Over half a mile of Midtown’s 5th Street will likely be revamped as part of an initiative to improve the neighborhood’s ability to accommodate alternative methods of transportation.
The project would start at the intersection of 5th and Myrtle and go 0.6 miles west to the downtown Connector at Williams street, next to Georgia Tech’s campus.
The proposed changes include:
- Replacing curbs and sidewalks that are damaged
- Adding ADA-complying ramps and crosswalks at every intersection
- Planting trees and adding street furniture
- Updating bike lanes, including their signage
- Repaving and repainting the roadway
The project will be funded using $750,000 from Midtown Improvement District funds, and $1.5 million from the City of Atlanta’s Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) for construction costs.
Midtown Alliance has already sought opinions from the community about the project, conducting a pop-up where pedestrians on 5th Street gave feedback and suggestions on the proposals for bike lanes, greenspaces, crosswalks, and parking.
According to the press release, “TSW and Midtown Alliance will conduct additional feedback sessions at more 5th Street ‘pop-ups’ and community meetings, before creating a comprehensive plan.”
The designing and engineering plans are expected to last until next summer, and construction is expected to begin in late 2019.