What Exactly Were the Peachtree Road Improvements?

Several Atlanta dignitaries attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the second phase of the one-mile long Peachtree Road transformation project, which stretches from the MARTA overpass to Roxboro Road, on Dec. 11.

However, many Buckhead Patch readers and those who use Peachtree Road almost daily wondered what exactly the transformation was.

The project was meant to make the stretch of Peachtree Road a "complete" street with granite curbing and medians, hardwood trees, seasonal color landscaping, bike lanes, wide sidewalks, modern lighting, street furniture and buried utilities.

The new changes in phase II of the project include limiting left turns to designated lanes at traffic signals in an effort to ease traffic congestion.

Phase II of the Peachtree Transformation Project cost $32 million and was funded by multiple sources. The bulk of the funding –$11 million– came from federal stimulus funds while the Georgia Department of Transportation contributed $5 million; $4 million from the Atlanta Regional Commission; $1.5 million from the City of Atlanta Quality of Life bond program;$3.3 million from donated right of way from property owners and $6.5 million from the Buckhead CID.

In a column posted on SaportaReport and the Atlanta Business Chronicle, longtime Atlanta journalist Maria Saporta writes, "The project has turned one of the most pedestrian-unfriendly areas in Atlanta to a pleasant place to walk, bicycle, work and shop."

The first phase of the project, which stretched from from GA 400 to one block south of Piedmont Road at Maple Drive, was completed in 2007. The third phase, a one-block section from Maple Drive to Shadowlawn Avenue, is now underway.

Because of the transformation, real-time traffic fixes like quickly adjusting the timing of traffic lights, can now be made with just a click.

For example, the Saturday after Thanksgiving meant particularly heavy traffic near Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza and the managers of the shopping centers called on Tony Peters, programs manager for the Buckhead Community Improvement District, for help.

Peters told members of the Buckhead NPU-B at its Dec. 5 meeting that the problem was resolved by adding 15 seconds to the traffic signals near the two shopping centers with just "the stroke of an iPad," according to this Buckhead Reporter article.

Some Peachtree Road drivers may not have noticed the changes just yet, but even more are likely to come as the transformation nears completion.

Have you noticed the Peachtree Road transformation? Would you consider it improved? Join the conversation. Tell us in the comments below.

Here's what some Buckhead Patch readers had to say about the Peachtree Road transformation project:

Barbara LeBey

What a waste of money.Traffic will be even worse if that's possible.

Jennifer Moyers

I am delighted that there are beautification projects like this one being done to enhance the visual appeal of Atlanta as a major city. It may not be on par with streets like Michigan Ave. in Chicago but it's a good start. We need to be mindful of how we look-- it makes a difference in the long run and increases the appeal for residents and visitors and enhances the value of properties on those streets. I hope future projects will include extending this further on Peachtree and/or to other major Atlanta streets.

Urbanist

Only in Atlanta would one hold a ribbon cutting ceremony/photo op after failing miserably

chad....

I was just visiting last Friday and noticed the concrete planters along p'tree st. most of the shrubs where half dead....... not to mention it took over 45m to drive from mathieson dr. to lenox mall at 330 in the afternoon........