Intown traffic getting worse (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: camp, place to live, shopping center)

[bu2]

Originally Posted by atler8

And your cited experience of having to do a 1 mile detour to get back to the point of your missed turn speaks exactly to the situation & the lack of a better-connected street grid.
And that problem makes one really want to visit the area, whether for work, or for fun or in terms of residence, doesn't it?

Yes. I will never go to midtown for dinner (or anything else) near rush hour again.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by purporsion

Someone once had a solution for the 285 trucks. Atlanta and GA, like usual, couldn't get something done.

What solution? The Outer Perimeter?

[jetgraphics]

Atlanta desperately needs rail based mass transit:
_ _ commuter links via existing rights of way (add more parallel tracks to bypass freight)
_ _ expand the subway / MARTA
_ _ elevated monorail service
_ _ streetcar at grade, esp. on the Beltline.

But with all the corruption and back door dealings, not likely to happen in the next 25 years.

[samiwas1]

I really don't get caught in that much traffic. I left Buckhead behind Lenox mall the other day when it was pouring rain, and had to head down to Fulton Industrial south of Camp Creek. 23 miles. Went through town because 85 was all red. Took me under an hour including a lunch stop. I also drive down 14th all the time and rarely encounter this terrible traffic people here are talking about there. I don't know...maybe I just happen to hit the good times. When I do get stuck, I notice a few things alway come into play...see below.

Originally Posted by cqholt

What about the invisible cyclists?
https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/...le-bike-riders

I was over in Westview the other day working and was astounded at how many people were using that cycle track. Is it possible to have negative users?

Originally Posted by bu2

I think the lack of synchronization is deliberate--to slow vehicles.

There is no way that I could statistically spend as much time as I do sitting at red lights. The only reasonable explanation is that they are deliberately timed to stop movement.

In my opinion, Atlanta's traffic problems are by design. They are on purpose. Someone's sick way of trying to make it harder so people try to find another way. Traffic signals are timed with such precision so as to keep roads crawling and create gridlock. Highway lanes are reduced as two highways merge and in spots where more vehicles enter the road. Tractor-trailers are literally everywhere, even on small neighborhood roads, and account for a huge percentage of vehicular traffic on 285.

Originally Posted by 3rdbass

Trust me I love using Marta from Edgewood to my job in the Perimeter. I don't have to deal with being stuck in over and hour of traffic and wear and tear on my car. I also save money with Marta over driving too so that is an added benefit. I know most people don't have this option but I made sure to buy a house near a Marta Station so it will help alleviate my traffic woes as the City of Atlanta gets denser and denser.

You also managed to get, or purposely chased, a job on a MARTA rail line.

[cqholt]

Highway lanes are reduced as two highways merge and in spots where more vehicles enter the road. Tractor-trailers are literally everywhere, even on small neighborhood roads, and account for a huge percentage of vehicular traffic on 285.

That's kind of the point of 285

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by jetgraphics

Atlanta desperately needs rail based mass transit:
_ _ commuter links via existing rights of way (add more parallel tracks to bypass freight)
_ _ expand the subway / MARTA
_ _ elevated monorail service
_ _ streetcar at grade, esp. on the Beltline.

But with all the corruption and back door dealings, not likely to happen in the next 25 years.

More like lack of $$$$$.

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by Gulch

More like lack of $$$$$.

There's *ALWAYS* money to be found if someone really wants something done.

As the other person said, it's really the lack of will power.

[alco89]

Some of yall have GOT to be exaggerating in this thread. Maybe I'm just lucky, but getting around intown (the core at least) has been no where near that bad for me outside of rush hour.

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by cqholt

That's kind of the point of 285

Indeed. Like I said: "by design". 285 is a parking lot oftentimes specifically because of the sheer amount of truck traffic, which moves slower than car traffic. But because 285 is a major commuting route as well, commuters and a huge amount of trucks get squished into the same place.

I'll say it again: Atlanta's traffic issues are largely by design.

Originally Posted by citidata18

There's *ALWAYS* money to be found if someone really wants something done.

As the other person said, it's really the lack of will power.

Lack of willpower or lack of knowledge. Different roads have different responsible agencies. There is no central source. And often, there is no simple way to report something. GDOT tell you how to report a broken traffic signal, but what if you just want to report one that you think is timed stupidly? Turns out you can use the broken signal method, but that's not made clear.

Originally Posted by alco89

Some of yall have GOT to be exaggerating in this thread. Maybe I'm just lucky, but getting around intown (the core at least) has been no where near that bad for me outside of rush hour.

Yeah, I don't find intown bad at all outside of the height of rush hour. And even then, it's usually what I would expect. The connector through midtown/downtown is the worst part of it due to its poor design, but outside of that, it's really not bad.

[afowler]

Atlanta is all about growth above all else, including quality of life. That's why you see 6 lane highways have single exit ramps onto other 6 lane highways. Why you see sidewalks just stop, and roads with bad signage and who knows what else.

This is not an expensive place to live - at least it never was in the past - ever. There are much better places to live but you have to pay for them. As Atlanta becomes more expensive it will be interesting to see if people will pay a premium for the low quality place this is, with horrible traffic, poor schools high crime and bad infrastructure and design.