Baker Street Two-Way Street Conversion
and PATH Project Feasibility Analysis

For Feasibility Analysis Updates PLEASE CLICK HERE

Overview
This project aims to document and assess the feasibility of the Baker Street improvements identified in the completed JSA-McGill Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Study from December 2003. The following improvements were recommended in the LCI study and are key components of the Imagine Downtown plan:

1. Re-stripe Baker Street from one-way to two-way traffic east of Centennial Olympic Park (COP) Drive, taking into account a future multiuse path connection to Freedom Park on the south side of the street.

2. Re-stripe Harris Street from one-way to two-way east of COP Drive

3. Investigate the possibility of providing on-street parking on all or portions of Harris Street.
4. Provide streetscape improvements, including a bicycle facility and new sidewalks along Baker Street.

The Baker Street Two-Way Street Conversion and PATH Project Feasibility Analysis is now underway.  Data collection efforts concluded at the end of January, and stakeholder interviews and group meetings were held throughout February.  Currently, project engineers are conducting existing and future traffic operational analyses.  and beginning the development of improvement alternatives. Please check back regularly for additional opportunities for review and comment. Study findings will be finalized by the end of March 2006.

Project Updates

• Final Draft Report (9 MB)
• Proposed Alternatives (For Review and Comment, Draft as of March 21, 2006)
  Summary of Proposed Alternatives
  
  
• Alternative 1 – Baseline / One-way Operation & 4 Lanes on Baker & Harris
• Alternative 2 – Two-way Operation & 4 Lanes on Baker & Harris
• Alternative 3 – One-way Operation & 3 Lanes on Baker & Harris
• Alternative 4 – One Lane in Each Direction with Center Flex Lane
• Alternative 5 – Combined Improvements - Two-way and One-way Segments

Existing (2006) and Future (2026) Traffic Operations for Alternatives 1 - 5

• Existing Conditions Figures (Draft as of March 13, 2006)
  Study Area
  Study Area Photographs
  Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Connections
  Pedestrian Crashes
  Corridor Activity (PDF, 109 K)
  Existing Traffic Operations (PDF, 303K)
  Existing Geometric Conditions (PDF, 18 K)
  
  
• Technical Stakeholder Progress Meeting (held February 16, 2006)
  Meeting Summary (PDF, 151 K)

More Information
For additional information about this project contact Angie Laurie at (404) 658-1877 ext. 229 or alaurie@atlantadowntown.com.

Background
Currently, Baker Street and Harris Street function as a one-way pair. Baker Street consists of four through travel lanes westbound and Harris Street consists of four through travel lanes eastbound.

The 2003 JSA McGill LCI Study proposed that both streets be re-striped to allow two (2) travel lanes in each direction. This improvement would allow for improved connectivity between Centennial Olympic Park (and its surrounding attractions, such as the Georgia Aquarium, the new World of Coca-Cola and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta), the rest of Downtown, and access to and from Interstate 75/85. Pending confirmation of traffic volumes, the study also recommended on-street parking for portions of the Harris Street corridor.

Baker Street was also identified by the PATH Foundation as the preferred route for a multiuse bicycle-pedestrian facility that would connect to the Freedom Parkway trail network into Downtown and to Centennial Olympic Park.

The PATH proposal recommended widening the sidewalk on the south side of Baker Street between Luckie Street to the west and Boulevard to the east and providing a landscaped buffer between the street and sidewalk along with street-trees and pedestrian scaled lighting to improve pedestrian safety. The multiuse facility would include a striped bike lane to separate bicycles from pedestrians.

Baker Street between Piedmont Avenue and
Courtland Street with proposed improvements

The proposed improvements strive to create a pedestrian-supportive street compared with the vehicular-oriented corridor that exists today. The JSA McGill LCI Study included the project as part of a 5-year action plan and the total project costs were then estimated at $8.0 million dollars – approximately $690,000 for planning and engineering and $7.3 million for construction.

This Feasibility Analysis is intended to respond to research and activity that has occurred within the Baker Street corridor since the completion of the JSA-McGill LCI plan and to reposition the Baker Street project in order to seek additional funding for implementation. Of particular concern to project stakeholders, before substantial funding is committed to the execution of the project, is the feasibility of converting Baker Street from one-way vehicular traffic to two-way traffic and how this change will impact the immediately adjacent land uses and the overall street network flow. This feasibility study will inform and make this “one-way or two-way” decision so more detailed design work can be scoped and funded.