- Atlanta might remove DeKalb Avenue’s reversible lane [WABE]
- Decatur mayor: School system in “crisis” [AJC]
- Atlanta annexation bill filed [Decaturish]
- DeKalb changes to weekly trash pickup [AJC]
- Touch-a-Truck attracts thousands [Be Active Decatur]
- Have you met Decatur’s new lion tamer? [Patch]
- Atlanta bike share program relies heavily on ads [CL]
Photo courtesy of Be Active Decatur
So I’m assuming the Mayor used the word “crisis” before he knew the CSD superintendent was resigning?
“…which includes removing the center reversible traffic lane in favor of bike lanes and turn lanes at intersections.”
For cars, it’s the turn lanes part that is so critical. I wouldn’t miss the scary reversible lane as long as turn lanes are available. Hopefully they would be long enough to accommodate several cars at the busier intersections. And paving and pothole repair would also improve the road immensely, for both cars and bicycles.
Of course, it will be some time before we see any changes, as the plan has yet to be approved.
I have heard that they have the money to fix and repave the road immediately, and there were plans to do so, but they have held off to see if the bond passes. If the bond passes, then ATL City Council will vote on whether this project is funded through the bond. If the bond does not pass, the lane removal plan would be scrapped and the road would be repaved/striped with the funds already set aside to fix it.
Any plans would require ample study and debate. I don’t know how Mayor Reed wants us to get to Atlanta if this road becomes a congested nightmare – perhaps they don’t want people working in the city? I would really like to see how removing a lane would improve mobility… why would the city spend money to make something worse!
If the Atlanta annexation bill succeeds, Atlanta will be easily accessible all along the northern border of Decatur.
Mayor Reed wants you to take Memorial Drive to ATL in support of revitalization of that corridor.
Also, I should note, they could easily fix issues such as the left turn at Arizona Ave with a delayed green.or something similar.
Idea for the Google Maps wizards: suggested routes that avoid left turns whenever possible. Not saying it would be a cure-all by any means, but UPS started using route-planning software that avoided left turns and it significantly reduced the number of accidents their drivers were involved in. I always have to shake my head when I see people making left turns at unsignaled intersections, in front of heavy traffic, when such a maneuver could have been avoided with a little better route planning or even just common sense.
+1. At some level, it’s just damn selfish to make everyone wait while you attempt to turn left against rush hour traffic, assuming there was a suitable alternate route.
Here’s a brief article about the no-left-turn policy at UPS:
priceonomics.com/why-ups-trucks-dont-turn-left/
NO!!!!
Please don’t remove the reversible lane & double my commute time
Whoa…You basically just did a dead-on impersonation of my wife’s reaction to this news.
The reversible lane article starts off describing congestion at Krog Street with two dozen cars backed up waiting for one car to turn left. Not mentioned, but almost as bad, is the Arizona Street intersection. Rocky Ford is another. The article then goes on to say the proposal would add bike lanes “and, possibly, center turn lanes at intersections.”
“Possibly?” What’s the point without center turn lanes long enough to allow traffic to continue moving while a separate line of cars waits to turn left? If the possibility doesn’t become a reality, how does the traffic disaster described at the top of the article get better?
I did finally learn why DeKalb Ave remains a pot-holed trail while North Decatur and LaVista (both, granted, outside Atlanta city limits) are paved and repaved.
Why does this article even mention the Krog intersection? Every account of the “complete streets” proposal I’ve seen for Dekalb removes the reversible lanes from roughly the Inman Park MARTA station eastward to where its terminus near Rocky Ford. So not only would these “highly dangerous” lanes not even be totally removed . . . they also wouldn’t be getting turn lanes in one of the most-needed places.
We need a new Mayor. Someone who can lead rather than pass the buck and make inappropriate comments to the media. We don’t directly elect our mayor do we?
start lobbying the other Commissioners to make a different selection the next time their Mayor selection vote comes around.
Given the desirability of cooling demand for CSD, I welcome more alarmist quotes to the media. Get the word out that an educational armageddon is erupting in Decatur. All hell’s breaking loose. The end is nigh! Then we can go back to preparing our kids for the future in peace.
Oh, maybe you are right Scott! Way to find the silver lining! Yeah! Decatur schools are a mess! Don’t even think about moving here!