Kudos to Roswell
Roswell is one of the many suburban destinations to the north of ATL. The AJC is reporting that Roswell is putting it’s transportation dollars somewhere other than wider roads:
Roswell first defined what sort of town it wants to be, then crafted a transportation plan to help accomplish it. It ended up with something very different — a master plan that caters to the quality of life of those living in the city as opposed to those who drive through it, said Jennifer Fine, Roswell’s economic development manager, who oversaw the project.
Instead of focusing only on vehicles, Roswell’s plan gives equal weight to people on foot and on bicycles.
Instead of favoring road projects that help speed traffic through town, Roswell has designed landscaped roundabouts that will slow traffic but make it safer for pedestrians.
Instead of costly road widenings, the city is planning to narrow lanes and add landscape medians to calm traffic and help shoppers cross the street without taking their lives in their hands.
“The fundamental decision you have to make is whether your money is going to accommodate the four rush hours a day or the other 20 hours,” Fine said. “This plan makes those other 20 hours a lot better.”
This is a refreshing change from the norm here in the greater Atlanta area….in most of the country for that matter.
Eddie O