Sandy Springs Public Works staff proposed that the city start making lower-cost, easily implemented transportation improvements like marking bike lanes, filling in sidewalk gaps, and adding mid-block crossings in the Powers Ferry area.
Senior Transportation Planner Caitlin Shankle presented the Powers Ferry Transportation Study recommendations to the Sandy Springs City Council at its May 7 work session. These short-term, mid-term, and long-term recommendations were presented to the public at information meetings and through an online survey.
“I’m glad to hear the focus is on the low-hanging fruit. The sidewalks, the side paths, the lighting,” City Councilmember Andy Bauman said.
The deficiencies include sidewalk gaps, limited street lighting, wrong-way driving activity with an associated crash history, 12-foot travel lanes, and needs for pedestrian maintenance and signalized intersection maintenance, Shankle said.
Overall recommendations would cost $2.8 million. The proposals would improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and mobility, create a walking and biking network, and add traffic calming through fewer and narrower lanes.
“Right now, there is excess capacity on the roadway today, and we can actually repurpose some of the excess lanes including the deceleration lane,” Shankle said. This would enable a side path to be installed on one side of Northside Drive and a sidewalk on the other.
Shankle said the roadways have more capacity than necessary, allowing the city to repurpose a third lane for bike and pedestrian facilities. Narrowing travel lanes from 12 feet wide to 11 feet wide would provide space for bike lanes without the need for additional right of way.
The short-term recommendations could be implemented without new major funding sources, she said. These include:
- Sidewalks
- Bike Lanes
- Midblock Crossings
- Wrong-Way Safety
- Improvements
- Street Lighting
- Coordination with MARTA and Cobb County
Mid-term projects would have moderate cost, and would be prioritized for future funding opportunities, Shankle said. They would include:
- Northside Drive Repurposing
- Sidewalks
- Midblock Crossings
- Pedestrian Upgrades
- Street Lighting
The long-term recommendations were considered aspirational and would need additional funding and regional coordination. She said they would include:
- New Northside Drive
- Repurposing
- Sidewalks
- Side Path
