Clayton County Pedestrian Mobility

Clayton County developed a decision-support system for transportation project prioritization aimed at advancing mobility equity and identifying smart technologies capable of improving walkability throughout the community. As part of the initiative, local high school students were employed to utilize semi-automated data collection methods to inventory roadsides and sidewalks across the county and along major pedestrian corridors, helping establish a robust database to support a pedestrian asset management system.

The system assisted the county in identifying high-impact infrastructure maintenance and development opportunities by prioritizing new connections between regions, improving ADA accessibility, minimizing implementation costs, and maximizing equitable outcomes.

Facing aging infrastructure alongside higher-than-average rates of obesity and physical inactivity, Clayton County identified walkability improvements as a critical strategy for expanding equitable access to safe physical activity opportunities for residents. The project also incorporated extensive community engagement efforts, including stakeholder meetings, surveys, and public outreach activities designed to gather feedback and build support for equitable development initiatives across the county.

Dr. Randall Guensler, Professor at the Georgia Tech School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, partnered with Dr. Arthi Rao, Research Scientist, and Dr. Catherine Ross, Harry West Professor of City and Regional Planning and Director of the Georgia Tech Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development, to support the project. The research team oversaw sidewalk inventory development and data collection activities, conducted transportation and infrastructure analyses, and identified appropriate smart technologies to support Clayton County’s efforts to improve mobility, accessibility, and walkability throughout the community.