Turning an Atlanta Roadway Into a Shared Street

Kate Sweeney reports that Atlanta is exploring the possibility of redesigning part of Peachtree Street, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, using "shared street" concepts. This street design gives vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians equal access to the roadway and does not use traditional traffic controls such as traffic lights and stop signs.

"To help people envision what a shared Peachtree Street would look like, Atlanta City Studio unveiled renderings during last fall’s Atlanta Streets Alive, which closed traffic around Peachtree Center to cars. During the event, artists painted and sketched the street-life they saw," writes Sweeney.

The event and an exhibit called "Peachtree Street Re-Imaged" reflect the city’s efforts to get the public involved in the redesign process from the start. In the coming months, the city’s planning department will carry out a feasibility study to look at traffic and safety issues, reports Sweeney.