Title
Discussion of Holcomb Bridge Road over GA 400 Pedestrian Improvements - Guidance
Body
Action Required:
Guidance
Description:
The pedestrian improvements at the Holcomb Bridge Road bridge over GA 400 is a multi-modal safety improvement to install sidewalks and pedestrian accommodations along Holcomb Bridge Road adjacent to and on the bridge over GA 400. Exhibit A illustrates the improvements. Funds in the amount of $500,000 are available in the MARTA Fund Grant Cost Center.
The design consultant, PB Americas Inc., has met with GDOT to discuss the project and has begun the design of the pedestrian improvements.
Upon further study, staff has identified one additional traffic safety improvement that could be added into the project. The additional improvement is to extend the eastbound left-turn lane to turn northbound onto GA 400. The improvement also includes extending the median and providing a pedestrian refuge in the crosswalk. This will improve a major congestion bottleneck for eastbound traffic and improve pedestrian safety. The RTOP (Regional Traffic Operations Program) project manager and GDOT support this new improvement concept.
Staff recognized that extending the left-turn lane would result in removing 5 Bradford Pear trees in the median. Staff is aware of previous concepts to remove the Bradford Pear trees and replace them with crepe myrtles between Dogwood Road and GA 400. Crepe Myrtles are a species of tree that is approved by GDOT for this application. Additionally, there was a pedestrian fatality in early 2010 involving a pedestrian running across Holcomb Bridge Road mid-block to catch the MARTA bus and the pedestrian was struck by a vehicle. Pedestrians routinely cross mid-block.
To address these issues, staff further identified three improvements that could complement the pedestrian improvement project. Exhibit G illustrates:
1. Relocating the eastbound MARTA bus stop from Old Dogwood Road closer to the GA 400 On-ramp. This would mov...
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