New additions to a segment of the BeltLine open to the public early this August and are projected to improve commute time to and from school for students.
On the intersection of 10th Street and Monroe Drive, the Northeast trail runs along the eastern edge of Piedmont Park, up to Montgomery Ferry Drive near Ansley Golf Club. Previously, the trail was largely unpaved, but is now being finished at Segment Two (Westminster Drive to Mayson Street) and Segment One (Monroe Drive to Westminster Drive).
“The Northeast Trail Segment Two will open this fall, and Segment One will open in late 2024,” said team member of the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership John Becker. “The 10th and Monroe intersection rebuild will happen toward the end of the Segment One project.”
As the Atlanta BeltLine Partnership Team’s (APB) Communications and Engagement Coordinator, Becker works on getting the community interested in BeltLine developments.
“One of ABP’s main initiatives is our Engage work where we develop programs, events, activities, etc. that get people connected and learning about BeltLine trails and parks,” Becker said. “I manage our popular BeltLine Bike Tour and BeltLine Run Club programs.”
While Becker often uses the BeltLine for work, leading tours, he also uses the trail for leisure and said he is looking forward to its new features.
“Not only do the lights and cameras make it safer overall, but an ADA-compliant trail means accessibility for all,” Becker said. “Also, with proper stormwater management installed, the trail is less susceptible to blockages due to flooding.”
Becker also said the new improvements will make students’ commute to school easier and safer.
“A special focus is ensuring that students attending any of the four high schools and numerous grade schools located on or near the BeltLine can use the trail safely to get to and from school,” Becker said.
Having seen many Atlanta students use the popular route, he said the updates to the BeltLine will improve existing patrons’ experiences and be more accessible to new areas.
“I see many students doing this every day on the Eastside Trail—some headed to Midtown High, others to Howard Middle School,” Becker said. “Completion of the Northeast Trail will provide this same safe access to students who live in neighborhoods north of Monroe. Additionally, the rebuild of the historically problematic intersection at 10th and Monroe will make it even safer for students to get to and from Midtown High.”
For years, Midtown walkers and bikers have used what some describe to be the troublesome 10th St. and Monroe Drive intersection. Many, including sophomore Jamie Drake, have found the crosswalk ineffective.
“[The crosswalk timer] is too short,” Drake said. “I’d like it to be longer. There’s not enough time to safely walk across, especially diagonally.”
Students have also observed firsthand the danger of the intersection, seeing or even being part of accidents. Sophomore Jamie Richards witnessed a hit and run and has been hesitant to use the intersection since.
“The crosswalk turned on for people to walk by and a person on a scooter started going forward and a car zoomed past,” Richards said. “The guy on the scooter goes flying and the car just keeps going. He got…really injured and they had to call an ambulance. They definitely could’ve made a more prominent bike lane or just something to have prevented this.”
Now, Richards’ and Drake’s concerns are being addressed with the intersection’s makeover. As Richards suggested, a separated crosswalk bike lane is being implemented to help prevent accidents from what Richards saw to the minor collisions that happen every year.
The separate bike lane will also motivate bike and scooter riders to use the bike lane instead of just riding on the sidewalk, a concern senior Riley Edwards has.
“A separate bike lane crossing is great,” Edwards said. “The problem is that a lot of people I see on bikes go on the sidewalk and ignore the bike lane.”
Some don’t see the need for the new crosswalk. Sophomore Anna Balsamides said that the crosswalk isn’t the problem, careless drivers and pedestrians are.
“There’s nothing wrong with [the crosswalk],” Balsamides said. “You just need to pay attention to cars. It’s your and the driver’s fault if you get hit. You have to pay attention at all times and watch out for these stupid drivers.”
However, Balsamides said she recognizes the benefits of the new plans, specifically the ‘pedestrian scramble’, a program that will allow pedestrians to cross all directions at once.
“I like [the pedestrian scramble] because that would be…more efficient and faster if you could cross at the same time, so people aren’t wasting time trying to go one way and then the other way,” Balsamides said.
While this project will be completed this fall, new BeltLine projects will leave Atlantans optimistic for future commutes, Becker said.
“In addition to this work, there are two more currently active BeltLine projects: the Southside Trail between Glenwood and Boulevard and the Westside Trail heading north from Washington Park,” Becker said. “Both of those projects are well underway and will take 2+ years to complete. All in all, 80 percent of the 22-mile Atlanta BeltLine multi-use trail should be complete or under construction by the end of 2024 and that’s great news.”
