Comments on: Atlanta’s Beltline seeking delicate balance between smart design and quicker progress

By: Yr1215

Yr1215 — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:13:08 +0000

If I may add a note on what appears to be a big failure so far. The public art looks like a disaster. In the interest of full disclosure, I have not seen it in person. But I’ve seen enough photos of the various projects to come to the conclusion that they really are just junk. And I don’t think it is junk in the sense that dadaism was perceived as junk when it first came out.

These are third rate artists, doing third rate projects, at third rate quality. I’m sorry, but they need to scrap (no pun intended) the art program and restart. Unless the art is meant to be only temporary anyway.

If nothing else, I refer everyone to this WABE report: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wabe/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1665799/Atlanta/Beltline.Tires

By: Yr1215

Yr1215 — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:17:39 +0000

Quentin, you may be correct about the intersections. Just in defense of PATH, on balance I think they are a huge benefit to the city and state.

I might add, there may be a day when the PATH component of the Beltline gets so much traffic, they will need to add lanes. I hope they’re thinking about this.

I recently used some popular PATH like trails in San Francisco, Seattle, and Redding, CA. Assuming Beltline-PATH becomes as popular as one might anticipate when completed, there will probably be a need for both lane designation (walking versus bicycling) and additional lanes. While this would be a problem, it would be a good problem to have. I hope PATH and the Beltline people are taking this into consideration.

By: Quentin

Quentin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:04:38 +0000

This is great news. This will make commuting from SE Atlanta to Midtown much safer and more efficient than it currently is. I’ll use it from day one.

But I do need to add another note of caution about the PATH foundation. They are clearly incapable of designing facilities for safe and efficient transportation. Look no further than their recent reconfiguration of Baker St/Highland Ave between Jackson and Piedmont. Where there was once a relatively safe set of bike lanes, there is now a single side-path on the south side of the road with an extremely dangerous crossing of the freeway onramp and no connectivity at the ends. Try taking it west toward downtown: it’ll dump you onto the intersection of Baker and Piedmont on the wrong side of the road with no way to reintegrate into traffic. Scary, even for experienced riders. And clearly the result of inept designers.

This new Beltline path will have two crucial endpoints at Dekalb on the south and Monroe on the north. To make this a truly viable transportation link, some serious thought needs to be given on how to make those endpoints accessible, safe, and efficient. I don’t think the PATH foundation is capable of that.

By: shirley

shirley — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:00:21 +0000

Thanks to the donors,the Beltline team, Path Foundation and all teh Beltline partners another trail is underway. I took the tour on Saturday and to my delight I saw the West End trail with completted art (both a Malika Favors mural and a beaufitul stainless steel sculpture), the trail near Washington Park along Langhorn and the Boulevard Crossing park under construction. Cheers to Mayor and all for pushing forward.

By: Mason Hicks

Mason Hicks — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:18:02 +0000

It is also paramount that we understand that this is not a project about walking and biking trails. They are an indispensible part of the overall vision of what this project is all about. The transit element is every bit as important; as is the public space element, as the walking and biking trails. The important idea is how all of the components work together. Obviously, it is impossible for all of the elements to arrive simultaneously. Transit projects, by their very nature take significantly more time because the Federal transit Administration is inherently involved, and is a significant source of project funding.
One earlier commenter referred to the many projects that are collecting dust in the vast archives of GDOT. I completely agree that there are some great projects on those shelves I would cite the example of a comprehensive commuter and intercity rail plan which was conducted by GDOT in the mid 1990s. Much of this plan ultimately reemerged in the 2007 Concept3 transit master plan, which is now the approved plan for the Atlanta Regional Commission. But there are other designs for just as vital projects that weren’t so well envisioned or thought-out.
Having Perkins + Will, and by default, Ryan Gravel as the principle force on the design team gives me great confidence that the issue I’ve laid out above will be carefully considered in the final design. I do have some measure of concern about the Path Foundation’s involvement. I believe they provide a vital service to the community. My concern is that they are all about building paths as a singular dimension to the concept, and I must agree the issues raised by another of the earlier commenters about safety and configuration concerns with some of the Path Foundation’s previous projects. Path is now a huge contributor, to this project but Beltline is ultimately a project for the city. The imposed deadline is a positive, but it can, end the end work against us as well. I hope we allow ourselves to take a breath, allow an excellent design team to do their work, and we should enjoy a result, fitting with the vision of Ryan Gravel.

By: BPJ

BPJ — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:17:55 +0000

I agree that Atlanta has shelves full of good plans, waiting for funding and execution: on commuter rail, MARTA expansion, parks, arts facilities, etc.

I’m not too worried about the work proceeding too quickly. From what I’ve read, by the time any work actually starts, the designers will have done much of their work. Also, I think it is possible to commence removing debris & vines, start grading, etc., without knowing every detail of the final design.

By: Yr1215

Yr1215 — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:05:42 +0000

ATL – you’re correct that the project in its entirety be done correct. However, you’re incredibly wrong about the “Atlanta Way.”

Let me sum up the “Atlanta Way”. Plan, plan, plan, done. The number of plans for this city would fill the library of congress. Atlanta is not short of planning, it fails in execution. (If you want me to reference the absurd list of “plans” I will.) This project is, and needs to continue to be, all about execution. To that end, thank heavens for the Kennedys.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:53:41 +0000

It’s great that projects are actually underway. But anyone who is familiar with other PATH projects has reason to be concerned. Their narrow facilities do not allow bicycles and pedestrians to share the route safely, they often lack shade or a direct route for utilitarian (non-recreational) users, and their driveway and intersection crossings are confusing and unsafe. I would feel better if PATH waited to get guidance from the ongoing Corridor Design and the imminent Environmental Impact Report, both of which will address these issues.

By: ATL

ATL — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:22:23 +0000

While it is important to get this project started– it is just as important to get it RIGHT– We have the right design team… lets make sure thay have the resources and the time to come up with the best possible plan–
All too often– the ‘Atlanta Way’ means valuing accomplishment over final product… In the end, what matters is not just that we do something– its that we do something right…

By: Chantelle Rytter, Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons, Cpt.

Chantelle Rytter, Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons, Cpt. — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:33:48 +0000

Hooray for the Kennedy’s & Kaiser-Permanente! Now IS the time for the East Side trail. We can add bikes to next year’s Lantern Parade!