Study reveals high speeds and congestion along Hugh Howell Road

The Tucker City Council heard at its May 27 meeting a financial report that indicated that revenues are significantly higher than expected.
Beverly Hilton, the city’s finance director, reported that the city’s budget, with 17 percent left in the fiscal year, reflects an increase of $333,000 in electric franchise fees above what was budgeted, and business and occupation taxes are currently $643,000 higher what the city expected to collect for the year.
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“This amount includes past due amounts from previous years and new businesses found by Code Enforcement without an OTC [Occupational Tax Certificate],” Hilton’s memo to council said.
In addition, program fees collected for camps, leagues tournaments are collectively $110,000 higher than budget forecasts.
When questioned about a $60,000 deficit in the the Special Assessment Street Lights Fund, Hilton said staff suspects there are addresses included in the Georgia Power bills that should not be included. She said the issue will be addressed in June.
In other action, Tucker City Engineer Ken Hildebrandt outlined multiple recommendations made by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., which was hired to conduct a comprehensive study of the Hugh Howell Corridor.
The area encompasses a 3.6-mile section of Hugh Howell Road from Mountain
Industrial Boulevard to Stone Mountain Freeway.
This study was completed to review existing conditions along the corridor and recommends about $13 million in safety and operational improvements for pedestrian safety, speeding, and intersection geometry. According to a staff memo, the corridor study “also included consideration of concerns and ongoing efforts within Tucker,” including:
- a programmed intersection improvement project for the intersection of Hugh
Howell Road at Mountain Industrial Boulevard involving the construction of dual left-turn lanes at the northbound and southbound intersection, as well as a right-turn lane at the eastbound lane; - a long-term plan to connect multi-use trails and sidewalks that will connect to already existing trails;
- the city has a programmed intersection improvement project at the intersection of Hugh Howell Road at Lilburn Stone Mountain Road, which includes two new pedestrian crossing locations, the memo said, but there are still opportunities for safety improvements “as well as concerns about recreational driving and burnout maneuvers.”
Hildebrandt said a speed study on Hugh Howell Road revealed that late-night street racing is a problem, with speeds sometimes exceeding 80 mph. The road has also been known for rush-hour congestion.
The study indicated that the average speed along eastbound Hugh Howell Road ranged between 42-46 mph while the 85th percentile speed ranged between 47-50 mph. The posted speed limit on the road is 45 mph.
Hildebrandt said the 2026 budget includes $1 million to address some of the recommendations that are relatively low cost, ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, but long-term solutions, like traffic-calming measures, would take years to implement.
“Some of these projects are going to involve further studies,” Hildebrandt said. “I don’t like studies because I like to get things done, but there are some that will need this.”
Council members discussed concerns brought to them by their constituents regarding serious accidents involving personal injury, and frustrations regarding reduced-sight issues and gridlock along Hugh Howell and bordering streets.
The council also:
- deferred a second read and public hearing to June 9 regarding an ordinance for a special land use permit (SLUP-25-0001) to allow a special event facility at 2101 Northlake Parkway. The applicant made the deferral request, according to Tucker staff members;
- approved advertising the city’s millage rate rollback of 2.036, which is slightly below DeKalb County’s published rate of 2.039.
The council retired to executive session, which was held jointly with the Downtown Development Authority. No action was taken after the closed-door session.
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