Latest news with #PropelATL
Axios
06-03-2025
- Axios
Atlanta traffic deaths drop slightly, but inequities remain
Poor public policy and streets that prioritize speed over safety are fueling traffic fatalities in metro Atlanta, according to a new report released Wednesday by Propel ATL. Why it matters: Atlanta might be an auto-centric town, but not everyone drives. For many people who use wheelchairs, transit, bicycles or their feet, getting to work or school can be unpleasant at best and deadly at worst. The report's dynamic story map includes the often undercovered stories of people who were killed on local roads, including a 20-year-old aspiring doula killed by a driver while walking to the store for a soft drink. By the numbers: 344 people died in traffic crashes in Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties — counties with the state's most robust transit service — in 2023, according to the pedestrian and bicycling advocacy group's annual analysis. That's a 3.1% drop from the previous year, but still higher than before a pandemic-era surge. Stunning stat: DeKalb County saw fewer traffic crashes but a 40% jump in pedestrian deaths in 2023, according to the analysis. The big picture: The data paints a picture of inequity uninterrupted. 45% of pedestrian crashes in the three counties happened within 150 feet of a bus stop, and more than two-thirds of all traffic fatalities occurred in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Roughly two-thirds of Atlanta's "high-injury network" — the 10% of streets responsible for 73% of severe and fatal traffic injuries — are concentrated south of I-20 or west of Northside Drive. Zoom out: Memorial Drive, Covington Highway and Tara Boulevard had the highest number of traffic fatalities from 2019 to 2023. What they're saying:"Across the three counties, traffic crashes take as many lives as homicides, yet homicides are often heavily covered by news outlets, while traffic fatalities are often treated as background noise, a cost of mobility we all must accept," Propel said. What we're watching: Atlanta's pedestrian safety plan includes protected bike lanes, lower speed limits, and a commission to review fatal crashes. MARTA is making safety improvements near 200 bus stops and redesigning the bus route network to reach more riders more frequently, the AJC reports. At the Capitol, bipartisan legislation would create a special committee to study "appropriate penalties for harming vulnerable roadway users and to improve enforcement mechanisms."
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Yahoo
Confusing crosswalk along Peachtree Street under scrutiny after tragic accident
The Brief A 67-year-old man, Prapdeep Sood, was fatally struck by a truck while crossing Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, raising concerns about pedestrian safety. The area where the incident occurred "appears to be a crosswalk," but city officials clarified it is not recognized as an official crosswalk, as it was part of a halted 2021 pilot project. Street safety advocate Rebecca Serna criticized the crossing's design, highlighting a broader issue in Atlanta where street designs prioritize vehicles over pedestrian safety. ATLANTA - A deadly collision in downtown Atlanta has reignited concerns over pedestrian safety. A 67-year-old man was struck and killed by a truck while crossing Peachtree Street earlier this month. The backstory A tragic incident in downtown Atlanta has brought pedestrian safety into the spotlight. Earlier this month, 67-year-old Prapdeep Sood was fatally struck by a silver pickup truck while attempting to cross Peachtree Street. The collision has raised questions about the safety of street designs in the city, particularly concerning crosswalks. What we know Traffic camera footage captured the moment when Sood was hit by the truck. Atlanta Police, after reviewing the footage, did not find the driver at fault. Their report noted that the area "appears to be a crosswalk." However, city officials have clarified that the markings are not recognized as an official crosswalk. The Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) revealed that these markings were part of a 2021 pilot project that was halted by the mayor before it could become permanent. What they're saying Rebecca Serna, a street safety advocate with Propel ATL, criticized the design of the crossing, describing it as hazardous for pedestrians. "It was installed to be a crosswalk, and it looks, for all intents and purposes, like a crosswalk," she said. Serna and other advocates argue that this issue is symptomatic of a broader problem in Atlanta, where street designs often prioritize vehicle traffic over pedestrian safety. By the numbers A 2023 report by Smart Growth America ranked parts of metro Atlanta among the deadliest areas for pedestrians nationwide. This statistic underscores the urgent need for improved pedestrian safety measures in the city. What's next ATLDOT has announced plans to repave Peachtree Street in late summer or early fall. However, there are currently no plans to reinstate the crosswalk. With Atlanta set to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, there is hope among advocates like Serna that city officials will reconsider street designs to make them more pedestrian-friendly. "It should be a place that's welcoming and safe, where you can cross without fear for your life," Serna emphasized. The Source FOX 5's Rob DiRienzo spoke with Rebecca Serna, a street safety advocate with Propel ATL for this article. Additional details were provided by the Atlanta Police Department, the Atlanta Department of Transportation, and Smart Growth America.
Axios
25-02-2025
- Automotive
- Axios
E-bike rebate program keeps cars off the road, report says
Atlantans who took advantage of a popular e-bike rebate program this past summer are leaving their cars at home, keeping pollution out of the air and using the bikes to commute to work more. Driving the news: 74% of the recipients ride their new e-bike at least two days a week, according to a new report by the Atlanta Regional Commission. On average, recipients are driving 40% less to work or school after buying an e-bike using the incentive. That's based on responses from a survey of rebate recipients. Catch up quick: The city of Atlanta put up the $1 million in funding fueling the program. PropelATL, a longtime e-bike rebate advocate, helped raise awareness. Follow the money: Atlantans earning less than $54,000 received a $1,500 rebate for a standard e-bike or $2,000 for a cargo e-bike. All other residents qualified for a $500 rebate for a regular e-bike and $1,000 for a cargo one. By the numbers: 11,065 Atlantans — roughly 2% of Atlanta's population — from nearly every neighborhood applied for the rebate, the report says. 734 rebates were issued and 579 recipients redeemed the incentive — almost 80%, according to the ARC, which operated the program. Zoom in: 82% of the total rebate funding went to people who earn less than $54,000 a year — well above the ARC's 75% target, the report says. That group of rebate recipients reported using their e-bike to commute to work or school 62% more frequently than the general recipients. Follow the money: The rebate program pumped roughly $1.2 million into 12 locally owned bike businesses, the report says. What they're saying: Tayonna H., an English Avenue resident quoted in the report, said she used her new e-bike to commute to work and school and, in conjunction with transit, see her son on the other side of town. "It has been such a blessing!" she says. Zoom out: There's e-bike hunger in the burbs; 600 applicants were not eligible for the rebate because they lived outside the Atlanta city limits. What's next: Atlanta City Council member Matt Westmoreland, who sponsored the legislation creating the rebate program, said he and his colleagues plan to propose another round of e-bike rebate funding.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ATLDOT making slow progress on Moving Atlanta Forward initiative, audit finds
ATLANTA - A recent audit shows the Atlanta Department of Transportation is moving at a snail's pace when it comes to completing projects for the Moving Atlanta Forward initiative. What they're saying "If you're in a wheelchair, you'd struggle to get through these sections. More broken sidewalks that we see here," said Jeremiah Jones from Propel ATL as he showed FOX 5 the disrepair on sidewalks along West Lake Avenue. "This is a hazard in and of itself, even walking, if you're not paying attention you'll trip on that ... then we have this missing section of the sidewalk," he continued. He says this sidewalk is supposedly one of the Atlanta Department of Transportation's priorities. "Westlake Ave ranks No. 1 on Atlanta DOT's list for most needed improvements for sidewalks," Jones said. "And we have yet to get any of those sidewalks replaced, repaired, or fixed." What we know An audit by the Atlanta City Auditor's Office shows Atlanta DOT is moving extremely slowly when it comes to the Moving Atlanta Forward initiative funded by a voter-approved T-SPLOST in 2022. It is meant to make major sidewalk repairs to streets like West Lake Avenue, among a slew of other improvement projects. The audit shows the city has spent only 10% of the project's more than $600 million in the past three years. "It's disturbing to see that we've only spent 10% of our taxpayers' dollars and that 10% that's being spent is being spent in the most affluent areas of the city," Jones said. The audit showed that "the districts with the least spending have higher poverty levels." The audit also shows project managers are overloaded, with seven project manager roles still vacant. "We don't have enough project managers at the city, we have a shortage," Jones said. The other side FOX 5 asked Atlanta city leaders for an interview about the lack of progress and other issues. Instead, they pointed us to an Atlanta Transportation Committee meeting recorded on Jan. 29. In this meeting, Atlanta's Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Burks addressed the audit findings and promised to follow its recommendations. "We accepted all the recommendations, while we partially accepted recommendation No. 6," Burks said. At that meeting, some City Council members expressed frustration at Atlanta DOT's lack of progress. "It's the most demoralizing aspect of this job," said Councilmember Amir Farokhi. Burks explained how they plan to follow the audit's recommendations, like hiring key positions they currently lack. "We are close to identifying who will report directly to me, and they will serve as the coordinator for Moving Atlanta Forward," Burks said. She said they've also hired two outside consulting firms to help them get projects back on track. The Source Information for this story came from an audit done by the Atlanta City Auditor's Office, Propel ATL and a Jan. 29, 2025 meeting of the Atlanta City Council's Transportation Committee.
