming GDOT improvements on Johnson Ferry & Abernathy to Hwy-9 will have 11-ft lanes
• Add Bike “Share the Road” Signs and other safety lane markings and painting along Johnson Ferry
• Doing so will provide North-South bicycle connectivity onto Multi-Use Trail on Lower Roswell

“Secondary” Farm Road Description:

As you are walking along the pipeline trail facing northeast, with the last creek / crossing in front of you (Mulberry Creek), look to the north and you will see a lesser improved “Secondary” Farm road go into the woods. This road connects with the Old Farm Road about 400 feet from Hyde Road. Route pedestrians up this secondary farm road that runs along the south side of Mulberry Creek (the northern most pipeline crossing) – before the large clearing at the base of the hill. This would keep people from going up the steep “Old Farm Road” that is on the northern side of the large clearing at the base of the hill. Keeping public access away from the Old Farm Road and using this secondary farm road should help the landowners feel more comfortable. Rather than walking directly along private property and looking into someone’s backyard (like you can to today at Kennesaw), they would walk up a LESS steep path/trail.

This “Secondary” Road definitely needs improvement. It does cross Mulberry Creek at a point where it is only a couple feet wide (Linda and I just stepped across it with ease). Eventually, I would like to propose that is also be built to the same “8’-10’ wide crushed aggregate” standard. It is much less steep. More people will be able to walk up it comfortably. Keep the requirement that cyclists dismount along the Hyde Farm entrance road and the old farm road connecting to the lower fields – for SAFETY. From a safety perspective, the analogy is that there would be too much pedestrian traffic and it would be unsafe for a bicyclist to ride alongside pedestrians – especially when riding DOWNHILL. Heading uphill, an average rider would be traveling pretty slow anyway.

Cobb County (Engage & Request)

1. Re-stripe lane width from 12-ft to 11-ft on Johnson Ferry from Columns Drive to Lower Roswell.
This will provide at least a 3-ft wide paved shoulder for bicyclists to use.
2. Add Bike “Share the Road” Signs and other safety markings.
- FYI, the ongoing GDOT improvements on Johnson Ferry to Hwy-9 will have 11-ft lanes
This will create safer bicycle connectivity from Johnson Ferry & Columns rive onto the Multi-Use Trail on Lower Roswell

If the Morgan Falls bridge is built:

1. Extend the improved 8’-10’ wide crushed aggregate connecting trail from Mulberry Creek to the bridge (most probable: Straight path along pipeline easement as exists today)
2. Open the Mulberry Creek stream “bridge” for bicycles.
3. Build a gate on old farm road at base of lower fields old farm road. Prevent all public access. (Ped, bike, etc.)
4. Allow bicycle access across bridge. Continue policy of dismounting when traveling on Farm Road to Hyde Road.
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