ATLANTA Infrastucture (Roads, Complete streets, Bike Lanes, Paths)

[RATBOYKEV]

Originally Posted by Libertarian

If you own a car, you can afford to park it. Otherwise, someone else is paying the price."

Totally agree! This is why I am opposed to any existing or future Residential Parking Permit Program

[Tuckerman]

Originally Posted by Julien

Pet peeve of mine. People think they have the right to park on street in front of their homes or a businesses. Below is an example pic from 16the Street. It is a 4 lane street BUT 2 lanes are used for parking. [rant]Why do people think they are entitled to government subsidized parking spaces?[/rant]. Many of these people will complain when a poor neighborhood receives some kind of subsidized program but they feel entitled to an on street parking space in front of their home and treat it as their property.

People don't have any "right" to park in front of their house but on street parking is common in many cities and has many advantages including slowing down traffic on residential streets.

[smArTaLlone]

Midtown Alliance’s Commercial Row Commons project has been approved by City of Atlanta, and construction on this new public plaza kicks off this week.

[cparker73]

Originally Posted by Julien

Pet peeve of mine. People think they have the right to park on street in front of their homes or a businesses. Below is an example pic from 16the Street. It is a 4 lane street BUT 2 lanes are used for parking. [rant]Why do people think they are entitled to government subsidized parking spaces?[/rant]. Many of these people will complain when a poor neighborhood receives some kind of subsidized program but they feel entitled to an on street parking space in front of their home and treat it as their property.

There's nothing wrong with street parking; especially in some of our most dense areas and historic neighborhoods where off-street parking for cars isn't built or wasn't a consideration 100 years ago. What's the alternative? Parking garages everyone on these forums complain about? I can be on either side of this argument and can be anti-automobile, but it's not an all-or-nothing proposition.

[Julien]

Originally Posted by cparker73

There's nothing wrong with street parking; especially in some of our most dense areas and historic neighborhoods where off-street parking for cars isn't built or wasn't a consideration 100 years ago.

The pic is townhomes that have a garage and were built in circa 2005.

I pay city taxes but the city doesn't supply me with a "free" parking spot. Should I get a tax rebate then?

[montydawg]

Originally Posted by Julien

The pic is townhomes that have a garage and were built in circa 2005.

I pay city taxes but the city doesn't supply me with a "free" parking spot. Should I get a tax rebate then?

Street parking is an effective and inexpensive way to turn an overbuild street to be more pedestrian friendly by traffic calming and providing parking for the public. If we privatize all parking in the city or make it all pay parking it may hurt some businesses that rely on this parking. Imagine taking away all street parking in Inman park.

[cparker73]

Originally Posted by Julien

The pic is townhomes that have a garage and were built in circa 2005.

I pay city taxes but the city doesn't supply me with a "free" parking spot. Should I get a tax rebate then?

One of the first things I think about when looking to buy a property is where will visitor park whether it's a weekend visit of the in-laws or a house party of 50 people, so we have to provide parking somewhere.

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by cparker73

There's nothing wrong with street parking; especially… where off-street parking for cars isn't built or wasn't a consideration 100 years ago. What's the alternative?

You answered your own question. How will an area that was not built for for cars live without cars? We don’t need cars on those streets where the area was specifically not built for cars!

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by montydawg

Street parking is an effective and inexpensive way to turn an overbuild street to be more pedestrian friendly by traffic calming and providing parking for the public

If you’re using cars to defend from cars, you have a car problem. And you can clearly take space away from the cars, not just use them as defense. Repurpose the vehicular and parking lanes on wider roads. In contrast to induced demand from adding lanes, taking away lanes leads to reduced traffic.

Originally Posted by montydawg

Imagine taking away all street parking in Inman park.

It would be even more amazing with more patrons dining outdoors, fewer risking lives crossing the streets, and you wouldn’t have to deal with near constant vehicular noise and vehicles nearly hitting one another. Making North Highland car free by Barcelona would be a massive success.

[montydawg]

Originally Posted by Street Advocate

It would be even more amazing with more patrons dining outdoors, fewer risking lives crossing the streets, and you wouldn’t have to deal with near constant vehicular noise and vehicles nearly hitting one another. Making North Highland car free by Barcelona would be a massive success.

In NYC, they had no street parking in the 60s and 70s and all lanes of traffic were for vehicular travel. There were massive 6 lanes of cars moving on the avenues, and it was really hostile to pedestrians. Now, many lanes are dedicated to parking, busses, and now outdoor dining. Far less vehicles lanes and much safer pedestrian park experience. This video has some informative information on road design and the usefulness of parking along travel lanes:

https://youtu.be/3oP-Ndwv1zw

[bryantm3]

It does help slow traffic but I'd imagine in certain situations it can make things more dangerous for cyclists (car doors suddenly opening in front of them) and pedestrians (who have to step out between cars and may not be seen by oncoming traffic).

[shivtim]

Bloomberg Philanthropies has awarded grants for "Pedestrian and cyclist safety enhancements" in 10 cities, including Atlanta. Looks like it's only $25K, but that's better than nothing.

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

Found this site while trying to get more details on why Juniper St Complete street still hasn't started:

Lots of details about many project!

5th Street Complete Street
Design finished September, and construction expected to start Feb 2022
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/5th-st-complete-street

Howell Mill Complete Street
Design Finished October, and construction expected to start June 2022
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/howell-mill-complete-street

Juniper Street Complete Street
Design Finished October 2020, and construction expected to start Feb 2022
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/juniper-street

Monroe Drive Complete Street
Design expected to finish September 2023
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/monroe-dr-complete-street

Piedmont Avenue Complete Street
Design finished July 2021, construction expected to start December 2021
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/piedmont-ave-complete-street

Spring and W Peachtree Quick Build enhancements
Design finished October, construction expected to start January 2022
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/w-peachtree-st-spring-st-qb-complete-streets

15th Street Extension
Design finished July, construction expected to start Feb 2022
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/15th-st-extension


In theory a lot of really important projects will be ramping up soon in Midtown

[GTdan]

This is great! Really hope they don't push out these dates any further. I remember first getting excited about the Juniper St project around a decade ago.

[smArTaLlone]

https://www.sharepeachtree.com/_files/ugd/38bc86_8ae8d78a49704eb1af1fb5456fa85607.pdf


Key take aways:

• Average travel time was barely impacted. Peachtree maintained it's 'Level of Service Rating' (though I kind of hate that the city is even using this metric...), and intersection pass-through times rose, at most, to ~11 seconds, though the average is closer to 5 seconds per intersection.
  
• Total traffic actually decreased, with an 11% reduction in vehicle volumes within the space. This isn't surprising for anyone who has even the faintest idea about induced demand. The report suggests traffic moved to other streets, but given how little evidence there is for that behavior on other projects around the nation, I'd like to see actual traffic counts try to show that.
  
• There was a 27% increase in pedestrian activity in the space following the pilot project's implementation compared to immediately before during morning and evening peak hours.
  
• While average EMS response times did increase by ~12 seconds, the maximum response time decreased by nearly two full minutes. AFRD has confirmed they are able to provide adequate service with the new configuration.
  
• General survey and public outreach responses about the project have been positive, and the report has some sample quotes from folks.
  
• City observations and community input on the design did lead to some minor changes after initial installation to better highlight pedestrian crossings, transit loading spaces, and to allow large-vehicle turning. The low-impact design style allowed this to happen quickly and inexpensively, and will inform more permanent design decisions.

[RATBOYKEV]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaPeanuts

5th Street Complete Street
Design finished September, and construction expected to start Feb 2022
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/5th-st-complete-street

Howell Mill Complete Street
Design Finished October, and construction expected to start June 2022
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/howell-mill-complete-street

Juniper Street Complete Street
Design Finished October 2020, and construction expected to start Feb 2022
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/juniper-street

Monroe Drive Complete Street
Design expected to finish September 2023
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/monroe-dr-complete-street

Piedmont Avenue Complete Street
Design finished July 2021, construction expected to start December 2021
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/piedmont-ave-complete-street

Spring and W Peachtree Quick Build enhancements
Design finished October, expected to start January 2022
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/w-peachtree-st-spring-st-qb-complete-streets

15th Street Extension
Design finished July, construction expected to start Feb 2022
https://atldot.atlantaga.gov/projects/15th-st-extension

Decided to look up the project status of all these locked in procurement hell. Come on Mayor Dickens, lets rock & roll!

• 5th Street Complete Street - Construction was February 2022, now June 2022 (4-month delay since GA Peanut's October comment)
  
• Howell Mill Complete Street- Construction start was June 2022, now August 2022 (2-month delay)
  
• Juniper Street Complete Street - Construction start was June 2022, now August 2022 (2-month delay, plus or minus a decade)
  
• Monroe Drive Complete Street - Design finish was Sept 2023, now November 2023 (2-month delay)
  
• Piedmont Avenue Complete Street - Construction start was December 2021, now June 2022 (6-month delay)
  
• Spring and W Peachtree Quick Build enhancements - Construction start was January 2022, now May 2022 (4-month delay, on a "quick-build" project)
  
• 15th Street Extension - Construction start was February 2022, now September 2022 (7-month delay, but bound to be pushed back more, right?)

[RATBOYKEV]

City website discussing (3) ballot measures

Proposed Project List - Excel Version

Proposed Project List - PDF Version

Ballot language:

[RATBOYKEV]

4 month follow-up update on the below list:

• 5th Street Complete Street - Construction was February 2022, now June 2022 (4-month delay) [no further delay!]
  
• Howell Mill Complete Street- Construction start was June 2022, now August 2022 (2-month delay) [4-month delay to Dec '22 start]
  
• Juniper Street Complete Street - Construction start was June 2022, now August 2022 (2-month delay, plus or minus a decade)Date no longer given
  
• Monroe Drive Complete Street - Design finish was Sept 2023, now November 2023 (2-month delay) [We now have a construction start date of April '24!]
  
• Piedmont Avenue Complete Street - Construction start was December 2021, now June 2022 (6-month delay) [2-month delay to Aug '22 start]
  
• Spring and W Peachtree Quick Build enhancements - Construction start was January 2022, now May 2022 (4-month delay, on a "quick-build" project) [3-month delay to Aug '22 start]
  
• 15th Street Extension - Construction start was February 2022, now September 2022 (7-month delay, but bound to be pushed back more, right?) [4-month delay to Nov '22 start]

Originally Posted by RATBOYKEV

Decided to look up the project status of all these locked in procurement hell. Come on Mayor Dickens, lets rock & roll!

• 5th Street Complete Street - Construction was February 2022, now June 2022 (4-month delay since GA Peanut's October comment)
  
• Howell Mill Complete Street- Construction start was June 2022, now August 2022 (2-month delay)
  
• Juniper Street Complete Street - Construction start was June 2022, now August 2022 (2-month delay, plus or minus a decade)
  
• Monroe Drive Complete Street - Design finish was Sept 2023, now November 2023 (2-month delay)
  
• Piedmont Avenue Complete Street - Construction start was December 2021, now June 2022 (6-month delay)
  
• Spring and W Peachtree Quick Build enhancements - Construction start was January 2022, now May 2022 (4-month delay, on a "quick-build" project)
  
• 15th Street Extension - Construction start was February 2022, now September 2022 (7-month delay, but bound to be pushed back more, right?)

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by RATBOYKEV

4 month follow-up update on the below list:

• 5th Street Complete Street - Construction was February 2022, now June 2022 (4-month delay) [no further delay!]
  
• Howell Mill Complete Street- Construction start was June 2022, now August 2022 (2-month delay) [4-month delay to Dec '22 start]
  
• Juniper Street Complete Street - Construction start was June 2022, now August 2022 (2-month delay, plus or minus a decade)Date no longer given
  
• Monroe Drive Complete Street - Design finish was Sept 2023, now November 2023 (2-month delay) [We now have a construction start date of April '24!]
  
• Piedmont Avenue Complete Street - Construction start was December 2021, now June 2022 (6-month delay) [2-month delay to Aug '22 start]
  
• Spring and W Peachtree Quick Build enhancements - Construction start was January 2022, now May 2022 (4-month delay, on a "quick-build" project) [3-month delay to Aug '22 start]
  
• 15th Street Extension - Construction start was February 2022, now September 2022 (7-month delay, but bound to be pushed back more, right?) [4-month delay to Nov '22 start]

The punchline is that they want us to vote to continue the TSPLOST.

[montydawg]

Originally Posted by RocketSurgeon

The punchline is that they want us to vote to continue the TSPLOST.

There is really bad inflation with construction materials and labor right now, so I imagine this is impacting construction deadlines and budgets. We have been suffering with shortages for over a year now, on top of previous pandemic issues. I'm sure some thought it was best to wait it out, while others are trying to make due with what they have. Hopefully these can get started soon.