PROPOSED DHCA BOARD MOTION: September 21, 2024

The DHCA applauds efforts by the Georgia Department of Transportation to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists along the Ponce de Leon corridor and are supportive of many aspects of the roundabouts proposed at Ponce de Leon and East Lake and at the Ponce de Leon Ave/Scott split.  However, we have very specific requests based on the latest designs shared on 8/22/24 that we would like addressed as the plans move forward:

The DHCA requests that GDOT:

• better ensures safe access to and from Ponce de Leon Manor through:

• • Provision of appropriate measures to ensure safe left turns from Ponce de Leon Ave into Ponce de Leon Manor. (PdLM)
  • Provision of measures to ensure safe right turns from Ponce Manor onto Ponce de Leon Ave (exiting PdLM currently is a NO TURN ON RED due to the limited westward visibility.  The current design removes the traffic light but does not address limited sightlines to ensure vehicles can safely exit PdLM).
  • Evaluation of the East Lake roundabout design to ensure motorists exiting PdLM and wishing to head west on Ponce de Leon are able to go east into the roundabout and then safely and quickly shift into the appropriate lane in order to be in a position to exit the roundabout on Ponce de Leon headed west.

• revisits the exit from St. Elias Antiochain Orthodox Church to allow exiting parishioners the opportunity to head westbound on Ponce de Leon. 

• confirms the presence of signalized pedestrian crossings at each of the roundabout entry/exit points.

• places a PHB across Ponce de Leon near the easternmost intersection with North Ponce de Leon Ave to allow safe pedestrian and cyclist access to the Olmsted Linear Parks while also reducing speeds between the two proposed roundabouts.

• provides dedicated water supply and adequate drainage to support native plantings in roundabout. Roundabout requires the removal of existing Azalea Park (and its native trees and plants) which is part of the historic plat designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. We would also support plans for native species of plants and trees that are appropriate for the Druid Hills Historic District while not impacting safety.

• maintains current northern boundaries of the project area to assuage concerns that the East Lake roundabout could infringe on Olmsted Linear Park boundaries.

• addresses safety concerns related to taller trucks entering and exiting the roundabout at the Ponce de Leon/Scott split since these trucks can only safely pass under the CSX railroad bridge when in the inner lanes.  Trucks on Ponce de Leon headed west will likely be in the outer lanes as they approach and exit the roundabout and thus may not have the ability to quickly shift lanes coming out of the roundabout while trucks headed eastbound will pass under the CSX bridge in the left lane and that may make it difficult for them to exit the roundabout onto Ponce de Leon.

• ensures that the historic signage at the entry to PdLM is replaced once work is completed.