The I-85 bridge collapse forced many people living and working in and around Atlanta to make new transportation choices. Now, just months later, the region is back to business as usual.
Michael Kahn reports on the disappointing results of the Atlanta region's experiment with public transit in the wake of the closure of I-85 following a fire and the collapse of a bridge along the highway in April.
Many saw the I-85 temporary demise "as a chance to hook the masses on MARTA," writes Kahn, "and an initial jump of ridership by 25-percent looked promising." As detailed in a post by Joe Cortright, the region adapted well to the reduced transportation capacity, and traffic found a way to balance out.
But those gains in alternative transportation were short-lived, as evidenced by the story of a July 4 snafu that delayed trains and left holiday travelers fuming. Buried in that article by Doug Richards is the news that ridership on MARTA has returned to pre-collapse levels.
Both writers note that frequent service interruptions aren't likely to inspire hordes of new riders to adopt public transit, although the short duration of the I-85 closure also probably didn't force that many riders to make public transit a routine.
FULL STORY: MARTA saw no lasting increase in ridership from the I-85 bridge collapse
Atlanta City Leaders Call on MARTA to Expand Weekend Service
The city is set to host multiple major sporting events in the next several years, prompting calls for expanded transit service on weekends and to popular areas.
MARTA to Increase Service Frequency, Reduce Routes
Atlanta transit users will likely have to trade higher frequency for fewer routes based on a new plan approved by a planning committee last week.
Atlanta's Own 'Carmageddon' Follows a Familiar Pattern
The destruction of an expanse of I-85 in Atlanta means the heavily travelled freeway will be closed for months. The disaster that was predicted to follow, however, has so far failed to materialize.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie