2-tower Midtown Project proposed (Atlanta: neighborhoods, safe, moving)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

you don't really "get on" 85 there anyway. you get on 13, which is buford highway. the traffic jam is moved northwards near the intersection of 400 and 85. buford highway has a ramp that goes to 85, but if you're going north on 400, you have to get off on sidney marcus. it's poorly designed anyway.

back to midtown, you could connect williams street to the existing ramp onto buford highway at peachtree. that way, if you want to get onto buford highway (or 85) you have to get onto williams street. williams street would eventually turn into buford highway.

the biggest issue is that you've got an interstate mowing through midtown. you could easily get more developable blocks out of that area if the interstate wasn't there, not to mention what it would do for walkability, connectivity, etc.

this is what i mean:

This is a state-owned freeway, they are not going to remove it anytime soon. GDOT loves their freeways.

[ATLondoner]

But going back to the original project...I think this would be a fantastic addition as it'll really bridge the gap between Midtown and Atlantic Station.

[bigstick]

Originally Posted by ATLondoner

I think West Peachtree AND Spring should both have 2 way traffic.....right now West Peachtree is just a 6 lane fast slip road onto the BH connector.

I agree, and driving south on W Peachtree would offer great and very different views of the skyline.

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by bigstick

I agree, and driving south on W Peachtree would offer great and very different views of the skyline.

i'm all for one way streets in certain areas, such as in fairlie-poplar; i think there should be *more* one way streets than there already are, mainly to reduce the number of lanes and expand the sidewalks. imagine if all of fairlie-poplar had the tree canopy and big sidewalks that broad street does.

however, spring and west peachtree especially are two streets where i think the one-way street has been abused. they are both 4+ lanes of uninterrupted traffic flying through town at unreasonable speeds. they are almost like freeways that ram through town. for a pedestrian or a cyclist, it's almost impossible to navigate the street. this is why i think you're seeing more development around juniper, peachtree and piedmont than you are over around spring and west peachtree. sure, you're seeing some, but if the atmosphere was more pedestrian oriented i think it would catch more attention than it is.

[ATLondoner]

Originally Posted by bryantm3

i'm all for one way streets in certain areas, such as in fairlie-poplar; i think there should be *more* one way streets than there already are, mainly to reduce the number of lanes and expand the sidewalks. imagine if all of fairlie-poplar had the tree canopy and big sidewalks that broad street does.

however, spring and west peachtree especially are two streets where i think the one-way street has been abused. they are both 4+ lanes of uninterrupted traffic flying through town at unreasonable speeds. they are almost like freeways that ram through town. for a pedestrian or a cyclist, it's almost impossible to navigate the street. this is why i think you're seeing more development around juniper, peachtree and piedmont than you are over around spring and west peachtree. sure, you're seeing some, but if the atmosphere was more pedestrian oriented i think it would catch more attention than it is.

100% agree....the fact that neither road has even a bike or bus lane is pretty disgraceful. A lane on either side could even be used for parking to try and help the businesses along that stretch.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by ATLondoner

100% agree....the fact that neither road has even a bike or bus lane is pretty disgraceful. A lane on either side could even be used for parking to try and help the businesses along that stretch.

West Peachtree has a bike lane from North Ave to about 14th Street. They should put a cycle track there though.

[tikigod311]

Oh man, I'm sure that is better for the area, but I love the quickness with which I can get through midtown on those one way streets.

Im not saying its a good thing, just like the current flow for my own selfish reasons

[bryantm3]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

Oh man, I'm sure that is better for the area, but I love the quickness with which I can get through midtown on those one way streets.

Im not saying its a good thing, just like the current flow for my own selfish reasons

oh yeah, there's no denying it's great for moving traffic through. but getting people to stay? not so much. people that are just passing through need an easier way to get on the interstate that doesn't involve ruining 20+ blocks of potentially prime real estate.

[gtcorndog]

The current setup isn't stopping development.

Atlanta needed time to grow and now there is sufficient demand to build there.

Making changes that ruin major thoroughfares traversed by tens of thousands of people each day in the name of making a neighborhood (that a few thousand people live in) walkable is pure stupidity.

[ok2go]

Good location for ease of access to transit, relatively close to shopping, and this section of midtown could use more residents to even out the day/night population. Is 17th street still as congested during the rush.. I always remember cars being backed up past spring onto the 17th st bridge.