Surface Streets

Current Conditions

The Department of Planning, Development, and Neighborhood Conservation (DPDNC) is responsible for planning, prioritizing, and programming improvements to the street system.  The Department of Public Works (DPW) is responsible for construction and maintenance of roads and rights-of-way, operation of the street system, including the installation and maintenance of roadway lighting, traffic signals, traffic signs and pavement markings.  This system is under the control of the City, with the exception of state-routes, which are controlled by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).  In the city, there are 1,440 miles of surface streets, 450 bridges and viaducts (160 of which are maintained by the City) and 875 traffic signals.  Parts of the system have exceeded their expected lifetime.

The City of Atlanta has approximately 40 miles of unpaved streets, which the City intends to pave within the next 15 years.  The Department of Planning and Development, in cooperation with DPW, will prepare specific recommendations for paving these streets, including cost estimates and potential funding sources.

The most critical elements in need of replacement or renovation are the bridges, viaducts and traffic signals.  The bridges represent the City's most immediate repair, replacement, or reconstruction needs.  The state and City continually monitor bridges and viaducts to assess their load capacity and functionality.   

Eleven bridges are load-restricted, i.e. heavy trucks and buses are prohibited from crossing them (a list of the load-restricted bridges is on file in the Bureau of Highways and Streets).  In addition, the Bankhead Avenue bridge over the CSX rail tracks is closed.

Anticipated Future Conditions

In most areas the existing street system will be able to handle traffic growth through implementation of intersection improvements and turn lane and signalization upgrades.  In high-growth areas significant upgrades in system capacity, such as widenings and new street construction will be needed.  However, the ability to create new capacity is limited since the Atlanta Region does not meet federal air quality standards.


Map 9.2 Major Roadway System

Map 9.2 Major Roadway System (Popup full image) 



Current Policies

  1. Support the efficient movement of traffic with sensitivity to neighborhood integrity.
  2. Support pedestrian activity as a preferred mode of transportation in densely developed areas with accommodation for the handicapped.
  3. Support the pursuit of new funding sources for transportation and pedestrian-system improvements.
  4. Use traffic signalization improvements and intersection improvements to slow traffic and improve the safety and quality of the pedestrian environment.
  5. Assure compatibility of freight operations with existing neighborhoods and streets.
  6. Support bicycling as a preferred mode of nonpolluting transportation by constructing bicycle facilities throughout the City.
  7. Promote the paving of all city streets to control dust pollution and reduce city maintenance costs.
  8. Update and Implement a citywide pedestrian plan and program.
  9. Promote and plan for greater street connectivity in major travel corridors.

Current Programs and Projects

Programs and projects can be categorized into four areas: maintenance, capacity and safety improvements, alternative modes of travel, and signalization.

Maintenance includes resurfacing, curb and sidewalk repair, and bridge/viaduct renovation or replacement.  Capacity and safety improvements include intersection improvements, addition of turn lanes and comprehensive widening projects.  Alternative modes of travel include pedestrian and bicycle facilities such as new sidewalks, greenway trails, and bike lanes.  Signalization includes installing new signals, expanding the computer-controlled signal system, and modernizing signal equipment.

Maintenance

Major initiatives in maintenance activities are related to assuring the continued service of the City's bridges and viaducts. These structures must be able to carry vehicular weights consistent with the street's function.  Evaluation of all bridges and viaducts is continuing by DPW engineering staff, with the goal of establishing a prioritized program of renovation and replacement.  Structures already identified for need of immediate attention are the Spring Street Viaduct, and the Peachtree Street Viaduct.

Capacity And Safety

Capacity and safety improvement projects include widening Campbellton Road, Lenox Road, and Roxboro Road; and improving the interchanges at Greenbriar Parkway, Campbellton Road and Langford Parkway.

Modification of intersections is a high return on investment means of improving traffic flow.  Ten intersection improvement projects are included in the listing of projects at the end of this section.  Also, GDOT plans include improvements to various intersections along Northside Drive from I-75 to I-20.  Preliminary engineering and design are required in order to identify changes to the intersection geometries.  Other locations will be considered during this process of identifying low-cost intersection improvements. 

Three railroad overpasses will be replaced as part of roadway widening projects.  These are the CSX Railroad overpass on Bankhead Highway, the CSX Railroad overpass on Northside Drive and the Norfolk-Southern Railroad overpass on Northside Drive.

Alternative Modes Of Transportation

The City is committed to implementing strategies for reducing automobile source emissions ozone-causing pollutants. One strategy is to construct pedestrian and bicycle facilities that offer citizens and visitors alternative means of travel.  Transit-oriented sidewalks that have the greatest potential for reducing dependence on Single Occupancy Vehicles (SOVs).  The City is constructing a network of multi-use greenway trails and on-street bikeways to reduce dependence on the automobile.

Signalization

The DPW has initiated a program to upgrade the existing signal-control equipment and to replace the central computer.  To that end, a project that provides funds for the design and installation of the Atlanta Transportation Management System (ATMS) is underway.  The Inter-modal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and other funding have been a major source of support for this project.  Now under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century (TEA-21), the City is receiving portions of a $58 million grant to complete this project. 

Intersections

Project List 9-2: 2004 CDP Transportation Current Programs and Projects - Intersections

Transportation Intersections

Description

Initiation Year

Completion Year

COST

x 1,000

Funding Source

Responsible Party

CIP #

NPU

CD

1

5

15

1

Bolton Rd at Marietta





15

2016

350

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

SB-005

D,G

8,9

2

Buford Hwy at Sidney Marcus Blvd



5



2004

2000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

n. i.

B

7

3

Butler St./Auburn Ave. Intersection Improvements





15

2016

1500

GDOT, Federal

DPW

n. i.

M

2

4

Channelization and Islands

1

5

15

1999

200

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

TE-007

all

all

5

Cheshire Bridge Rd at Lindbergh Dr.



5



2006

2500

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

SB-074

F

6

6

McDaniel St at So RR





15

2016

1000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

n. i.

V

2,4

7

Memorial Dr at Boulevard



5



2006

1000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

n. i.

N,W

1,5

8

Memorial Dr at Moreland Ave.

1





2004

500

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

n. i.

O,W

5

9

Memorial ar Candler Rd.

1





2004

500

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

n. i.

O,W

5

10

MLK Jr. Dr at Ashby





15

2019

1000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

SB-222

K,L,T

3,4

11

Moreland Avenue at Glenwood Avenue





15

2019

1000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

SB-232

W

1,5

12

Moreland Avenue at Memorial Dr & Arkwright Place



5



2019

1000



Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

SB-231

N,O

5

13

Northside Dr at 10th, 14th, McDaniel, Fair, Mitchell, Simpson, MLK, North and Bankhead Hwy



5

15

2019

10000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

SB-224

E,M

2,3

14

Peachtree Rd at Lenox Pkwy



5



2004

1000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

n. i.

B

7

15

Peachtree Rd at Tower Place Drive



5



2009

50

Annual Bond Fund / D.I F, Federal

DPW

n. i.

B

7

16

Southwest Atlanta Plan – I-20 Ramp Improvements @ MLK, Jr. Drive



5

15

2019

1000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

N/A

I

10

17

Southwest Atlanta Plan – Abernathy & MLK, Jr. Drive Improvements



5

15

2019

1000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

N/A

I

10

19

Southwest Atlanta Plan – Fairburn & Benjamin E. Mays Drive Improvements



5

15

2019

1000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

N/A

H

10

20

Southwest Atlanta Plan – Cascade Road & Benjamin E. Mays Drive



5

15

2019

1000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

N/A

I

10

21

Southwest Atlanta Plan – Mt. Gilead/Campbellton Road Improvements



5

15

2019

1000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

N/A

R

11

22

Southwest Atlanta Plan – Fairburn Road & Campbellton

1

5

15

2019

1000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

N/A

P

11



-deleted-





















24

Southwest Atlanta Plan – Railroad Intersection Improvements

1

5



2009

1000

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

N/A

H, I, P, R

10, 11

25

Metropolitan Pkwy (Stewart Avenue) intersection improvements



5

15

2019

7500

Annual Bond Fund / D.I. F, Federal

DPW

n.i.

X

12

26

14th St. fr. Techwood Dr. to West Peachtree



5



2009

2000

Annual Bond Fund / Dev. Impact fees, Federal

DPW

n. i.

E

7

27

Briarcliff Rd. at Ponce de Leon Ave.



5



2009

2500

Annual Bond Fund / Dev. Impact fees, Federal

DPW

n. i.

F

6

28

Fairburn Rd @ Ben E. Mays Dr.



5



2009

1000

Annual Bond Fund / Dev. Impact fees, Federal

DPW

n. i.

H

10

29

Hutchens Rd. @ School Rd./Jonesboro Rd.



5



2009

500

Annual Bond Fund / Dev. Impact fees, Federal

DPW

n. i.

Z

12

30

Jonesboro Rd. fr. Macedonia Rd. to Hutchens and School Rd.



5



2009

500

Annual Bond Fund / Dev. Impact fees, Federal

DPW

n. i.

Z

12

31

McDonough/University/Ridge/Hank Aaron Dr.



5



2009

1500

Annual Bond Fund / Dev. Impact fees, Federal

DPW

n. i.

V, Y

1,2,4

32

Piedmont Rd. @Sidney Marcus BLVD., Morosgo Dr., Lindbergh Dr., and Garson Rd.



5



2009

7500

Dev. Impact Fees / TEA-21, Federal

DPW.



B

7

33

Virginia Ave. @ Highland Ave.



5



2009

500

Annual Bond Fund / Dev. Impact fees, Federal

DPW.



F

6



New Street Construction

Project List 9-3: 2004 CDP Transportation Current Programs and Projects – New Street Construction

Transportation New Street Construction

Description

Initiation Year

Completion Year

COST

x 1,000

Funding Source

Responsible Party

CIP #

NPU

CD

1

5

15

1

Barge Rd/ Greenbriar Pkwy Connector



15

2004

800

GDOT, Federal


SB-260

R

11

2

Beatie Street Extension to Calhoun



15

2019

500

GDOT, Federal

 DPW

n. i.

X

12

3

Culpepper St Extension to Ellsworth



15

2019

700

GDOT, Federal

 DPW

n. i.

D

8

4

Glenwood-Land Port Connector from the Glenwood-Memorial Drive Connector to Wylie St



15

2019

1000

GDOT, Federal

 DPW

SB-218

N,W

5

5

James Avenue from Old Hightower Road to Fifth Street



15

TBD

TBD

GDOT, Federal

DPW


G

9

6

Mechanicsville Truck Route


5


2009

1327

GDOT, Federal

DPW

n. i.

V

2,4

7

Stone-Hogan Extension to North Desert Drive



15

2019

1500

GDOT, Federal

DPW

SB-254

R

11



Project List 9-4: 2004 CDP Transportation Deleted Programs and Projects – New Street Construction

Transportation New Street Construction

Description


None




Street Reconstruction

Project List 9-5: 2004 CDP Transportation Current Programs and Projects – Street Reconstruction

Transportation Street Construction

Description

Initiation Year

Completion Year

COST

x 1,000

Funding Source

Responsible Party

CIP #

NPU

CD

1

5

15

1

Airline Street


5


2004


General Fund

DPW

n.i.

M

2

2

Mitchell St from Spring St to Capitol Ave



15

2019

1600

General Fund

DPW

SB167

M

2

3

Piedmont Avenue from Decatur to Ralph McGill Blvd

1



1999

2300

General Fund

DPW

SB181

M

2

4

Southwest Atlanta Plan – Peyton Road Horizontal Curve


5

15

2009



DPW

N/A

I

10

5

Southwest Atlanta Plan – MLK, Jr. Drive Realignment



15

2019



DPW

N/A

I

10

6

Southwest Atlanta Plan – Greenbriar mall Access Improvements


5

15

2019



DPW

N/A

P, R

11

7

Southwest Atlanta Plan – I-285 Noise Abatement Program

1

5


2019



DPW

N/A

H, I, P, R

10, 11

8

Walton Street from Marietta to Peachtree



15

2019

1100

General Fund

DPW

SB173

M

2




Street Widenings and Upgrades

Project List 9-6: 2004 CDP Transportation Current Programs and Projects – Street Widenings and Upgrades

Transportation Street Widenings and Upgrades

Description

Initiation Year

Completion Year

COST

x 1,000

Funding Source

Responsible Party

CIP #

NPU

CD

1

5

15

1

Alexander, Jones & Simpson Streets from W Peachtree St to Northside Drive (a.k.a. McGill Extension)

1



2009

4000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB33

M

2

2

Bankhead Hwy from Gary to Law; and from Harwell Rd to Holmes Drive


5


2009

900

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB49

G,H,I,K

9

3

Bolton Rd from Fulton Industrial to Marietta



15

2019

4000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

n.i.

D,G

8,9

4

Campbellton Rd from Barge Rd to City Limits



15

2019

5500

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB090

P

11

5

Campbellton Rd Segments :; Phase III- Harbin to Willis Mill; Phase IV- Timothy to Ft McPherson; Phase V- Ft McPherson Gate to Lee Street


5

15

2019

12004

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB06

P,R

11

6

DeKalb Avenue from Jackson St to Moreland Avenue



15

2019

18000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB244

M,N

2,5

7

Eighth St from Williams St to Juniper



15

2019

1000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB242

E

7

8

Eleventh St from W Peachtree St to Piedmont Ave



15

2019

3000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB245

E

7

9

Fairburn Rd from Benjamin E. Mays Dr. to City Limits


5


2009

5100

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB418

H

10

10

Fifth Street from Williams St to Peachtree St



15

2019

1925

Bond Fund, Federal, Private

DPW

SB409

E

7

11

Fulton Industrial Blvd from North Aviation Circle to Bankhead Hwy


5


2009

7560

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB60

H

9

12

Hilliard St from Chamberlin to Auburn Avenue



15

2019

127

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

n.i.

M

2

13

HE Holmes Drive from I-20 to Bankhead Hwy


5


2004

5000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

n.i.

G,H,J

3,9

14

Howell Mill from Marietta St to Collier Rd


5

15

2019

300

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB212

D

8

15

Huff Rd from Howell Mill to Marietta Blvd



15

2019

500

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB25

D

8

16

Lenox Rd from Canterbury Rd to Ferncliff Rd


5


2009

5100

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB152

B

6

17

Marietta Blvd from Bolton Rd to City Limits


5


2009

1500

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB102

C,D

8

18

Memorial Drive from Pearl to Whitefoord



15

2019

10000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB243

N,O

5

19

MLK Jr. Dr. from Bolton Rd to West Lake Avenue



15

2019

3000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB410

I


20

MLK Jr. Dr. improvements: Contract  2) widen from Barfield to Holmes Drive and Fairburn Road; 3) improve intersection at Lynhurst


5

15

2004

1000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

n.i.

H

9

21

Northside Dr. from I-20 to I-75


5


2009

36670

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

n.i.

D,E

8

22

Pine St from Peachtree St to Piedmont Ave



15

2019

1000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB082

M

2

23












24

Seventh St from Juniper to W Peachtree



15

2019

3000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB248

E

7

25

Southside Industrial Pkwy from Crown to Gilbert Rd


5


2009

1500

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB092

Z

12

26

Southwest Atlanta Plan – MLK, Jr. Drive Streetscape

1

5

15

2019


Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

N/A

H, I

10

27

Southwest Atlanta Plan – Fairburn Road – Bolton to Cascade


5

15

2019


Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

N/A

H, I

10













29

Thirteenth St from Juniper to W Peachtree



15

2019

1000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB246

E

7

30

University Avenue


5


2009

4000

Bond Fund/Federal

DPW






Upgrade Existing Bridges and Viaducts

Project List 9-7: 2004 CDP Transportation Current Programs and Projects – Upgrade Existing Bridges and Viaducts

Transportation Upgrade Existing Bridges and Viaducts

Description

Initiation Year

Completion Year

COST

x 1,000

Funding Source

Responsible Party

CIP #

NPU

CD

1

5

15

1

17th Street Bridge

1

5


2009

70,000

State, Federal

DPW

n. i.

E

8

2

Bankhead Hwy at So RR


5


2009

1600

State, Federal

DPW

SB186

E, L

8

3

Bohler Rd at Peachtree Creek


5


2009

2130

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB65

C

8













5

Browns Mill Road Bridge @ Empire Creek


5

15

2019

1200

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

n.i.

Z

12

6

Butler Street bridge recst


5


2009

300

State,

Federal

DPW

SB286

M

2

7

Central Avenue bridge over CSX RR


5


2009

300

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB281

M

2

8

Childress Road Bridge @ South Utoy Creek


5

15

2019

1000

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

n.i.

I, R

11

9

CSX RR bridge over Northside Drive


5


2009

6480

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

n.i.

D

9

10

CSX RR bridge over Piedmont Avenue


5


2009

300

State,

Federal

DPW

SB284

M

2

11

Dodson Drive Bridge @ South Utoy Creek


5

15

2019

1200

Bond Fund

DPW

n.i.

R

11

12

Fairburn Rd bridge north of Hogan Rd over CSX RR

1



2009

510

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB405

P

11

13

Fairburn Rd bridge south of Stone Rd over CSX RR

1



2009

680

State, Federal

DPW

SB403

P

11

14

Harbin road Bridge @ South Utoy Creek


5

15

2019

1200

Bond Fund

DPW

n.i.

I, R

11

15

International Blvd bridge over CSX RR

1



2009

1600

State, Federal

DPW

SB283

M

2

16

Johnson Rd bridge at Proctor Creek



15

2019

1700

Bond Fund

DPW

SB67

G,J

9

17

Lenox Road Bridge @ South Fork Peachtree Creek


5

15

2019

900

Bond Fund

DPW

n.i.

F

6

18

MLK Jr. Dr. bridge from Forsyth St to Spring St

1

5


2009

3000

Bond Fund, Federal


DPW

n.i.

M

2

19

Moores Mill Rd at Peachtree Creek


5


2009

2400

Bond Fund

DPW

SB64

A,C

8

20

Norfolk So RR bridge over Northside Dr


5


2009

6480

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

n.i.

D,E

9

21

Northside Dr at Peachtree Creek



15

2019

5400

Bond Fund, Federal

DPW

SB66

C

8

22

Peachtree St bridge at Wall St


5


2009

0

State, Federal

DPW

n.i.

M

2

23

Pryor St viaduct over CSX RR


5


2004

600

State, Federal

DPW

SB287

M

2

24

Ridegewood Road Bridge @ Nancy Creek


5

15

2019

1200

Bond Fund

DPW

n.i.

A, C

8, 9

25

Sring St. (Techwood Dr) viaduct over CSX RR


5


2008

500

State, Federal

DPW

SB285

M

2

26

Wieuca Rd Bridge @ Nancy Creek


5

15

2019

850

Bond Fund

DPW

n.i.

B

7



Upgrade Existing Facilities

Project List 9-8: 2004 CDP Transportation Current Programs and Projects – Upgrade Existing Facilities

Trans. Upgrade Existing Facilities

Description

Initiation Year

Completion Year

COST

x 1,000

Funding Source

Responsible Party

CIP #

NPU

CD

1

5

15

1

Atlanta Multi-modal Passenger Terminal

1

5

15

2019

169000

Federal Funds

DPW

n.i.

M

2

2

CDBG Sidewalk Assessment

1



1999

200

CDBG

DPW

SB159

all

all

3

MLK/Ashby Street

1

5


2004

3770

General Fund

DPW

n.i.

T

4

4

Neighborhood Sidewalk Improvements

1

5


2004

500

General Fund

DPW

SB205

all

all

5

Neighborhood Traffic Management


5


2004.

40

General Fund

DPW

TE058

all

all

6

Northside Drive Signalization

1



2005

6640

General Fund

DPW

n.i.

D,E

2,3

7

Overhead Street Name Signs

1

5


2004.

40

General Fund

DPW

TE061

all

all

8

Peachtree Street

1

5


2004

5500

General Fund

DPW

n.i.

E,M

2,7

9

Traffic Calming Measures/Speed Hump Installations

1

5


2004

4300

General Fund

DPW

n.i.

all

all

10

Street Light Modernization

1

5

15

2019

5700

General Fund

DPW

TE 106

all

all

11

Summerhill Neighborhood Streets – Phase II

1

5


2004

1900

General Fund


DPW

n.i.

V

2

12

Traffic Operations Improvements


5


2004.

600

General Fund

DPW

TE056

all

all

13

Traffic Signal Modernization

1

5


2004

10000

General Fund

DPW

TE004

all

all

14

Unpaved Streets - NE

1

5


2004

330

General Fund

DPW

n.i.

E, F, B

2, 6, 7

15

Unpaved Streets - NW

1

5


2004

2163

General Fund


DPW

n.i.

A, C, D, G, J, K, L

3, 8, 9

16

Unpaved Streets - SE

1

5


2004

1343

General Fund


DPW

n.i.

O, W, Y, Z

1, 2, 5, 12

17

Unpaved Streets - SW

1

5


2004

15021

General Fund


DPW

n.i.

H, I, P, R, S, T,V,X

4, 10, 11, 12



Support Facilities

Project List 9-9: 2004 CDP Transportation Current Programs and Projects – Support Facilities

Transportation Support Facilities

Description

Initiation Year

Completion Year

COST

x 1,000

Funding Source

Responsible Party

CIP #

NPU

CD

1

5

15

1

ComCare Housing Site Improvements


5


2004.

14

General Fund

DPW

n.i.



2

Hill Street Concrete Plant


5


2004

450

General Fund

DPW

SB194

W

1

3

Hill Street Maintenance Facility


5


2004

600

General Fund

DPW

SB193

W

1

4

Street and Sidewalk Assessment Program

1

5


2004

100

General Fund

DPW

n.i.



5

Truck & Equipment Wash Facility


5


2004

300

General Fund

DPW

SB211

X

12