Dec 6 public hearing, Renew Atlanta priorities,Transportation Plan

December 2018

In This Issue

December 6 Public Hearing: scooters and other devices

Thanks so much for your passion for making our streets and communities great places to walk. And for your commitment to making this a reality.

A generous donor pledged to match all donations - dollar for dollar - up to $15,000, but only until December 31. I'm hoping you and every other PEDS supporter will take advantage of the Matching Gift Challenge. This is an exciting opportunity for you to make safe sidewalks and effective crosswalk treatments a reality.

It starts with you. Your support is what makes it possible for us to introduce transportation professionals to effective safety solutions, generate media attention, and serve as your watchdog and your voice at public meetings.

Please act now. Your gift will be doubled - providing twice as much support for transforming our streets and communities into great places to walk.

Your gifts mean so much, maybe even more than you realize. Thank you for your generous su pport.

December 6 Public Hearing: Proposed shared bicycle and scooter ordinance

People in Atlanta and in cities throughout the country have a love/hate relationship with shareable, electric scooters.

People who use them find them fun and efficient. And people who walk want people riding scooters to do so in the road, not on sidewalks.

Parked scooters strewn across sidewalks are also aggravating, especially to people with disabilities.

On Dec 6 at 1 pm, the City of Atlanta is holding a work session about its proposed ordinance 18-O-1322 regulating shared bicycles and scooters.

Plenty of time for public comments, so if you're available and want to share your thoughts, be there and speak up.

City Council approved new Atlanta Transportation Plan

2018 draft Atlanta Transportation Plan - cover

The new Atlanta Transportation Plan is excellent, and we're thrilled that the City Council adopted it.

We're especially pleased by the plan's call for "minimizing the footprint dedicated to motor vehicle traffic and slowing down the speed of moving traffic."

The Plan also recommends developing a dedicated funding stream for addressing the maintenance backlog.

We couldn't agree more. Replacing the City's dysfunctional sidewalk policy - which makes abutting property owners financially responsible for sidewalk repairs - with one that uses tax dollars to pay for maintenance is vital.

Please take the Renew Atlanta/TSPLOST survey!

Atlanta residents long for transportation safety improvements and infrastructure repairs. They've also proven their willingness to pay for them. In 2015 voters approved the Renew

Atlanta bond referendum. And in 2016 they voted yes on passage of a special transportation sales tax known as TSPLOST.

Yet so far, both the Renew Atlanta and TSPLOST programs have been a big disappointment to people who get around by bicycle or on foot. Only one of the 16 Complete Streets projects has been built. The others risk being thrown under the bus.

At a recent Transportation Committee meeting, Renew Atlanta / TSPLOST's Interim General Manager reported that large funding shortfalls will prevent it from implementing many projects the City had promised voters.

City leaders now seek to prioritize projects and have promised to do so transparently and equitably. They're also seeking public input.

Complete Streets projects, which reduce speeding and allocate more road space to people who walk or ride bicycles, align perfectly with the new transportation plan.

Please take the Renew Atlanta / TSPLOST projects survey

and ask Atlanta to place Complete Streets Projects at the top of the list.

Welcome Hayley Hamilton!

Please join us in welcoming Hayley Hamilton to the PEDS team. Hayley worked until

recently at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with a focus on physical activity and the built environment.

Hayley will play a big role in planning and providing the 2019 Georgia Walks Summit, which will be in Norcross and Peachtree Corners on March 7-8.

She'll also take the lead in providing "Walk-by Visioning" activities, Listening Sessions, Pedestrian Advocacy 101 workshops, and special events that help people successfully advocate for safer sidewalks and crosswalks in their communities.

Your gifts help make safe sidewalks and crossings a reality .