No to cuts: increase the transportation budget
We want Atlanta streets to be safe, inclusive, and thriving spaces for everyone who rides, walks, rolls, or uses public transit. The Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) is essential to making that vision a reality. Since the agency's inception, its operating budget has increased each year — up until now.
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2023 Blinkie Awardees
The 2023 Blinkie Awards took place Wednesday, May 3 at The Eastern in Reynoldstown. Open to the public, the Blinkie Awards is a party and fundraiser that celebrates the contributions of Atlantans working to make city streets safe and accessible for everyone to bike, walk and roll. Read more for this year's awardees.
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It's a pilot project. Save the date to party (or protest)!
I love biking downtown for the convenience and joy it brings, but it hasn't been especially safe or easy for as long as I can remember.
When our offices were on Mitchell Street I met a small business owner whose company was nearby. A few years ago he was biking home from work when he was hit by a car driver, breaking several bones, knocking out a few teeth, and resulting in months of surgery and physical therapy and lost productivity. He's back on the bike now but is understandably wary of riding on streets without a designated, protected space for people on bikes and other small wheels.Last week we celebrated the Atlanta Department of Transportation's installation of a protected space for people using bikes and scooters on two blocks of Central Ave (here's an interview I did with Atlanta News First). Collective action made this happen!
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Hard choices for transit
In 2016, voters in the city of Atlanta were asked to take a leap of faith — to increase the city’s sales tax by a half-penny for over 40 years to fund expanded MARTA transit service. Six years later, none of the new transit lines are open. Inflation, escalating costs, and unplanned delays mean MARTA will be unable to deliver the More MARTA program as promised. On March 1st, MARTA shared a list of nine projects it plans to keep advancing while pressing pause on the other projects. A critical voice is missing from these conversations — the taxpayers who made this project possible.
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Remembering Brittany as we rally for a safer Hollowell Parkway
On Sunday, March 19, 2023, we joined Brittany Glover’s family and friends, safe streets advocates, local government officials, and community members to hold a memorial and rally honoring Glover.
Last September, Glover was leaving an event when she was hit and killed while walking across Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway in west Atlanta. The driver sped off, leaving her to die. The driver has not yet been found. Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway is part of the High Injury Network and one of the worst streets in Georgia involving pedestrian crashes resulting in serious or fatal injuries, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT). Since 2017, at least 13 people have been killed in car crashes on the corridor, six of them while walking.
Speakers at the event discussed the need to make streets like Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway measurably safer for pedestrians: click here to take action!
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Notes from DeKalb Ave: March 9, 2023
Last week we attended a raucous community meeting about the DeKalb Ave safety project organized by Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari and hosted by the Atlanta Departments of Transportation and Watershed.
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Covering Transit Equity Day 2023
We asked Atlantans to ride the bus on February 3rd and 4th in honor of Transit Equity Day and Rosa Parks’ birthday. The purpose was to highlight what transit equity means to people in our city.
Atlantans stepped up by speaking about our experiences, encouraging friends and family to ride transit, and showing solidarity with people who rely on transit to get around every day. Some prominent Atlantans rode transit on February 3rd, including Mayor Andre Dickens.
Read more for videos from the press conference and media coverage, and social media posts: #TransitEquityDayATL.
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Find out what's happening on DeKalb Ave: community meeting March 9th
Periodically we get asked: what's happening with that DeKalb Ave safety project? The Atlanta Departments of Transportation (ATLDOT) and Watershed Management (DWM) recently posted an update on part 1 of this long-awaited street overhaul.
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Recap: November 2022 Transportation Committee meetings and legislation
Every two weeks, Atlanta City Council’s Transportation Committee meets to consider legislation and get updates from Atlanta transportation departments and agencies. We review the agendas in advance, decide what legislation is most relevant to our strategic goals, determine if public support or opposition is needed, then attend the meetings virtually or in person. This is our October summary of the meetings and the issues we're watching.
November 16, 2022 agenda, youtube, and two presentations: ATLDOT quarterly update & Moving Atlanta Forward (2022 bond and TSPLOST) Strategic Delivery Plan
November 30, 2022 agenda, youtube, and MARTA quarterly update
December 5, 2022 City Council Meeting agenda, youtube
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Shared e-scooter & bike hours extended to midnight
On December 5th, Atlanta City Council passed a resolution to extend the hours for “shared dockless mobility devices” (e-scooters and bikes available for rental) from 9 PM to midnight.
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E-bike affordability takes a step forward
On Monday, December 5, 2022, Atlanta City Council introduced legislation to launch an e-bike rebate program for Atlanta residents. A working group, including Propel ATL and other organizations, will explore programs and lessons learned in Denver, Boston, and other cities to make recommendations for an Atlanta program.
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New bike/LIT lanes for Downtown
Let's celebrate.
Atlanta will add 3 miles new miles of bike/LIT lanes Downtown, and very soon. Work starts Saturday, November 19, 2022. Read more to find out how we got here. [Update: after getting more details from ATLDOT, this blog post has been updated with some good news: we succeeded in getting a bike lane on parts of Trinity Ave.]
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Recap: October 2022 Transportation Committee meetings
Every two weeks, Atlanta City Council’s Transportation Committee meets to consider legislation and get updates from Atlanta transportation departments and agencies. We review the agendas in advance, decide what legislation is most relevant to our strategic goals, determine if public support or opposition is needed, then attend the meetings virtually or in person. This is our October summary of the meetings and the issues we're watching.
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Pedestrian fatality site visit: Boulevard NE
On Monday, September 12, a 70 year old man was struck by the driver of a car and killed while attempting to cross Boulevard NE near Wabash Avenue. On October 20, 2022, we met with District 2 Councilmember Amir Farokhi and Transportation Engineering Director Mark Tai from the Atlanta Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) for a pedestrian fatality site. Our purpose was to better understand this location and determine what safety interventions may prevent future fatalities. Read more for the safety recommendations and actions taken by ATLDOT as a result.
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Thank you to our Senior Director of Strategy & Growth, Haydée Santana!
Please join us in celebrating Haydée Santana’s many accomplishments and contributions to Propel ATL as she transitions out of her role on our staff as Senior Director of Strategy & Growth.
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