Latest news with #AtlantaDepartmentofTransportation
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Frustration mounts over Cascade Road project delays, design flaws
The Brief Residents and business owners are frustrated with the Cascade Road Complete Street project due to delays and design flaws, such as road widths too narrow for fire trucks, causing extended timelines and financial harm. Business owners report significant revenue losses due to repeated road closures, and criticize the city for offering loans instead of grants as promised support. Community members demand transparency and accountability from city officials, emphasizing the need for the project to be completed correctly to avoid further disruptions to local traditions and businesses. ATLANTA - More than 200 residents and business owners packed a community meeting on Tuesday night in southwest Atlanta to voice frustration over delays and disruptions caused by the Cascade Road Complete Street project. Many say the years-long effort to improve the corridor has cost them customers, revenue—and their patience. What we know The project spans roughly two miles along Cascade Road and Avenue from the city limits to Avon Avenue. It includes resurfacing, narrower traffic lanes to reduce speeding, upgraded traffic signals, wider sidewalks, a 10-foot shared-use path, and streetscape enhancements. Completion was initially expected this year. But several residents and business owners say serious design flaws—such as road widths too narrow for fire trucks—have forced the city to redo portions of the work, extending the timeline and compounding frustrations. What they're saying "Right now, I haven't heard anybody in the community be satisfied with what's going on currently," said resident Steven Dingle during the standing-room-only meeting held at Hillside International Truth Center. "The road was designed to be 20 feet wide, curb to curb," said community member Shea Embry. "But a fire truck is 8 to 10 feet wide. That doesn't work. And by the way, it never worked. And the fact that they didn't listen to the community early on was a failure on their part." City officials, including Atlanta Department of Transportation Commissioner Solomon Caviness, defended the project's goals, citing the city's Vision Zero plan to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2040. "This project includes tighter, narrower lane widths so that we can bring speeds down to 25 miles per hour," Caviness said. "This corridor is very special to the city of Atlanta, and we look forward to bringing the life back to this corridor, at least by the end of the summer." But business owners like Lorraine Lane say the repeated road closures have done lasting financial harm. "We lost a lot of revenue stream," Lane said. "It opened up and we thought, okay, great, we survived this. So now we're going to be okay—only to find out they're going to have to close it off again." Lane, who co-owns Aretha's at The Point, said she's grateful for the community's support but remains deeply concerned about the future. "We want to be here," she said. "We want to thrive, and want the community to thrive... Let's get it done." Embry said several businesses along the corridor have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively over the last year, and criticized the city's handling of promised support. "The city came in and offered businesses, supposedly, a grant," she said. "Well, it didn't turn out to be a grant. It turned out to be a loan... That's not fair." Some, like community organizer Yvone Christmas, worry that continued delays could jeopardize long-running local traditions. She noted that construction disrupted last year's annual Christmas and Kwanzaa parade, now in its 30th year. "We didn't have the option to use Cascade last year, so we had to move it," Christmas said. "I don't know what to tell the schools this year... Just be honest about the deadlines." The other side City officials say support is available through Invest Atlanta, which provides financial assistance and resources to affected businesses. But for many residents, the bottom line remains the same: they want transparency, accountability, and for the project to be completed—correctly. "This community has been very frustrated," Embry said. "They already told them about the problems and were just ignored." The Source FOX 5 spoke with those who attended Tuesday's meeting.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
City of Atlanta making changes to dangerous section of busy road
The City of Atlanta is making major changes to a busy stretch of road that has been dangerous to bikers and pedestrians. Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach learned the city is planning to remove the center left turn lane on Cascade Rd. SW in the business district near Beecher Street and Benjamin E. Mays Drive as part of the Cascade Complete Street Project. 'I think it's been a problem for a long time. There was even a couple killed at this corner," neighbor and business owner Shea Embry said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Atlanta Department of Transportation laid out plans at a virtual community meeting on Tuesday night to try and reduce speeds in the area. 'Removing those turn lanes will help slow down cars,' DOT officials said. Once removed and re-striped, the city would add two five-foot bike lanes on both sides in either direction. 'I know taking the turn lane out would help things,' Embry said. Councilmember Marci Collier Overstreet says this is the time to make the change, but wants to first hear from the community. 'This whole Cascade Complete Street has been done via community interaction and involvement over the last five to seven years,' she said. TRENDING STORIES: Atlanta HVAC technician among 19 arrested in 'child predator' operation NFL fines Atlanta Falcons, Jeff Ulbrich over Shedeur Sanders number leak, prank call 5 arrested after dead goats, bunny, ferret, nearly 2 dozen live animals found at north GA home Some still have their concerns, saying the lanes will be narrowed for cars and buses. 'Now there is an imbalance between what is happening on the sidewalk and what we have available to us in the street to drive safely,' another neighbor said. Overstreet says she wants to hear from everyone before taking the turn lane away. 'I think ATL DOT will actually do a poll of some sort to make sure we're gathering the community voice about the changes,' she said. Discussion on this change and the entire project will take place at the next community meeting on June 10. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Calls for Monroe Drive safety overhaul after Atlanta grandmother struck by car
The Brief Lynda Croom was severely injured while crossing Monroe Drive, a location known for frequent crashes, highlighting ongoing safety concerns. The Atlanta Department of Transportation is implementing safety improvements on Monroe Drive, including a roundabout and lane reductions, with plans 60% complete. Erin Croom Kirkpatrick expresses concern that new residential developments may increase traffic and danger on Monroe Drive, despite city efforts to enhance safety. ATLANTA - An Atlanta grandmother continues to recover after being hit by a car while crossing the street. It happened on Monroe Drive, which is a busy stretch of road near Piedmont Park. FOX 5 has reported in the past that the street has been the site of many crashes, but now the victim's daughter from this latest incident has more concerns. SEE ALSO:Atlanta City Council votes on controversial Amsterdam Walk project What we know Lynda Croom was crossing the street at Monroe Drive and Amsterdam Avenue in February when she was hit in the crosswalk, leaving her severely injured. "She had a lacerated liver, she lost half of her blood," said her daughter, Erin Croom Kirkpatrick. "She broke a lot of bones." The Atlanta Department of Transportation has worked on a plan to make Monroe safer. The city says it is 60% done with designing it. Early plans show they will add a roundabout at Park Avenue, reduce Monroe Drive to one lane in each direction with a center turn lane, among other safety improvements for pedestrians. An ATLDOT spokesperson said via email: "Planned improvements include milling, repaving, restriping, sidewalk repairs, enhanced pedestrian crossings, ADA-compliant upgrades, intersection enhancements, drainage repairs, median refuges, potential lane reconfigurations, and the implementation of Vision Zero best practices. Bicycle infrastructure will also be evaluated and incorporated where appropriate." Atlanta City Councilman Alex Wan says the groundbreaking could happen as early as this year or next. What they're saying Erin says she had always been concerned about Monroe Drive, even before her mom was injured. "I hate to say it, but it felt very inevitable," she said. The road is far from a favorite. "Monroe is just a really scary place, and it continues to get scarier," Erin said. Erin worries the new massive redevelopment that was approved Monday by city leaders will make Monroe Drive more dangerous even as the city works to make it safer. She says her mom Lynda survived by a miracle but has a long road ahead. While her mom recovers, she and her family worry about others. Erin's son, Henry, spoke at the Atlanta City Council meeting on Monday just before the rezoning of Amsterdam Walk was approved. The project will add hundreds of new residential units to the area, which will add more traffic. "What are we going to do about keeping it safe?" he asked during public comment. Erin is worried the city is focusing on density rather than safety. "I don't want anybody to go through what I went through and what my mom went through," she said. "Nobody wants to see their mother hit by a car, nobody wants to see their child hit by a car and I guarantee it's going to happen again." The Source FOX 5's Tyler FIngert spoke with the family of Lynda Croom and city of Atlanta officials for this story.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Heads up, drivers: There's a temporary traffic pattern shift for construction in downtown Atlanta
The Atlanta Department of Transportation will temporarily shift traffic patterns on a portion of Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW from Marietta Street NW to Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive SW for a construction project at 190 Marietta Street NW. The continuous three-lane closure began at midnight and will continue until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The northbound traffic will be closed with only one lane of the southbound direction open to vehicles for the duration of the closure. Sidewalks on the east side will be available to pedestrians during this time. If you're traveling northbound on Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW, turn left onto Andrew Young International Blvd. NW, then turn right onto Marietta Street NW to Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW. Access to the parking deck on Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW will remain accessible during the temporary closure. Both enforcement officers and flaggers will be in the area to assist with traffic control during the work. TRENDING STORIES: 3 arrested as protestors disrupt Marjorie Taylor Greene town hall Little Caesars' attack leads to police raid at suspect's home, uncovers fentanyl and guns Witnesses say driver celebrated after chase, crash that killed 19-year-old innocent driver [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Detour Alert: North Avenue closed for crane removal. Here's how to get around it
From Friday morning to Sunday night, a busy northwest Atlanta street is closed to traffic. The Atlanta Department of Transportation is closing North Avenue NW from Northside Drive NW to Walnut Street NW to remove a nearby crane. The street will be closed from 7 a.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday night. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Tourist in custody for trying to access one of world's most isolated tribes, brings Diet Coke Worker at factory raided over human trafficking said he was forced to work 72 hours a week Adam Devine says doctors told him he was dying, trying to explain why he was having spasms Traveling southbound on Northside NW: Bypass North Ave NW Turn right onto Cameron Alexander Blvd Turn right onto Walnut St NW Turn left onto North Ave NW Traveling westbound on North Ave NW: Turn left onto Northside NW Turn right onto Cameron Alexander Blvd NW Turn right onto Walnut St NW Turn left onto North Ave NW Traveling eastbound on North Ave NW: Turn right onto Walnut St NW Turn left onto Cameron Alexander Blvd NW Turn left onto Northside NW to North Ave NW Traveling northbound on Northside Dr NW: Turn left onto Cameron Alexander Blvd NW Turn right onto Walnut St NW Turn left onto North Ave NW ATLDOT said the sidewalks on the south side of Northside Drive NW will still be open while the street is closed. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
