[LCN Newscast] McLendon Ave Update

[newscast@lists.lakeclaire.org]

- McLendon Avenue Improvements Soon to Begin -


The City of Atlanta is set to begin construction work along McLendon 
Avenue in Lake Claire and Candler Park to implement the 
neighborhoods' traffic calming plans.  As many residents already 
know, this time last year we expected the construction projects to be 
completed by August 2003, but due to a wet summer and unforeseen 
issues, the projects did not proceed past initial surveying and 
locating utility lines.  The primary cause of the delay was the 
discovery by Public Works that more than 25 percent of the length of 
McLendon Avenue did not meet standards for drainage because the curb 
does not rise the required 4 inches above the paved street.  
Accordingly, no sidewalk or streetscape improvements could be made 
until the curbs are improved.  A related problem that was discovered 
is that the alignment of several crosswalks would not meet American 
Disability Act standards in many places where the crosswalk would 
lead into a drainage area or an uncut curb on the opposite side of 
the street.  Public Works has been working to address these issues 
before the roadway work begins.

The improvements planned for McLendon within Lake Claire include 
traffic calming at the intersections of Lakeshore/Claire/Southerland 
and Howard Circle.  At the former, the turn to Southerland will be 
squared off and turn lanes will be clearly marked.  At Howard Circle, 
a traffic circle will be constructed to cause traffic to slow and 
follow the roundabout to turn onto Howard or proceed on McLendon.  
These improvements should greatly help in calming traffic at these 
two locations where people routinely make turns on to and off of 
McLendon at unsafely high speeds.  

Repaving and restriping will also take place as part of the 
improvements.  The restriping will serve three purposes.  First, bold 
striping will be used to clearly indicate crosswalks and lanes of 
travel and for turns.  Second, striping will be used to mark parking 
areas on the street, which will now be limited to the southern 
(eastbound) side of McLendon along the entire length.  

Finally, McLendon will be striped strategically accommodate bicycle 
travel as much as possible.  Dennis Hoffrath from Atlanta Bicycle 
Campaign and Ryan Gesser from Lake Claire Neighbors met with Lorn 
Whittaker, principal traffic engineer from the city, in September 
2003 to review alternatives to better accommodate bicycle traffic on 
the busy McLendon corridor.  Options are limited because of the 
narrow width of McLendon in some spots.  Thirty-seven feet of width 
is required to accommodate two vehicle traffic lanes, parking and a 
dedicated bike lane.  McLendon is as narrow as 32 feet in many 
locations, and parking cannot be sacrificed since some residences do 
not have off-street spaces.  Accordingly, there cannot be a dedicated 
bike travel lane on either side of McLendon.  As an alternative, Mr. 
Hoffrath recommended that the city consider the following strategic 
striping plan.

Bikers "compete" for space along McLendon with vehicle traffic and 
parked cars.  Allowing 7 feet of width for parked cars, 25 feet 
remain for two lanes of traffic that must have room for MARTA buses, 
sanitary services trucks, and emergency response vehicles.

On downhill sections of roadway, bikers pick up speed and approach 
the speed of vehicle traffic, and cars generally do not need to pass 
bikers.  On uphill sections, however, bikers need more space to climb 
the grade and cars are more likely to cause an unsafe condition by 
swerving into the opposite lane or passing too close to the cyclists.  
Accordingly, Mr. Hoffrath recommended that the travel lane widths be 
varied to allow bikers more room on uphill stretches of the road.  
For example, the uphill travel lane would be striped to a width of 14 
feet and the downhill lane striped to 11 feet, making use of the 25 
feet available.  The city believed this approach would be the most 
realistic compromise to enhance the safety of cyclists along 
McLendon.  An ancillary benefit would be the traffic calming effect 
of causing motorists to slow down enough to follow the shifting lane 
alignment.

Improvements are also planned for the Candler Park section of 
McLendon, highlit by realignment, signage, and signals at the 
intersections with Candler Park Drive.  This improvement should 
provide needed traffic calming in the area where children frequently 
walk and cross towards Mary Lin Elementary.

As of the evening of 2004 January 21 Wednesday Public Works had begun 
to post "No Parking" signs along McLendon indicating that 
construction work is soon to begin.  The signs are posted from the 
intersection at Clifton through the 1900 block of McLendon to Howard 
Circle.  Please adhere to these signs as best as possible to avoid 
any delays in construction or personal hassles if the city tries to 
remove any cars from the roadway.  Please share this information with 
any neighbors on McLendon who may not receive this Newscast.

Lake Claire has invited representatives from Public Works and/or 
Traffic and Transportation to attend the neighborhood's February 19 
meeting at 7:00 p.m.  We have asked the city to bring drawings and an 
updated schedule to share with the neighborhood.  If you have 
questions or comments, please feel free to contact Ryan Gesser, Lake 
Claire's McLendon Avenue Liaison, at mclendon@lakeclaire.org or
404-840-6132.  Or, contact the city's representative, Ms Valerie
Bell-Smith directly at 404-330-6215 or vbell-smith@atlantaga.gov .

In the meantime, please continue to drive safely on McLendon and 
throughout Lake Claire, especially as construction work begins and 
workers and construction equipment are present.  Stay tuned for 
continuing updates on the construction schedule and activities as we 
receive information from the city.


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