Walkability is on the rise in intown Atlanta neighborhoods, which is pretty great. But the boost in pedestrian activity is also leading to an increase in pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, officials say.
In the interest of making streets safer, the city and state are both taking an interest in reimagining some of the area’s busiest pedestrian hotspots.
Recently, Midtown officials have moved to tackle issues such as non-signalized pedestrian crossings at major intersections and streetscaping to make sidewalks more walker-friendly.
While pedestrians in dense neighborhoods like Midtown have been a constant for years, places like Old Fourth Ward and East Atlanta Village are experiencing growing pains as an uptick in both pedestrian traffic and automobile traffic impact the neighborhoods.
The problem is particularly notable around desirable destinations such as Krog Street Market and Glenwood and Moreland avenues in East Atlanta. According to Saporta Report, the city council is now trying to take action to provide for greater pedestrian safety in these areas.
A proposal before the city calls for a four-way stop where Krog and Irwin streets and Lake Avenue intersect, just outside of Krog Street Market and steps from the Beltline.
(It's worth noting that traffic-calming measures in that area have been bandied about for well over two years, with little action. Face-offs between pedestrians and vehicles are still all-too common).
Meanwhile, in East Atlanta, plans call for the realignment of Glenwood Avenue at Moreland in order to remove a dangerous jag in the road that has long complicated vehicular and pedestrian traffic. (For two more notorious examples of this WTF alignment, see both corners of Elizabeth Avenue at the Inman Quarter development).
With these projects allegedly moving toward solutions, what other areas should be addressed in the city to make the roads more friendly for all users?
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