By John Ruch
Pharr Road finally has its new car and bicycle lanes after a long summertime painting project that bewildered some drivers with overlapping lanes. It remains to be seen whether the new lanes will do their job of easing traffic flow.
“I think, from my point of view, it’s doing well,” said Brian McHugh, the transportation and planning director at the Buckhead Community Improvement District. “I’ve driven it several times and observed good, controlled traffic flow.”
But, McHugh added, road changes only truly prove themselves once the school buses start running.
“The background traffic’s still not heavy… the test comes when school’s back in,” McHugh said.
Not everyone is convinced the new lanes will pass that test. “It’s a terrible idea,” said north Buckhead resident Jim Cosgrove. “It’s far worse than what we had before.”
Cosgrove predicted real traffic problems will show up next spring, when Buckhead Baseball begins its busy season at Frankie Allen Park, which opens onto Pharr. He predicted traffic jams will force some drivers who use Pharr to cross Buckhead to use nearby neighborhood streets instead.
BCID proposed the restriping project earlier this year, targeting most of Pharr between Peachtree and Piedmont roads. Much of the previous four- to five-lane set-up was changed to two travel lanes and a central turn lane, plus a bike lane on either side. Among the goals were calming traffic, encouraging bike-riding and easing turns at the Peachtree and Piedmont intersections.
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I laughed out loud in my car when I drove on it last week and saw the changes.
I laughed out loud in my car when I drove on it last week and saw the changes.
Jim Cosgrove’s comments are much more “reactionary” than they are “a reaction.” He is known to favor motor vehicle speed over safety improvements for people who walk and people who ride bikes. It’s a strange position, really. As someone who works in real estate, you’d think he’d be in favor of bicycle facilities that are proven to raise property values and attract investment.
Jim Cosgrove’s comments are much more “reactionary” than they are “a reaction.” He is known to favor motor vehicle speed over safety improvements for people who walk and people who ride bikes. It’s a strange position, really. As someone who works in real estate, you’d think he’d be in favor of bicycle facilities that are proven to raise property values and attract investment.
Why are there not street parking spots in front of the Eclipse Highrise?
So much wasted space. What about N Fulton Dr? It is as wide as Pharr RD where it was 5 lanes (~50ft) yet is only has parking on 1 side and 1 lane in each direction! How about some vertical parking like this: http://imgur.com/FOpHE10
Why are there not street parking spots in front of the Eclipse Highrise?
So much wasted space. What about N Fulton Dr? It is as wide as Pharr RD where it was 5 lanes (~50ft) yet is only has parking on 1 side and 1 lane in each direction! How about some vertical parking like this: http://imgur.com/FOpHE10