Transit

Photo provided by MARTA

By Ellie Ritter, contributor 

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) officially opened the fully renovated Reduced Fare and Lost and Found offices at the Five Points Station on May 17.

The facility’s upgrades include increased waiting area space, expanded seating capacity and clearer, more prominent signage to improve customers’ experience, according to MARTA’s press release.

“Our new Reduced Fare Office now offers the needed upgrades to adequately accommodate our customers with disabilities and senior riders,” MARTA GM/CEO Keith Parker said. “This brighter, user-friendly facility is outfitted with an all new HVAC system, security system as well as individual privacy window service.”

The new office will give MARTA users who need reduced fares a second option. Eligible senior citizens, people with disabilities and Medicare cardholders can now apply for reduced fare Breeze cards at both the Five Points Station and the MARTA Headquarters at Lindbergh, according to the press release.

Members of the MARTA Accessibility Committee (MAC) helped plan and develop the newly redeveloped office space.

“From the increased lighting for the visually impaired to additional seating for the disabled, it is pleasing to see that the MARTA team put extra care into the small details,” MAC Chairman Roderick Parker said.

Atlanta Bicycle Coalition

By Mary Margaret Stewart, Assistant Editor of Decaturish.com

The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition is gearing up to help locals get involved in city politics with a Rolling Town Hall.

Hosted on Saturday, May 20, city residents can “with [Atlanta] mayoral, city council and school board candidates… and bike alongside them.”

Rolling Town Hall starts at 9 a.m., when each of the candidates will deliver a statement about their transportation platform.

After the bike ride, attendees can enjoy “food, music and festivities” through 12:30 p.m.

The event starts and ends at Atlanta City Hall, located at 68 Mitchell St. SW, Atlanta, Ga. 30303.

For more information or to RSVP, check out: www.facebook.com/events/1281324118624255/.

Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry speaks at May 1, 2017 media briefing. Photo by Cedric Mohr, provided by GDOT.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that a burned out portion of I-85 at Piedmont Road will reopen on Monday.

That puts the project weeks ahead of schedule. The original deadline was June 15. Crews have been working quickly to repair the road following a March 30 fire.

But the investigation into how the fire started will continue. The Georgia Department of Transportation faced tough questions about the storage of materials under the bridge. Police allege Basil Eleby started the fire after a conversation about smoking crack under the interstate. GDOT stored high-density polyethylene and fiberglass conduit under the bridge. GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry said these materials were left over from a 2007 project that was cancelled after the contractor was found to be in default.

The materials were first placed at the intersection of Sydney Marcus Boulevard and Buford Highway before being moved under I-85 at Piedmont Road in 2011, he said.

He said GDOT is cooperating fully with investigators and said he personally notified the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials about this in case other transportation departments want to review their policies about storing materials. He asked the state fire marshal for assistance in reviewing the state DOT’s storage policies. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating the incident.

A MARTA train passes over the mural at the corner of Dekalb Ave. and Arizona Ave. on Thursday, April 17, 2014. File Photo by Jonathan Phillips

MARTA’s ready to make a deal.

The Transit Authority is offering discounted two-day passes and discounted 30 day passes beginning this month. The price of the 30-day passes is dropping to $71 from $95, MARTA says.

Here are the full details from MARTA:

ATLANTA—The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) just made commuting easier to enjoy with discounted two-day, unlimited weekend passes and discounted 30-day passes beginning in May.

For $10.50 each, the “Ride The Weekend” Pass provides individuals and families unlimited rides on MARTA buses and trains on Saturdays and Sundays. Passes will be on sale until June 30, 2017, but customers can use them on any weekend of their choice.

“Weekends in Atlanta offer a full range of activities and attractions that MARTA customers now have even more reason to take advantage of,” said MARTA GM/CEO Keith T. Parker. “Our array of discounted fares helps get more people more places across our service area while expanding opportunities for riders that’s affordable for family and friends to enjoy.”

MARTA will also sell discounted 30-day unlimited passes for only $71, saving MARTA customers 25 percent off the regular price. The 30-day unlimited passes will be on sale from May 17 until May 31, 2017 and can be used at any time.

“These promotions help us attract area tourists and encourage infrequent riders to use the system during sporting events, festivals and other local points of interest,” Parker said.

MARTA currently offers unlimited 2-Day passes for $14 and 30-day unlimited passes for $95. Customers can purchase the 25 percent discounted passes at the Five Points and airport RideStores, Breeze card vending machines and on the Breeze card website at www.breezecard.com. No discount codes are required.

Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry speaks at May 1, 2017 media briefing. Photo by Cedric Mohr, provided by GDOT.

The Georgia Department of Transportation says a burned out portion of I-85 at Piedmont Road will reopen sooner than expected.

On May 1, transportation officials said the projected opening date is May 25, nearly a month ahead of schedule.

“Our goal was to get I-85 back open to the people of Georgia as quickly as we could, and to do so we offered incentives for early completion,” Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell McMurry said in a press release. “If work is able to continue at the rate it’s been going, I have no doubt project contractor C.W. Matthews will be able to meet, if not beat, the May 25 incentive date.”

The contractor will get a $1.5 million bonus if the project is finished by May 25, and a $2 million bonus if it’s finished by May 21, and $200,000 for each day completed before May 21, bringing the maximum potential bonus to $3.1 million. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported the cost estimate for the entire project is $16.6 million.

GDOT says it has poured four out of six decks since April 25 and the northbound travel lanes are finished. Once all of the decks are finished and in place for three days, the contractor will pour the concrete barrier sides. Then “grinding and grooving of the roadway surface for enhanced safety” will start. Joints will be sealed and the road will be striped.

“In an effort to plan ahead and to minimize further disruptions to the traveling public, the much needed resurfacing of 6.6 miles of I-85 from I-75 to Clairmont Road began on April 20,” the press release from GDOT says. “The milling and inlay of two paving layers on the northbound side within the closure and is nearly complete. Within the southbound closure, three of the five to six lanes have had the top two layers milled and inlayed. The resurfacing work within the rebuild closure has the potential to be completed by the time the I-85 bridge reopens.”

Photo provided by MARTA

Starting Tuesday, May 2, MARTA commuters will be able to pick up produce at select stations.

The first Fresh MARTA Market will be held at the West End Station starting at 2:30 p.m.

“The markets provide a convenient shopping alternative for fresh, affordable and locally grown produce,” a press release from the Transit Authority says.

MARTA first unveiled the markets in 2015.

“This year, the Atlanta Community Food bank will conduct screenings for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Childcare and Parent Services programs (CAPS), which offers childcare subsidies to some of Georgia’s neediest families,” the press release says. “Applications will be available at the West End, H.E. Holmes and Five Points stations.”

The press release cites a 2014 study that found 300,000 people in MARTA’s service area don’t have reliable access to groceries.

The markets are a partnership between MARTA, Community Farmers Market, Atlanta Community Food Bank/Food Oasis-Atlanta, South West Atlanta Growers (SWAG) Cooperative and Organix Matters. Customers can make purchases using cash, credit, debit or EBT.

“Shoppers can also use Georgia Fresh for Less, formerly SNAP 2-for-1. Under the program, every dollar spent at the market becomes $2 in goods for shoppers,” the press release says.

Here is the market schedule:

– West End station, Tuesdays, May 2 – Nov. 29, 2017

– H.E. Holmes station, Wednesdays, May 24- Nov. 29, 2017

– College Park station, Thursdays, May 25- Nov. 30, 2017

– Five Points, station Fridays, May 12- Dec. 1, 2017

People expecting Irwin Street at the Eastside Trail to reopen on April 24 will have to wait a little longer.

Atlanta BeltLine Inc. has pushed the reopening date back a second time, to April 27. The closure began on March 20. It was initially anticipated the road would reopen April 17.

ABI says the delay is intended to address a safety issue.

“Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. contractors will extend the closure of Irwin Street where it intersects the Eastside Trail in order to remove the existing eastern ramp of the speed table and extend it from 6′ to 9’10” to create a safer vehicular approach ramp,” the announcement says. “ABI and City of Atlanta Inspectors determined that the recently constructed eastern approach ramp to the speed table was too steep for most vehicles to traverse safely even at minimal speeds. The eastern ramp is a safety issue and warrants Irwin Street to remain closed until the issue is remedied by the contractor (Astra). ABI has received a permit from the City of Atlanta to extend the Irwin Street closure until Thursday midnight for the additional work that needs to be completed before the road can re-open.”

The detour routes are as follows:

– For vehicular traffic on Irwin: If traveling east, turn right at Auburn Avenue, left at Randolph Street, left at Edgewood Avenue, and left at Krog Street. If traveling west, turn left at Krog Street, right at Edgewood Avenue, and right at Auburn Avenue.

– To access the Eastside Trail: The Eastside Trail can be accessed from the west side by way of John Wesley Dobbs Avenue, Highland Avenue, and East Avenue (via Alaska Avenue). Note that only the East Avenue access point is ADA-accessible. The Eastside Trail can be accessed from the east side by way of Elizabeth Street. Use Irwin Street/Lake Avenue, making a left on Elizabeth.

In addition to the speed tables, contractors are installing sidewalks, curbs, gutters, light poles, rapid flashing beacons, a fiber optic duct bank and a new storm line. The project will extend the Eastside Trail from Irwin Street to Kirkwood Avenue. ABI provided the following detour map …

Image of April 2, 2017 demolition of what remained of a burned out section of I-85. Photo credit: Katina Lear, Georgia Department of Transportation

Georgia Department of Transportation officials say the rebuilding of a section of I-85 in Atlanta is entering a critical stage this week.

Crews have been working to meet a June 15 deadline to repair the road following a March 30 fire that destroyed a section of I-85 at Piedmont Road.

GDOT crews are setting beams for the I-85 project, which means “continuous lane closures” on Piedmont are expected from 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 25 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 26. The announcement from GDOT says, “The Buford-Spring Connector will be open to traffic, but the southbound access ramp from Piedmont road to the Buford-Spring Connector will be closed.”

“Motorists who regularly use Piedmont Road near I-85 are advised to plan ahead to avoid this route during the specified hours,” the announcement from GDOT says. “As always, motorists traveling in the affected areas are reminded to reduce their speeds while traveling through the work zone. Georgia DOT urges motorists to wear seatbelts, eliminate distractions behind the wheel and plan their routes before getting on the road by calling 511 for real-time information.”