At a public meeting on Feb 28th, city officials unveiled the proposed changes along the entire stretch of Monroe/Boulevard for public viewing and comment. 

It is a comprehensive "Complete Streets" plan designed to address numerous safety concerns , and includes a number of road diets, intersection overhauls, sidewalk creation/expansions, and signaling improvements.

One of the proposed road diets includes a stretch of Monroe from Yorkshire to Park - a change from a 4-lane to a 3-lane configuration (1 lane per direction with middle dedicated turn lane). While it would add to travel times along that stretch, it would greatly improve vehicular, bike, and pedestrian safety.

Right now, cars routinely approach 50mph along that stretch, weaving dangerously, and there is no buffer at all between those cars and the sidewalk in many places. Or, conversely, they are piled up behind left-turning cars, causing blockages and/or accidents.

The Beltline demonstrates Atlanta's appetite for a more walkable, bikeable, and green city - the Monroe diet fits squarely with this vision, and as such is a core component of the Virginia-Highland neighborhood master plan. As a mother to four kids at MES who will soon be at Inman/Howard, and Grady, I believe the Monroe diet represents a key step towards ensuring a safe multi-use corridor for our neighborhood, as well as an investment in a sustainable future for our city.

That said, Morningside residents deserve a seat at the table to ensure that our concerns about increased cut-through traffic are adequately addressed. Join me in embracing the Monroe road diet while Morningside residents like myself work with the Renew Atlanta team to develop solutions to some resident's concerns.