No, not the ice cream store up Johnson Ferry Rd, it's the acronym for the federal Research and Innovative Technology Administration. The purpose of this agency is to coordinate the U S Dept of Transportation (DOT) research programs and to advance the deployment of cross-cutting technologies to improve our nation's transportation system.

And why is that important? Because within its ranks is a program called ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) which encompasses a broad range of wireless and wire line communication-based information and electronics technologies, the focus of which is to create an intelligent transportation system through integration of these two components.

And the significance of ITS is? It harbors a 511 Travel Information service capability for the public and private sectors; a means of enhancing mobility, improving safety and speeding people/freight to planned destinations. Regardless of a traveler's location, one easy-to-remember number offers choices to avoid less than favorable travel conditions Ð the choice of time, the mode of transportation, and the choice of route Ð which saves time and money.

For many of you this may be old info, but I came across it quite by accident when I was trying to get some input on current highway conditions from the Georgia DOT during recent holiday travel. Once I identified the state from which I initiated my trip and the intended course of my journey via the phone, I was given progressive briefings on conditions and delays due to accidents, construction, etc.

In March of 1999, this 511 system petitioned the Federal Communications Commission and was initially supported by 17 State DOT's and 23 Metropolitan Planning Organizations and local agencies. In July of 2000 the FCC designated 511 as the national traveler information number. Currently 35 (+/-) states and metro areas in the southeastern and western U.S. are actively participating in the 511 Program while others are contributing on an Òassist basis.Ó Many issues regarding program parameters, policies and funding are yet to be determined.

We all know that it pays to plan ahead, especially when travel time is a critical consideration. Giving 511 a call before or during your trip may minimize hearing the echoing question "Are we there yet?" For more details google the "511 Program".

You may recall that during the Spring of 2008, on the heels of a very successful "Dare to Care" event the preceding Fall, a newsletter survey was taken whereby responding Chimney Springs residents identified a number of items of interest to them in the community. The item that expressed the highest level of interest was the completion of sidewalks, citing reasons of accessibility and security for walkers, joggers and related activities for all ages. For those of you unfamiliar with the rationale for not completing the sidewalks during the initial period of Chimney Springs' development; the county at that time only required sidewalks for 1.5 miles along each of the eastern and western legs of Chimney Springs Drive for the children walking to Tritt Elementary School. The remaining elementary age children were expected to ride the county provided bus, aka "the big cheese," to school.

About the same time, while working on unrelated projects with the county via the East Cobb Civic Association, I became aware of the concern of our County Commissioners that sidewalks in many housing and commercial developments were not being connected, or were leading to nowhere. I also learned about Cobb efforts in developing a section of the County Ordinance to serve as a viable tool in establishing preferred sidewalk connections for reasons of safety and convenience. Section 106-11 of the Ordinance provides that "any lot owner in any unincorporated area of the county may present a request for the creation of a sidewalk district" for the construction of sidewalks within and between communities, subject to neighborhood approval. I also learned that the Commissioners were offering developers of new projects the option of placing estimated sidewalk costs into a separate fund for later construction by the county to assure continuity of pedestrian circulation as neighboring projects came online. With approval of the county, these dollars could then serve as partial funding for community sidewalk projects.

Following this discovery I met with representatives of the Cobb Community Development Agency and the Cobb DOT to express interest in this ordinance provision and to explore requirements and community participation possibilities. Our ongoing discussions considered preliminary costs for completing the Chimney Springs Drive loop connection(s) with Bishop Lake Rd.; however, upcoming favorable modifications to the Ordinance, rising construction costs due to the gas/oil situation at the time, and preoccupation with the Chimney Springs clubhouse renovation project suggested a delay in this pursuit.

Cobb County annually reviews alternate portions of the Zoning Ordinance and submits timely corrections and or modifications to the Board of Commissioners for approval. In keeping with our discussions, recommendations were offered for Section 106-11 consideration. They included 1) a clarification of the county's commitment to perpetually maintain sidewalks built within county roads right-of-way, and 2) the addition of a new "Community Financing" option to pay for sidewalk engineering and construction costs. Both recommendations have since been adopted into the Zoning Ordinance.

During the Chimney Springs Annual Meeting last October, I briefly addressed the sidewalk issue and promised to provide an information update for interested parties in the weeks to come. In view of our less than favorable economy and our ongoing clubhouse redo efforts; I plan to hold off on an overview presentation of the Sidewalk Ordinance and its potential for Chimney Springs until later in the year. However, what I don't want residents to lose sight of is the value of considering working with the county to benefit community safety and convenience, especially for summertime activities and for those folks who frequent our recreational facilities or exercise regularly throughout the year.

As I have noted in the past, Chimney Springs is a pleasant blend of folks of all ages and activities; but if my neighborhood is any indication, a whole new generation of local children under middle school age or visiting grandchildren have entered the fold, not to mention the increase in year-round walkers, joggers and cyclists. In a nutshell, the county mechanism (via Zoning Ordinance Section 106) is in place to assist communities, like Chimney Springs, if and when they are ready to initiate the process of new sidewalks or connections.