Buckhead Rush Hour Eased

Afternoon rush hour commuters on Piedmont Road are enjoying an easier drive these days, thanks to a Buckhead Community Improvement District program.

Since Aug. 1, nine off-duty Zone 2 officers are directing traffic on the busy corridor from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, putting traffic lights in the flash mode for better traffic flow, and keeping cars moving smoothly through intersections.

Tony Peters of the Buckhead CID and BATMA says the program has reduced commute times by a half. He says the Buckhead CID hasreceived a number of e-mails praising the program.

Zone 2 Lt. Rod Woody supervises the program, in which officers are stationed at Tower Place; at Lenox Road and Piedmont; at the Manor Apartments; at Habersham at Roswell Road; and Piedmont at Roswell. The off-duty Zone 2 officers coordinate their efforts with officers hired by private companies such as the Terminus Building.

Woody said  officers are also stationed at Tower Place at lunch hour, mainly to help pedestrians cross Piedmont. An officer is also stationed at Lenox Road during lunch hour, Peters said.

Peters said the use of the Zone 2 officers under Woody makes traffic control in the area run "in a much more coordinated fashion than previously."

One Buckhead resident  said in an email to Zone 2, "I have lived and worked in Buckhead for over 20 years. Not once in that period of time have I been as impressed with traffic control during afternoon rush hour than I have been in recent weeks with help of the APD.

"What an improvement in the quality of life of people who work in this neighborhood and live throughout the metro Atlanta area! I had a colleague with me from New York recently who was equally impressed. The effect this might have on people considering moving their residence or business to Atlanta is difficult to measure but I am sure that it is having a positive impact."

An e-mail sent to the Buckhead CID said, "I work in 12 Piedmont Center and just wanted to let you know how much I, and my co-workers, all appreciate the improved traffic flow on Piedmont and Habersham Rd's at rush-hour each day. It used to take us each 15-20 minutes to reach Habersham and now with the officers directing traffic, it takes less than 5 minutes which has made for a much happier group that commute that way each day. Just wanted to say thank you!"

Woody said that he patrols the area on a motorcycle when he's on duty, making sure traffic is flowing well and stopping to help people get out of driveways. He said the officers by directing traffic and controlling the lights' frequency are able to maintain a smoother traffic pattern than what the lights do in their regular changes.

He and Peters said the program will be expanded to the Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza areas during the holidays. Peters said planning for the holiday program will be done in October, but that it will begin before Thanksgiving and last through New Year's.

The program has increased congestion on Roswell Road southbound at Powers Ferry Road, Peters said.

"We're doing our best to mitigate this," he said. "We're going to work on ways to tweak that to make it more manageable."

 
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