Midtown Alliance’s South Midtown Improvement Project Continues

Construction is underway on Midtown Alliance’s South Midtown Improvement Project, which will significantly improve the pedestrian amenities, handicap access, traffic flow, and overall circulation throughout the southern end of the Midtown district. Construction will continue throughout the spring and summer and is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2012. This multi-faceted effort includes:

• Improvements to traffic flow and pedestrian amenities at 12 key intersections along Ponce de Leon, North, and Linden Avenues
• Streetscaping on Ponce de Leon Avenue between Spring Street and Piedmont Avenue will include wider sidewalks, pedestrian lights, roadway lighting, street trees, handicap ramps, crosswalks, parallel parking and the installation of a planted gateway median near the intersection of Juniper Street
• Revitalization of the Fox Triangle Plaza at the intersection of Ponce de Leon Avenue and Peachtree Street which will include artwork that recognizes Atlanta’s historic trolley lines

Meanwhile Midtown Alliance President and CEO Kevin Green rleased the following statement on this summer’s transportation referendum:

"On July 31, voters in the Atlanta region will have an historic opportunity to vote on a 1% sales tax to fund regional transportation projects. This is the first time citizens in this region have ever had an opportunity to come together on a single vote, and the issues are of critical importance.  

Currently, Georgia ranks 48th in the nation in per-capita spending for transportation. As matters now stand, 70% of the Atlanta region’s transportation funding over the next 30 years will be spent to simply maintain the existing roads and systems, leaving little room for expanding the current system. As the region grows, congestion will worsen unless adequate investments are made. If passed, revenue generated by this referendum will fund 157 transit and roadway projects around the region and will sunset in ten years. According to the Atlanta Regional Commission’s in-depth analysis, the impact of these transportation projects includes: 

• An $18 billion increase in the region’s personal income by 2040 due to decreased delays
• Improved air quality
• 580,000 additional daily transit trips by 2025
• The creation and support of 200,000 additional  jobs
• A 4-to-1 return on investment 

Turnout for July referendums are historically low, so we need your help in getting the word out about the importance of this vote. For additional information to educate and inform your employees, tenants, friends and family members, please contact us at midmail@MidtownAlliance.org, and feel free to use the one-page summary here. Additional resources about the projects and referendum are also available at TransformMetroAtlanta.com."