COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
WELLNESS
The Georgia Department of Transportation says it will remove illegally placed political signs like these along I-20 and other interstate rights of way. 3
A potential customer eyes a vehicle after the ribbon-cutting for Malcolm Cunningham’s new Ford-Lincoln-Mercury dealership on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. 5
In a couple of months, residents of Oakview Apartments will begin to reap the benefits of healthy eating with food grown in their community garden. 8
DOT crackdown
New dealership feted
June 12, 2010
Copyright © 2010 CrossRoadsNews, Inc.
Goodness from the garden
Volume 16, Number 7
www.crossroadsnews.com
Resurfacing project begins on I-20 The I-20 commute through south DeKalb County is about to get a little tougher at nights on weekends. Starting June 18, the Georgia Department of Transportation will resurface 9.8 miles of I-20 between Columbia Drive and Turner Hill Road. The $28.6 million resurfacing project was awarded June 4 to joint venture partners E.R. Snell Contractors Inc. and Pittman Construction. Mickey McGee, DOT’s district construction engineer, said traffic will be heavy in the area while construction is under way. “We encourage motorists to seek alternate routes or to avoid the project area altogether,” he said. The milling and resurfacing project will require various lane closures, but McGee said that
contractors will maintain two travel lanes at all times. Work will begin in the westbound lanes first and then move to the eastbound lanes. “The goal is for the contractor to get most of the paving done during this paving season and then come back in the spring to finish it up,” McGee said. More specific lane closure information will be available prior to work beginning. Motorists can call 511 for updated information about this project. The free phone service provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, such as traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, construction, and delays due to bad weather. Callers also can reach live operators to request assistance or report incidents round-the-clock. For more information, visit www.511ga.org.
Work crews have begun placing construction barrels and cones along I-20 from Turner Hill Road to Columbia Drive, including the Wesley Chapel ramp onto I-20 westbound.
Curtis Parker / CrossRoadsNews
MARTA plan for restrooms riles commuters By Carla Parker
This week, MARTA’s budget woes went to the potty – literally. More than 127 angry MARTA bus and train riders gave transit officials an earful Tuesday night about plans to close almost all of its restrooms to help balance its $389.64 million 2011 operating budget. The only restrooms it currently plans to keep open are the ones at the Five Points station in downtown Atlanta. Latoya Foster of Decatur cried “shame” on MARTA. “You want to close the bathroom, because I have to pee,” she said. “What am I going to do? What solution do you have for us? DeKalb NAACP President John Evans called the plan “a halfbrain idea.” “I would hope that this board would make it loud and clear to the general manager that we’re not going to accept that nonsense,” he said. “You figure out some other John Evans ways to make cuts.” Yvette Woods of Decatur said no restrooms will be a major issue for riders. “You’re proposing to close restrooms, but you’re going to open vending,” she said. “I understand trying to make money, but come on. ‘I’ll close the bathroom, but I’ll sell you a soda!’” The hearing at the DeKalb County Maloof Auditorium was one of four hosted by the cash-strapped transit system this week to hear from commuters ahead of its board approving the budget on June 28. Harold Buckley, who represents DeKalb County on MARTA’s board, moderated the hearing. MARTA CEO Beverly Scott sat in the back and listened but did not speak. With declining revenues, MARTA has to ax $132.8 million from its 2011 operating capital budget. It also is cutting 42 bus routes, including
Carla Parker / CrossRoadsNews
Angie Aikens of Stone Mountain was one of 42 speakers who pleaded with MARTA officials not to balance the budget on their backs at the June 8 public hearing at the Maloof Auditorium in Decatur. The bus and train riders said service cuts and loss of restrooms would cause them hardships.
11 routes in DeKalb County; reducing train service by 15 percent; axing 743 positions, including laying off 400 employees; suspending all merit increases; shuttering two of four Ride Stores at Lenox and Lindbergh stations; curtailing Customer Service Center operating hours; and ending the Braves and Lakewood Amphitheatre shuttles. To help close the funding gap, MARTA riders also will pay increased fares starting Oct. 3. Monthly tickets will increase by $8 to $68. The Mobility pass, used by the disabled, will go up $7 to $115, phased in over three years. Single fares will remain at $2. Kevin Hurley, MARTA’s board manager of financial planning, said new transportation funding is not expected until July 2012.
“MARTA customers, unfortunately, would be required to suffer with reduced transit service and continued passenger fare increases,” he said during his presentation at the hearing. Kat Woodford of Atlanta was one of 42 people who pleaded with the board not to cut bus routes. “Those who are economically not able to afford a car need the buses to get to work, to get to school, get to their various places of business or doctor appointments,” she said. “When you pull services away from economically disadvantaged areas, which is where the majority of these changes affect, people who are not wealthy don’t have an opportunity to get to their jobs.”
With the route cuts, commuters will have to wait longer for service. Delilah Black, a Georgia Perimeter College student, who already has problems with late buses, was not looking forward to worse service. “It takes 45 minutes for the bus to come and then I’m late for work,” Black said. “MARTA has cost me six jobs.” MARTA officials said that they will review all comments and concerns before the final budget vote is cast. It is still accepting comments from the public by mail to MARTA’s Office of External Affairs, 2424 Piedmont Road N.E., Atlanta; by fax to 404-848-4179; and at www.itsmarta .com.