How GA 400 Express Lanes and Transit Will Shape North Fulton’s Future (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 116)
The GA 400 Express Lanes and Transit Project is one of the most significant infrastructure investments in North Fulton’s history. In this episode of GNFCC 400 Insider, host Rebekah Anderson is joined by Kristin Winzeler of True North 400, Ann Hanlon of the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, and Javier Gutiérrez Villanueva, CEO of SR 400 Peach Partners, for a detailed look at what the project means for commuters, employers, property owners, and the region’s long-term economic future.
The conversation goes beyond traffic relief. The guests explain how express lanes, expanded transit options, more reliable travel times, and improved access to employment centers are expected to strengthen North Fulton’s position as a premier business destination. They also discuss what drivers can expect during construction, how MARTA and express lane transit fit into the project, why the public-private partnership model matters, and how local governments, CIDs, and developers are already preparing for the next phase of growth.
The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by John Ray and the North Fulton affiliate of Business RadioX®.
Key Takeaways
- The SR 400 project aims to improve mobility, but it also has a broader impact on economic development, workforce access, and long-term property value.
- Unlike the reversible express lanes on I-75, the GA 400 express lanes will operate northbound and southbound 24/7.
- Much of the lane-impacting construction will occur during off-peak hours and overnight.
- The project includes transit infrastructure, including express lane transit stations and buses that can use the express lanes without paying tolls.
- Access points are expected to be more frequent than in some other metro Atlanta express lane corridors.
- The public-private partnership model shifts much of the investment and long-term operating responsibility to the private sector.
- The project is expected to benefit both express lane users and drivers who remain in the general-purpose lanes.
- North Fulton cities, CIDs, and developers are already planning complementary projects around the corridor.
- The guests describe the GA 400 express lanes project as part of a larger “infrastructure boom” affecting GA 400, Perimeter, and the top end of I-285.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:00 Introduction to the GNFCC 400 Insider
01:03 Guest introductions
03:25 Why the SR 400 project matters to business owners
04:01 Congestion, access, and property values
05:19 Reliable travel times and 24/7 express lanes
06:13 Combining express lanes and transit
07:26 What drivers should expect during construction
09:54 MARTA, transit, and workforce access
11:55 BRT, express lane transit, and station access
14:30 Economic development and company recruitment
17:13 Lessons from the Transform 285/400 project
18:37 How the public-private partnership works
19:17 Tolling, access, and travel speeds
21:25 TrueNorth 400’s role and project milestones
22:34 Why the project is being called the gold standard
24:07 Where express lane exits and access points will be
27:45 Why the project is drawing broader attention
28:07 What success will look like five years from now
31:33 Customer service, maintenance, and long-term operations
32:40 How local cities and CIDs are planning around the project
35:34 Collaboration among GDOT, CIDs, cities, and private partners
38:05 Where to find project updates
38:57 The broader infrastructure boom
39:22 Closing remarks
Javier Gutiérrez, SR 400 Peach Partners
Javier Gutiérrez Villanueva is CEO of SR 400 Peach Partners, the developer leading the SR 400 Express Lanes project. A civil engineer by training, he brings extensive experience in the development and delivery of major transportation infrastructure projects across the United States, including similar express lane projects in multiple states.
Through his role with SR 400 Peach Partners, Gutiérrez is helping lead one of Georgia’s most significant transportation investments, a public-private partnership designed to improve mobility, provide more reliable travel times, support future transit options, and strengthen the SR 400 corridor for long-term regional growth.
SR 400 Peach Partners
SR 400 Peach Partners is the private-sector partner selected to deliver the SR 400 Express Lanes project in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation. The consortium brings together local, national, and international expertise in transportation infrastructure, including project development, design, construction, financing, tolling, operations, and long-term maintenance.
Through this public-private partnership, SR 400 Peach Partners is helping deliver one of Georgia’s most significant mobility investments. The project will add new express lanes along the SR 400 corridor, support future express lane transit, improve travel-time reliability, and strengthen a critical connection between North Fulton, Perimeter, and the broader metro Atlanta region.
Ann Hanlon, The Perimeter Community Improvement Districts
Ann Hanlon is Executive Director of the Perimeter Community Improvement Districts, where she leads the organization’s daily operations and transportation infrastructure investments in one of Georgia’s most important business districts. She previously served for 13 years as Executive Director of the North Fulton CID, helping guide the organization from its start-up phase into a major force for infrastructure investment along the Georgia 400 corridor.
Ann has extensive experience at the intersection of transportation, economic development, commercial real estate, and regional planning. She has served on the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Board, the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Board, the Sandy Springs Chamber of Commerce Board, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board. Her work has been recognized by Georgia Trend, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and the Women’s Transportation Seminar Atlanta Chapter.
The Perimeter Community Improvement Districts
The Perimeter Community Improvement Districts are self-taxing districts that use additional commercial property tax revenue to accelerate transportation and infrastructure improvements in the Central Perimeter area. Serving parts of Brookhaven, Dunwoody, and Sandy Springs, PCIDs work with business, government, and development partners to improve access, mobility, walkability, and quality of place in one of metro Atlanta’s most significant employment centers.
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Kristin Winzeler, True North 400
Kristin Winzeler is Deputy Executive Director of True North 400, formerly known as the North Fulton Community Improvement District. She manages the organization’s daily operations, projects, and consulting team and led the organization’s rebrand and launch as True North 400 in 2023. Kristin has been with the organization since 2012 and has played a key role in its work to advance infrastructure, mobility, and economic vitality along the Georgia 400 corridor.
Kristin is a graduate of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute and the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership North Fulton program. She has been active with the Women’s Transportation Seminar, including serving as president of the Atlanta chapter, and has been named one of Engineering Georgia Magazine’s Most Influential Women in Transportation. She also serves on the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
True North 400
True North 400 is a self-taxing commercial district focused on improving economic vitality, transportation efficiency, and community livability in North Fulton. Serving portions of Alpharetta, Milton, and Roswell along the Georgia 400 corridor, the organization works with commercial property owners, local governments, and regional partners to accelerate infrastructure improvements, support walkability, and strengthen one of metro Atlanta’s most important business corridors.
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About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider podcast
The GNFCC 400 Insider is sponsored by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC), and the host of the show is Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC.
The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1,400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell, and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth, and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.
As a five-star accredited chamber, GNFCC’s vision is to be the premier organization driving member and community success across the region, and they are dedicated to pursuing this vision based on the guiding principles of advocacy, inclusivity, and operational excellence.
GNFCC promotes the interests of its members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play, and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision-makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.
For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events, follow this link.
