MLK Medians, A Safety Hazard??

If you drive down MLKing Jr. Drive, you will see medians, that most of the community did not want, are being installed and lanes are being reduced from 4 to 2 with bike lanes.  Emergency vehicles, especially fire trucks may not be able to go around a MARTA bus, garbage truck, GA Power truck (working on power lines), etc. as MLKJr Drive between I-20 and Northside Drive.  This could be a huge public safety disaster. Yet, everyone is passing the buck.

Here are the facts:

MLKing Jr. Drive, a major thoroughfare and state highway, will now have medians that are “cute” yet dysfunctional.  They may actually impede the ability of emergency vehicles (especially fire trucks and ambulances) to navigate and will grossly impede traffic for delivery trucks (including UPS & FedEx), tractor trailers, utility service trucks (including GA Power, as power outages are on the rise), stalled vehicles, accident vehicles, police traffic stops, etc.

After I spoke to ReNew/TSPLOST spokesperson, Joshua Williams (newly appointed ATL Deputy COO) and Public Works Commissioner James Jackson, neither are not sure of the lane measurements.  Neither could assure me or the fire department if the lanes are wide enough….Are you kidding me?

Besides, there was a huge community meeting held at the Adamsville Rec Center to discuss this massive ReNew/TSPLOST expenditure about 2-3 years ago.  It was hosted by “then” City Councilman C.T. Martin.  It was jam packed with residents against the MLKJr Drive medians and reduction of lanes.  Other elected officials attended.  Outcome was: Since residents did not want the MLK medians, between I-20 (at Westview Cemetery) and Fulton Industrial Blvd, Martin said he would keep all four lanes.  Residents asked for sidewalks, street resurfacing, grass cutting & cleaning of highway entrance and exit ramps, etc.

Now it is truly evident this median project has major flaws and is WASTING OUR TAX DOLLARS:

1)  Median UNDER the I-20 overpass at MLK & Bolton Road.  Why is it there??

2) Median in front of Fire Station #5 had to be cut back after being installed because the fire engine could not clear it to turn left out of the station (fire department warned before it was done).

3) Median at shopping center at Lynhurst no longer allows left turn from MLK to this popular shopping center

4) NPU-H and others were against medians for reasons including City not having funds to keep the grass cut in the medians. They were right!  Often the grass gets knee high before the City cuts it.

BEFORE more money is wasted, this project needs a public safety check.  Both ReNew and Public Works say, “It should have been done.”  However, they are not sure if it was done.

Upon speaking in public comments at the City of Atlanta Public Safety meeting on Nov. 13 and the Transportation meeting on Nov. 14, I was told to contact Public Works & ReNew (PW&R). Unfortunately, it is clear that PW&R DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON!  ReNew is blaming their woes on increased construction costs. They:

1) are over budget

2) have pushed project dates on most south and southwest side projects forward by 2-4 years or they have no date at all.

In the meantime Campbellton Road between Dobson Drive and Bent Creek cannot get half a mile of sidewalks so the local kids can walk to the Adams Park Library and Young YMCA without walking in the treacherous street.

Also, Council President Moore, at the Nov. 14 Transportation Committee Meeting asked for a full accounting by District of all ReNew/TSPLOST funds spent, cost of projects currently underway, cost of projects pending on the list.

What are your thoughts??

Power Outage at World’s Busiest Airport

 

How could there be a power outage at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport?  This is the world’s busiest airport.  Its’ operation effects air travel nationally and internationally.

It has been almost eight hours and no word from Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.   Where is the press conference from GEMA?  With technology, statements and so many modes of communication, passengers and people everywhere are concerned about the slow or no communication about the cause and status.

Why has there not been any official statement from anyone in leadership??  Is this acceptable in this day and age?  How would our leaders feel if they were sitting on an airplane on Atlanta’s tarmac? Or, sitting in a dark airport?  Where is the compassion??

The good news is, MARTA was not affected by the blackout. Their trains were running on schedule. The not so good news is, the police were not allowing anyone to enter the airport during this time to prevent more people from being dropped off.  So, if someone were trying to pick up, they were also unable to enter the airport area since there was no way to tell which cars/shuttles/buses were doing doing what.

As reported by NBC TV 11 Alive in Atlanta, several passengers took to social media to complain about the airlines not providing information in a timely manner. And, many passengers were unable to communicate to their friends and family due to their cell batteries dying. Others with cell phone battery life used the light to navigate through dark hallways in an effort to get outside.

Calls to Georgia Power from 11 Alive were not answered.  They had a vague statement on social media saying they were working to restore power at Hartfield-Jackson Airport.  Yet, that simply was insufficient for stranded passengers and people across the U.S. Who simply want the facts.

The Cascade Patch has a full article by Doug Gross on today’s power outage.  They have as many details as were available at 7:50pm EST.  Here is the link:  https://patch.com/georgia/cascade/s/gbb1e/atlanta-airport-power-outage-caused-by-fire-officials?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_term=weather&utm_campaign=alert

Also, according to CBS 46 live TV coverage, Mayor Reed and the Atlanta Police Chief are having a press conference this evening (No time given).

Mayor Reed holds press conference with Georgia Power V.P. Bertina Terry as they reveal details of Hartsfield-Jackson airport power outage.  A fire in an underground power station is the culprit.  It also effected two backup stations. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. Also, the FAA is involved and conducting a review of this matter.

Your thoughts??

 

800,000 Still Without Power in Metro Atlanta

 

 

While crews scramble to restore power in metro Atlanta and across Georgia, it was good to spot this Georgia Power truck in the area!!

Other signs of normalcy as the winds and rain decrease:  the U.S. Post Office has resumed mail delivery, MARTA buses are back in service, and Xfinity (cable company) is out handling cable outages.

While many are venturing out, it is still treacherous with so many areas still without power.  Those headed back to Florida are being warned there are no hotel rooms and availability of gas between South Georgia and Orlando is not good. So, stay put where you are to give service crews more time to safely clear ALL roadways. The more cars out on the streets, the less safe it is for  GDOT, GA Power and service crews to restore

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Commissioner today on NPR radio 90.1FM (via my battery powered radio), there are about 150 traffic signals still in need of being repaired or replaced.  There are still trees in roadways and power lines down creating dangerous situations. Georgia Power says every region in the state has had outages and they have over 6,000 people out working to restore service which could still take up to a week to get everyone’s restored.

My friends in West End and my cousin in East Point had their power restored early morning or late afternoon, yet now their internet is down.  Meanwhile, I am patiently waiting and praying for my power to be restored before dark.

Stay safe.