Transit

Image via Wikipedia.

The mayor’s plan for Atlanta’s first dedicated Department of Transportation (DOT) was approved today by the city council.

The new DOT will be a consolidated transportation agency that will combine the road construction and repair functions of the Department of Public Works with the planning capacities of the Department of City Planning’s Office of Mobility, according to city materials. Additionally, this two-fold effort will be integrated with the infrastructure investment functions of Renew Atlanta Bond/TSPLOST.

“Every aspect of our mass transit system must be improved in order for our city to meet the demands of our growing communities,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in a statement. “Improving mobility not only makes it easier to get around Atlanta — it helps level the playing field for all Atlantans to thrive and get ahead in a 21st century economy. This newly created office provides a space for experts to convene and strategize how we can implement greater efficiency and support the transportation needs of residents.”

Plans for the new agency began last spring, according to city materials, and was allocated $750,000 to develop a strategic transportation plan and set key goals and accountability measures, according to city materials. It’s hoped that the new unified department will be in a better position to acquire funding for transportation projects from state and federal partnerships.

“I’m excited that Mayor Bottoms and I teamed up for over a year with several community leaders to form this department that will bring greater efficiency and effectiveness for transportation in our city,” City Councilman Andre Dickens, who sponsored the legislation to study the effectiveness of transportation department, said in a statement.

Image via change.org.

The Atlanta Bicycle coalition has created a change.org petition to convert Baker Street back to a two-way thoroughfare.

The Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee proposed an ordinance for the project which was referred to committee at the June 3 meeting. If approved, the project would cost approximately 2.7 million. The city would pay 1.3 of that, with Central Atlanta Progress covering the remainder, according to Curbed.

Opposition to the project has been vocal – so much so that the city council has moved slowly to approve the project so further study could be conducted on the implications, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

However, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and other like-minded groups and individuals feel that switching the corridor to a two-way street would make it safer for pedestrian and bike traffic. Two way streets they argue, are more appropriate for downtown areas and will help encourage alternative modes of transportation.

“[Converting Baker Street] will help bring the downtown street network up to date and back into sync with the City of Atlanta’s transportation vision and goals,” the petition reads. “It will benefit the downtown Atlanta community and the entire city.”

It’s National Bike to Work Week, and several organizations across the city including the Midtown Alliance, the Atlanta Cycling Festival and the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition are celebrating with a number of special events to help commuters trade in four wheels for two.

Tomorrow, May 14, riders can join Earls Easy Riser Commute. Meeting at Earls Bike Shop at 8 a.m., cyclists will enjoy coffee and a ride geared towards beginners.“Starting to ride or commute around Atlanta by bike can be difficult (and let’s face it, a little scary),” program materials read. “That’s why the awesome crew over at Earl’s Bike Shop aim is to make that transition a bit easier by having this easy weekday morning ride with our friend Kevin, a bike commuter expert.”

The following day, Wednesday May 15, the 5^th Annual Queer Ride will be departing from the Georgia Beer Garden on Edgewood Ave. at 7 p.m. This easy, 6 to 8 mile ride to celebrate Atlanta’s LGBTQ community. “We go at a nice, easy, chattable pace; we keep it tight; we visit queer spaces where our cultural ancestors interrupted oppression; and we celebrate at queer-owned and queer-populated bars to celebrate along the way,” program materials read. “Tutus optional, smiles a must. (Allies welcome too!).

On Thursday, May 16, the mobile social will be rolling out from Woodruff Park at 7 p.m. “The Mobile Social is an Atlanta staple, open to all types of bicycle riders: Commuters, recreational cyclists, college students, hipsters, racers, riders, couriers, families with children, the curious and the bored, the timid and bold,” according to program materials.

On Friday, May 17, the 6^th Annual Donut Ride will be leaving from Revolution Donuts in Decatur at 9 a.m. This moderate, 16-mile ride includes three stops at local donut shops, and maybe even a quick detour for King of Pops, program materials indicate. Chow down on sweets, but cancel it out with cycling.

Finally, also on May 17, commuters are invited to join Midtown Transportation and the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition on a bike train from the Eastside Beltline to 14th and West Peachtree. Check out the full route here to plan where you’ll need to hop on and off, and visit the Facebook page for more information.

For more information about how you can better utilize your bike to commute, click here.

Image via Wikipedia.

Looking for a job? The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will be holding a bus operator job fair on Saturday, April 27 at their headquarters from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

MARTA is looking for both full and part time bus operators, according to program materials. Starting pay is $16.38 an hour, with a top rate of $23.17. Additionally, employees enjoy paid training, benefits and unlimited use of the MARTA system.

To be considered, applicants must possess a valid CDL driver’s license or a CDL permit with passenger endorsements, according to MARTA materials. They’ll need to bring with them a resume with a vaild email address and phone number, and possess a social security card and a GED, a high school diploma or a higher degree.

MARTA headquarters is located at 2424 Piedmont Road NE. Applicants are encouraged to ride the train to Lindbergh Station – the building is located directly across the street.

Image via Wikipedia.

Transit commuters experienced significant delays this morning when a man jumped in front of a southbound train at Lindbergh Station around 7:30 a.m.

The incident is still under investigation, but Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) spokesperson Stephany Fisher told Atlanta Loop it does not appear the individual was struck by the train. He did, however, suffer a minor head injury.

MARTA Police and EMS responded to the scene, but the man was able to walk by himself to the ambulance where he was transported to the hospital, Fisher said. Motive has not been established, and officials won’t speculate on why the man ended up on the tracks.

Due to the service interruption the incident caused, large crowds and confusion grew at the Lindberg station and others nearby, the AJC reports. The tracks were cleared around 8:30 a.m., and full service was restored by 9 a.m., according to MARTA communications. During the delay, a bus bridge was established.

“We want to thank our customers for their patience and compassion as we handled this incident,” Fisher said.

Image via MARTA.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will be holding a job fair tomorrow – Saturday, March 2 – to hire new bus operators. 

Applicants must be 21 years of age or older, and should bring with them a valid driver’s license, a social security card and a seven-year motor vehicle record, MARTA materials indicate. Applicants must also hold a high school degree, a GED or accreditation from an institution of higher learning.  

MARTA seeks both full- and part-time bus operators. Pay starts at $16.38 per hour with a top rate of $23.17, according to MARTA materials. Perks include benefits, paid training and unlimited use of Breeze passes.  

The job fair will begin tomorrow at 9 a.m. and run until 1 p.m. Applicants should expect to stay at least three and a half hours to complete interviews and testing, according to MARTA materials. The fair will be located at MARTA headquarters: 2424 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, Ga., 30324.

Image via the National Parks Service.

To celebrate Black History Month, Lyft is offering discounted fares to African American museums, memorials, significant culture sites and select black-owned businesses in cities across the country.

In Atlanta, riders can use the promotional code BHMATL19 anytime in February for one free ride up to $10 to the following locations:

• Atlanta History Center
• Atlanta University Center Historic District
• APEX Museum
• Center for Civil and Human Rights
• Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park

“As local riders look for ways to learn more about the many contributions Black culture has made to American history, Lyft is using its platform to bring greater understanding, connection, and support to our very own diverse community,” a Lyft Spokesperson told Atlanta Loop. “With 73 percent of our drivers in our area identifying with a minority group, we see the importance of celebrating the diversity that we have right around us.”

To learn more about the program, click here.