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Providing safe pedestrian access near closed sidewalks
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 When sidewalks are closed for construction projects, federal guidelines require transportation agencies and contractors to provide temporary routes that are accessible to all pedestrians.
To increase awareness of federal guidelines and best practices, PEDS is collaborating with the Center for the Visually Impaired, Plastic Safety Systems, and the Governor's Office of Highway Safety to present a highly interactive workshop on temporary access routes.
March 9, 8:30 - 11:00 AM First Presbyterian Church 1328 Peachtree St., Atlanta Who should attend? - Supervisors, crew chiefs, designers,and others who close sidewalks for construction
- Traffic engineers and site inspectors
REGISTRATION REQUIRED. To learn more and rsvp, click here.
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Will regional agencies show pedestrians the money?
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This is a big year for shaping the region's transportation future. The Atlanta Regional Commission is developing Plan 2040, which will program transportation funds for the next 25 years. Plan 2040's vision, goals, and objectives sound great. Focused on sustainability, Plan 2040 identifies healthy communities and expanding access to resources as important goals for the region. Objectives include increasing people's mobility options, fostering a healthy, safe population, promoting places to live with easy access to jobs and services, and improving energy efficiency while preserving the region's environment.
Meanwhile, elected officials serving on the Atlanta Regional Roundtable are selecting a list of projects that will be funded by a 10-year regional transportation sales tax if voters in the 10-county region pass the referendum in 2012. The Executive Committee expects to provide its draft project list this summer.
 Two big questions remain. Will the Atlanta Regional Roundtable select projects that provide a fair share of funding for transit, cycling, and walking so they can be embraced by a majority of the region's voters?
And will the Atlanta Regional Commission invest the region's transportation dollars where its mouth is? A draft project list for Plan 2040 shows just $12.5 million per year for projects that promote safety and mobility for cyclists and pedestrians. Although ARC's Livable Centers Initiative invests other funds in streetscape projects, this money rarely addresses safety needs of transit-dependent pedestrians.
Investing $12.5 million per year will not meet the need for safe sidewalks and crossings on transit routes in the 10-county region, let alone the need for more trails and bicycle lanes. The next phase of the Buford Highway pedestrian safety project, as well as a 2-mile pedestrian safety project on Ponce de Leon Avenue, each cost $10 million.
PEDS has been monitoring ARC and Regional Roundtable meetings and is keeping a close eye on project lists. In early March, PEDS will provide input during an ARC Bike-Ped Task Force meeting focused on funding levels and project priorities for bicycle and pedestrian projects funded by both Plan 2040 and the proposed transportation sales tax.
If funding for pedestrians is shortchanged, we will have a short window in which to take action. We'll let you know if we need your voice to help make a difference.
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