Georgia ITE Summer Seminar7/21/2015

Andrew Heath, P.E., State Traffic Engineer

Georgia ITE Summer Seminar7/21/2015

Andrew Heath, P.E., State Traffic Engineer

DOT’s on a Diet? Case Study of Ponce de Leon Ave

The CorridorPonce de Leon Ave./ US 29/ US 278/ SR 8

• 35 mph urban principal arterial, RTOP Corridor• ADT: 30,000+ vpd• Home to large mixed-use developments, apartments,

churches, fast food, fancy restaurants, iconic landmarks• Crosses under the Atlanta BeltLine trail• Recently inspired a locally brewed beer

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Why Ponce?• Major east-west state route, connecting

Midtown to Decatur and Stone Mountain• Section of Ponce in Atlanta was scheduled for

repaving– City saw opportunity• GDOT completed a Road Safety Audit• “Historic” substandard width lanes were

challenging to “modern” drivers. • Safety concerns and low left lane utilization rate

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The Project

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The Projectbefore and after

Ponce after the road diet (from Juniper to Kroger Shopping Center)

Ponce after the road diet (from Kroger Shopping Center to Monroe Dr.)

Ponce before the road diet

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The Projectbefore and after

1953 2015

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Findings - ADT

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Findings - ADT

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Findings – Travel Times

Travel Time (min) Speed (mph)2012-2013 average 4.22 27.99

Spring 2014 3.69 31.88Difference -0.53 min +3.89 mph

2012-2013 average 6.36 18.66Spring 2014 7.75 16.26Difference +1.39 min -2.4 mph

AM Scenario

PM Scenario

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Findings – Safety Data

10

201

478 474

559

418

239

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Collision Count

YTDRo

ad d

iet

25% decrease in overall crashes between 2013 and 2014

Findings – Safety Data

0

1 1 1

2 2

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Bike Collisions Count

0

65

12 12

4

02468

101214

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Ped Collisions Count

Ped crashes rep. an average of 0.53% of total collisions

YTD YTD

Ped crashes rep. an average of 2.57% of total collisions

Increase in bike/ped volume after the road diet is assumed and anecdotally observed, but has not been measured. 11

Road

die

t

Road

die

t

BeltL

ine

BeltL

ine

Moving Forward• Livable Center Initiative project

– LCI grant through the ARC; Boulevard to Monroe Dr. – Will provide sidewalks improvements , bus shelters– Potential to include flex posts in the buffered bike lane

• GDOT pedestrian crossings project– Includes 3 crossing islands and PHB’s

• Atlanta BeltLine plaza project• Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Grant• Will connect Ponce City Market and Ponce de Leon Ave to

Beltline12

Lessons Learned• Road diets can increase both vehicular ADT and

bike/ped access• Pedestrian accommodations must also be

considered when improving a corridor• Observed a decrease in overall collisions (to date)

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