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  • February 26, 2016

Dunwoody council stirs up controversy on road project - Dunwoody Crier: News

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Dunwoody council stirs up controversy on road project

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Posted: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 5:45 am

Here we go again, it seems. A simple road improvement program is now seen by many as a mushrooming, cost- increasing project that eventually see Mt. Vernon Road in Dunwoody expanding into a three-lane road from Dunwoody Village to Jett Ferry.

The issue was joined at the Aug. 14 meeting of city council when public works department officials asked council for an additional $11,000 for the survey and design costs associated with extending the intersection project at Mt. Vernon and Vermack by 500 feet.

Councilman Denis Shortal opposed the lengthier project while Councilman Terry Nall supported it. The issue was to be voted on Monday night.

But a week later, the matter exploded.

Last week Councilman John Heneghan wrote a blog post asking if Dunwoody was ready for a center turn lane of that length. Others began calling it a suicide lane. Heneghan said residents were asking if that were the ultimate goal when they saw the simple intersection movement potentially expanded from Vernon Oaks Drive to Corners Drive.

Old hands with the Dunwoody Homeowners’ Association, which has fought the widening of Mt. Vernon for years, also weighed in over the 30 percent increase in project size.

“This widening will change the character of the community.” Wrote Bob Lundsten on his blog. “Community opposition to any widening of Mt. Vernon has been a constant for over 30 years. Opposition to widening this road even led DeKalb County to remove it from TIP list 15 years ago.

Lost in the discussion were the majority of residents, who through a DHA project prior to cityhood and the city’s master transportation plan, favored short four-to-six car turn lanes at three intersections on Mt. Vernon. Or those who thought a turn lane was necessary only on Mt. Vernon at Vermack westbound.

Joy Vannerson, whose home buffer will be affected by the extended project, wrote council that the project was in the city’s master transportation plan at $500,000 now has ballooned to $900,000 to $1.1 million.

Councilor Adrian Bonser told The Crier she favors the sidewalks and bicycle lanes in the project, but not the longer turn lane. She called the extension the makings of a traffic hazard.

The vote and discussion was expected to be the highlight of Monday’s discussion.

Council also was to hear a proposal from the city manager, Warren Hutmacher, for an easement with the owners of the Peachford Hospital site to further extend the Brook Run trail.

Also on tap was the six-month financial report of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Dunwoody.

© 2016 Dunwoody Crier. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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3 comments:

  • Stellaosbern posted at 11:23 pm on Thu, Feb 11, 2016.

    Stellaosbern Posts: 2

    I don’t think that there was actually a need to make this a big issue. The road improvement was actually a good decision. I think it will be easy to do this expansion work now than considering it to be done after a few years from now.
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  • Concerned about Dunwoody posted at 9:05 am on Wed, Aug 28, 2013.

    Concerned about Dunwoody Posts: 1

    Improving traffic flow typically leads to additional volume as commuters realize a given route moves along faster compared to other routes. On the other hand, limited enhancements designed to address traffic safety such as short turn lanes at specific intersection would be welcome on Mount Vernon.

    In light of the mayor's and council's push for larger projects designed to increase traffic flow one must ask, who benefits most from such significant expenditures of taxpayer dollars? What are their true, long term intentions towards corridors such as Mount Vernon?

    Certainly consultants and contractors benefit from the greater flow of taxpayer dollars. Current and potentially future businesses along Mount Vernon would also benefit from more traffic flow. Finally, real estate developers might benefit if zoning all along Mount Vernon permits the establishment of new businesses where residents now live.

    All of which begs the question, why are Dunwoody politicians pushing projects long opposed by ordinary residents but likely to benefit these various business interests?

    In April, 2012 Governor Deal signed into law important updates to Georgia's "Sunshine Laws". Such laws benefit citizens only if citizens and the press actually use them.

     
  • Greg posted at 12:04 pm on Tue, Aug 27, 2013.

    Greg Posts: 6

    The Mount Vernon Rd corridor is critical to the traffic flow in Dunwoody, both now and in the future. There are two competing "improvement" ideas and the "status quo" idea in play.

    For my part, I'd welcome additional turn lanes and a center lane over the length of Mt. Vernon from Dunwoody Club to Dunwoody Village.
    In addition to providing improved traffic flow (not VOLUME, but FLOW) the third lane provides additional public safety by alllowing fire and emergency service vehicles access during crowded periods.

    I would like to see the City investigate and pursue an approach that provides a continuous 3rd lane, that is segmented into smaller left-turn lanes at the critical intersections. The intervening roadway should be fitted with traffic flow devices that would deter the "suicide lanes".

    I've seen examples of irregular ripple paving or metal "buttons" that are arranged so that firetrucks and emergency vehicles (with wider tracks than autos) may navigate easily, but which deter autos and small trucks from accessing the middle lane except at turn lanes.

    I would eagerly support this approach, with the addition of bike lanes and improvements to the sidewalks, as well.

     

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