Beginning Monday, Aug. 1, commuters will be able to board a Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) Xpress bus at the new Dacula area park and ride facility.

GRTA chief public relations officer William Mecke confirmed the opening of the Hamilton Mill park and ride is on schedule. The opening had been rescheduled from July 18 to August 1 due to a small delay in finishing some details at the station. The park and ride, located at 3220 Sardis Church Road next to the Hamilton Mill Walmart, will take commuters to midtown and downtown Atlanta.

Two routes will run out of the 900-space facility -- route 413 to downtown and route 411 to midtown. Route 411, which currently begins at the Mall of Georgia, will start at the Hamilton Mill lot and include a stop at the mall (see photos for route details).

On June 20, service began at the Hebron park and ride lot in Dacula. Commuters choosing to use the Hebron park and ride may take route 416 to downtown Atlanta.

Both park and ride facilities are part of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Congestion Reduction Demonstration program. The $147 million Congestion Reduction Demonstration program, or CRD, is a pilot program funded with a $110 million federal grant and $37 million in state matching funds. As part of the program, the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-85 will be converted to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes and transit service will be expanded.