It's more than a bike lane. It's not just some raised planters with trees.
Under a new proposal, a complete redesign could be in store for what is arguably Atlanta's most well-known corridor. On Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta, the Department of City Planning has plans to reimagine a short portion of the road as a "shared space" for walkers, bicyclists and cars.
That might involve eliminating the curb, installing special pavement, reducing car lanes or adding seating along the road — design elements more commonly found on popular pedestrian-friendly stretches in Europe. Officials and residents are hopeful the ambitious project could bring more life to a part of town that can be sleepy at times, while pushing back on Atlanta's notoriously car-centric nature.
"We want to make the street one that is inviting and, by the design of the street itself, it enables more of a vibrant street life," said Tim Keane, the commissioner of Atlanta's Department of City Planning. Right now, he said, Peachtree "for the most part ... is not a lively, urban place."
For now, the city is studying a 1.2-mile stretch of Peachtree Street from North Avenue, near the Fox Theatre, to Marietta Street, around Woodruff Park. The city cited Bell Street in Seattle and Exhibition Road in London as inspirations. Officials will continue to gather feedback through December, eventually coming up with possible designs that could be tested on Peachtree in the spring.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution