Respect goes two ways in crosswalks

In other words, cars only have to remain stopped at crosswalks when pedestrians are near or on their side of traffic. But cars must always yield to a person crossing — no question. And Jay has run into problems there.

For different types of travel to co-exist, there has to be give and take. Drivers should remember that every person on foot or on a bike is one less vehicle that slows their traffic flow. That should be rewarded and not ignored or cursed. The behavior that Jay and others experience — cars’ failing to stop and people rudely gesturing at pedestrians — is unacceptable, even counterintuitive. Less vehicles on roads is a good thing.

But pedestrians also have to play nicely, too.

There are few things more frustrating behind the wheel than someone deciding to jaywalk or use a crosswalk on a stop signal. And then there are people who take their sweet time crossing a road, not because they are hurt or elderly, but because they have zero regard for the traffic they are holding up.

Georgia law also addresses pedestrian behavior on roads without sidewalks.

“Any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway,” law 40-6-96 says. That law also says that people afoot must remain on sidewalks or shoulders, unless those are damaged and could cause harm. Pedestrians are allowed to use the street when vehicles are not within 1000 feet of them.

I have become more pedestrian-minded in the last three years, since I moved to Chamblee and got a dog. Having to walk Stallz daily makes me far more aware of pedestrians’ needs and far more critical of people that go speed-blazing down small roads.

Since moving to Chamblee, the city has made big strides to become more friendly for walkers and bikers, just as other cities have. The city reduced Peachtree Road, the town’s main street, from four lanes to two. It added bike lanes, raised crosswalks that work as speed bumps, and lowered the speed limit to 25 mph. There are also more four-way stops.

All of these measures slow the pace around these businesses, condos and restaurants and make the walking, biking and driving modes flow better together. With the Chamblee MARTA Station right in the middle of this stretch, most types of ground travel happen in this hub.

A crosswalk, used legally, should be a safe haven for commuters on foot. Drivers have dibs on every other part of the road and there typically are more of them than there are walkers and runners. So when motorists happen upon someone trying to cross the road, they need to give them their half and not condemn them for taking that right of way. In fact, drivers should appreciate any effort to take the pressure off of traffic.

Likewise, pedestrians should be self-aware and not hold up traffic more than they need to. They should cross legally too.

If both parties stick to those virtues, driving and walking will be much safer and less aggravating.

Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. Contact him at [email protected].

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nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/MikeShieldsWSB/status/1496782612114853890","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1645715570243},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"Z3YRKNOHNNDB7LMOQMR63DSSVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1645715570244},"type":"text","content":"Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 770-794-5384."},{"_id":"UFHROLPJINBCDPVIKJGJW2XCIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1645715570245},"type":"text","content":"— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates."}],"display_date":"2022-02-24T15:18:43.168Z","headlines":{"basic":"Pedestrian killed while crossing I-75 in Marietta"},"first_publish_date":"2022-02-24T14:52:41.701Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1034}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/news","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"News","description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/news","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","LoggedOutMenu":null,"MainMenuRedesign2021":"https://www.ajc.com/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"site_url":"/news/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Atlanta GA News | Top News Page"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"News"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"News","Sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"true","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"_id":"/news","ancestors":{"AmpNav":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"default":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"BottomNav":[],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"LoggedOutMenu":[],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"TopicsBar":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1001,"default":1001,"SectionMap":1018,"MainMenuRedesign2021":1002,"ComposerNav":1137}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./news","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/neighborhoods/cobb","parent":{"default":"/neighborhoods"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/neighborhoods","name":"Cobb County","description":"Local news for Cobb County Ga. neighborhoods, including breaking news, Cobb County schools, high school sports, crime, events, development and land use. 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The live, streaming cameras that the public can view on 511ga.org are readily available at any moment. But logging that live footage would be daunting."},{"_id":"YFLLZVH3HRE23MHO4TCR2XYOJQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1645367070514},"type":"text","content":"Dale said that the cost for server space would be in the “millions of dollars” and that manning those servers and fulfilling open records requests for anything from violent crimes to minor traffic crashes would require a full-time staff. Considering how much the state scrambles to fund road expansion and maintenance to keep up with the region’s growing population, “The cost to log and maintain the server space is not a budget item,” Dale said."},{"_id":"2E3WIBENXFCXLDLCQS4RN6I25Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1645367070515},"type":"text","content":"Gwinnett PD Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle said that the police cannot just log in to the state’s cameras and start recording them. But departments have other tools at the ready."},{"_id":"ICP2C7K7H5GWJEHX2AIMH3SBUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1645367070516},"type":"text","content":"Gwinnett PD has a less-direct path in enforcing the law with cameras. Gwinnett uses Flock Safety, a network of wireless cameras that snaps license plates. This system is very useful in finding where and when there are vehicles around certain crimes, but it does not record a full live stream of any one environment. That means these cams do not need giant server space."},{"_id":"LFPD4PAMXVB3FMCPSUUXTR3UGU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1645367070517},"type":"text","content":"Cpl. Winderweedle said that another large part of the video his department uses is from businesses and private citizens that are willing to share security cam or smart doorbell footage. But these are also fixed cameras, meaning that there are plenty of blind spots around them in which crimes could happen."},{"_id":"7Q5HW6F2EBDOFAQF4CRIY5IA24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1645367070518},"type":"text","content":"Each agency works differently. Sandy Springs Sgt. Salvador Ortega says his department actually does record from traffic cams and stores the footage 24/7, which “Not only help[s] with crime prevention, but also to help with traffic management,” he said. But providing that infrastructure for a city is less costly than doing so for a county or state."},{"_id":"SXZMQTJXYFBATDGDBKXMLS5GDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1645367070519},"type":"text","content":"Even if the state were to staff up and budget for the recording of traffic cams, blind spots would still be a concern, Dale said. Cameras are only as effective as the directions they are pointed. So those inadequacies could potentially erode the worth of the tremendous cost in staffing and hardware for recording them."},{"_id":"I5FA4CIONREHTJKEOMDXBDOQXI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1645367070520},"type":"text","content":"There is also the issue of privacy and the Orwellian idea of “Big Brother” watching citizens’ moves in real time. Cpl. Winderweedle noted how 24/7 surveillance is far more common in London, but the average American’s idea of independence and privacy has made such networks less common here."},{"_id":"G45KRXNYZFGMNNBS7WPFLPD4MQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1645367070521},"type":"text","content":"But Sgt. Delk did say his Cobb PD and other departments are exploring better ways to use readily available live footage. What that looks like isn’t known for now. But will the public’s uneasiness around this harrowing string of shootings force the government to pony up and invest in recording these traffic cameras? Maybe. But a better question is, if they were recorded, would police be able to catch shooters and would that deter future ones? The jury is out on that one."},{"_id":"37RXCAHNEFCSLPSDCQUMY3ESPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":"BIXXNQI43VBL3N4UN4GFHN7Y4I"},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. 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🚨🚨Fatal Accident on I-285E & Old Dixie Rd🚨🚨nnOn February 16, 2022, at 6:10 a.m., Clayton County Police Officers responded to an accident with injuries on I-285 east near Old Dixie Road, Forest Park, GA. Upon arrival, officers discovered one female to be deceased in the roadway. The other driver was transported to a local hospital and is in critical condition. One vehicle did catch fire during the accident.nnThe investigation is still ongoing at this time. The victim information will not be released at this time until next-of-kin is notified.nnPlease be advised in reference to traffic. All lanes on I-285 east are shut down at this time in order to conduct a thorough investigation. Please use an alternate route.

Posted by Clayton County Police Department on Wednesday, February 16, 2022

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Measuring tractor trailer traffic patterns can also show how all traffic is behaving."},{"_id":"P6FFXYXYPRBQ3HTAVRLUDOPNYM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087412},"type":"text","content":"Georgia’s biggest freight bottleneck used to be the worst one in the nation. Spaghetti Junction — where I-85 and I-285 intersect in DeKalb County — measures as the fourth-worst interchange in the U.S. in 2021."},{"_id":"4TGLCASSTZGDNMUJXLFTWRTKQA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087413},"type":"text","content":"Trucks averaged just 30 mph during peak travel times in Spaghetti Junction last year and only 38.9 mph, overall. Peak travel time speeds in 2021 were almost 12% slower than in 2020 in that interchange, but were still 35% faster than before the pandemic in 2019. So the news there isn’t all bad."},{"_id":"AWY5JVIQTJBV7J5QNWHNRX7DUM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087414},"type":"text","content":"The juncture of I-20 and I-285 in Fulton County is the nation’s fifth-slowest trucking bottleneck. Rush hour speeds there are only 2.4% better than they were in 2019, so the return to the “old normal” is almost complete on the west side."},{"_id":"J3JKAVBYWJFB5P3RUFAX7TLDQY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087415},"type":"text","content":"Both of these infamous Metro Atlanta interchanges are due for re-profiling in the next 10 years, as part of a grander plan to add tolled Express Lanes to all of I-285 north of I-20."},{"_id":"4E47PANPDVF5LFJPHHV5LOKDOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087416},"type":"text","content":"I-75 in McDonough (#12), I-75 at I-285 in Cobb County (#14), GA-400 at I-285 in Sandy Springs (#18), and I-20 at I-285 in DeKalb (#21) all ranked very high on the list — or low, since gridlock is not exactly a positive goal."},{"_id":"7NQEZK7TYVFHZD5KGK6ICNEK7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087417},"type":"text","content":"Trucking speeds at peak times in McDonough on I-75 are actually almost 11% worse than they were in 2019, a testament to how much more freight surges in from the Port of Savannah."},{"_id":"4FA66AVERBHOHJUWLSGHPYIP44","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087418},"type":"text","content":"On the flip side, I-75 in the Cobb Cloverleaf is moving trucks almost 45% faster during rush hour than it did before the pandemic. The 2018 opening of the Northwest Metro Express Lanes seems to be having a more positive effect on I-75 in Cobb than five-year-old toll lanes on the south side. The I-75 and I-675 merge in Stockbridge added to south metro woes with a #52 nationwide ranking and it also ran slower in 2021 versus 2019."},{"_id":"Q4P6KUFWVVD3VKJSOWM5DTWADY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087419},"type":"text","content":"The better speeds through the Cumberland area may also be due to a larger residential populace that still does some pandemic-inspired telecommuting than in McDonough."},{"_id":"QADSDBCXT5EG3HMIWT3SJJTETA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087420},"type":"text","content":"There have been proposals for truck-only lanes between McDonough and Macon, since big rigs make up such a large swath of the traffic on that I-75 corridor."},{"_id":"PFOAUUWEERFGLFLGUXE2PQV6ZQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087421},"type":"text","content":"I-285 at GA-400 has been under reconstruction for several years, likely aiding in its bad ranking. That project is set to finish at the end of the year and should improve traffic-flow. And much like its west Atlanta counterpart, I-20 at I-285 on the east side is also set for a redesign in the next decade."},{"_id":"EI3UKFWKXNGYVLMMCNZ2O6YCVU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087422},"type":"text","content":"Tractor trailers are technically not allowed inside I-285, unless they have a delivery. But many motorists complain that the Department of Public Safety does not enforce that law enough. Regardless of the rule, I-20 at I-75/85 in Downtown Atlanta ranked #45 in the U.S. and I-75 at I-85 — the Brookwood Interchange in Midtown — scored #62."},{"_id":"EPF2SSRM6BF2PLQ7D43LXCI35E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087423},"type":"text","content":"Georgia’s nine trucking bottlenecks in the top 100 were tied with Tennessee for second-most in the U.S., trailing the whopping 14 in Texas on that dubious list. California only has eight and New York, six."},{"_id":"HIQJIUID6JCK5HY44B4PMTG7GY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087424},"type":"text","content":"The I-95 at S.R. 4 interchange in Fort Lee, New Jersey ranks as the nation’s worst freight interchange, averaging only 30 mph daily and only 22 mph during rush hours."},{"_id":"ZZ6R5JYOSJBITFZG74K6B2VBRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087425},"type":"text","content":"Rush hour speeds there were almost even between 2019 and 2021."},{"_id":"KWDRHMNSTVHV3BTFBUJLWU4MUA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087426},"type":"text","content":"Almost every junction on the list is the connection between two freeways. Two interstates merging or linking are much more likely to create friction than a normal interchange with a surface street. This further highlights why I-75 in Henry County is such a unicorn on this list and how much freight it carries."},{"_id":"AM2KMEAGIBETFPUAWMWQ6CDJFU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087427},"type":"text","content":"Only 10 of the 100 worst U.S. freight interchanges saw rush hour speeds worse in 2021 than they were in 2019. As bad as traffic is, it still was worse before COVID-19."},{"_id":"PUY67HXYXVFHPL2YPQPIVTIVDI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644515087428},"type":"text","content":"Traffic lists only mean so much, but the indicators on this iteration show again how Atlanta is a vital transportation hub. They also remind us that small flanks at making our commute better - alternative transit, teleworking, and living near workplaces - do make differences. The fact that traffic is overall better now than before the pandemic is proof that these things can work. And keeping the roads moving is key to helping the currently clunky supply chain."},{"_id":"37RXCAHNEFCSLPSDCQUMY3ESPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":"BIXXNQI43VBL3N4UN4GFHN7Y4I"},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. Contact him at [email protected]."}],"display_date":"2022-02-13T12:00:00Z","headlines":{"basic":"Gridlock Guy: Atlanta’s high-ranking freight bottlenecks, the new normal and what lies ahead"},"first_publish_date":"2022-02-13T12:00:04.007Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1034}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"spcontent"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"rct-content"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2022-02-13T12:00:03.999Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN / AJC","type":"author","byline":"HYOSUB SHIN / AJC"}]},"subtitle":"Major road projects could ease Atlanta commuting","width":3992,"caption":"September 18, 2020 DeKalb County - Aerial photo shows I-285 interchanges at I-20 East, where Georgia Department of Transportation will rebuild next few years, on Friday, September 18, 2020. Over the next few years, the Georgia Department of Transportation will add 16 miles of toll lanes on Ga. 400 – lanes that would aid a transit expansion in North Fulton County. The agency also will rebuild I-285 interchanges at I-20 east and west of Atlanta – two of the worst freight bottlenecks in the country. 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Authorities shut down the northbound lanes for several hours while they investigated, diverting traffic onto I-285 and causing major delays leaving Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1644351195366}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1490972580081250304?s=20&t=h_RJ_2kJF7bjWsR3ad_v9w","type":"twitter"},"_id":"ONICOYCLTJGMZKTWGUZRPNQFDA","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"AJC WSB Traffic","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1490972580081250304","author_url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic","width":550,"html":"

nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1490972580081250304?s=20&t=h_RJ_2kJF7bjWsR3ad_v9w","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1644351195366},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"S5LOBCBOOZEY3MPKRZELQD5GAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644346136421},"type":"text","content":"According to the state patrol, the pedestrian was “attempting to cross the interstate” before being hit by a northbound Kia Optima."},{"_id":"P3ILH63ODZHVNKNCTHN2G3XT2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644346136422},"type":"text","content":"“After the initial impact, the pedestrian was struck by other passing vehicles that did not remain on scene,” GSP spokesperson Konswello Monroe said in an email. “The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries.”"},{"_id":"FAEERTRZVNEQJFWGJJDQ347ZEE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644346136423},"type":"text","content":"The pedestrian is not being identified until their family has been notified, Monroe said."},{"_id":"TOJZOESKCRDWDK3WNQARVEDLGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644346136424},"type":"text","content":"All northbound lanes of I-85 were reopened about 6 a.m. when crash investigators left the scene. The deadly incident remains under investigation, and charges have not been determined, according to the state patrol."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1644351195371}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/MikeShieldsWSB/status/1491005817038204928?s=20&t=DgH29Vu0eeQSu885WvDGpw","type":"twitter"},"_id":"GRZNTEVQBRHLLPXOIXTBM2DC3I","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"Mike Shields WSB","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/MikeShieldsWSB/status/1491005817038204928","author_url":"https://twitter.com/MikeShieldsWSB","width":550,"html":"

nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/MikeShieldsWSB/status/1491005817038204928?s=20&t=DgH29Vu0eeQSu885WvDGpw","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1644351195371},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"QFBMRBR6IBFALLBJCA53XYQNQM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1644316638184},"type":"text","content":"— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates."}],"display_date":"2022-02-08T18:55:07.147Z","headlines":{"basic":"Pedestrian killed in crash that shut down I-85 in south Fulton"},"first_publish_date":"2022-02-08T10:45:47.640Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1034}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/news","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"News","description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/news","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","LoggedOutMenu":null,"MainMenuRedesign2021":"https://www.ajc.com/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"site_url":"/news/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Atlanta GA News | Top News Page"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"News"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"News","Sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"true","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"_id":"/news","ancestors":{"AmpNav":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"default":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"BottomNav":[],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"LoggedOutMenu":[],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"TopicsBar":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1001,"default":1001,"SectionMap":1018,"MainMenuRedesign2021":1002,"ComposerNav":1137}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./news","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"breaking-news.ajc"},{"text":"publicsafety.ajc"},{"text":"atlanta-now"},{"text":"teamjennifer"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"fulton county"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2022-02-13T06:00:51.415Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Channel 2 Action News","type":"author","byline":"Channel 2 Action News"}]},"subtitle":"traffic","width":941,"caption":"Authorities shut down the northbound lanes of I-85 past I-285 to investigate a deadly crash Tuesday morning. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IKCMOTQ7WRBRLNLKC7NPJOAEDM.PNG","height":459}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/traffic-alert-crash-investigation-shuts-down-i-85-in-south-fulton/PM3NKGBW2RATXAKHGMK7QVXAFU/","_id":"PM3NKGBW2RATXAKHGMK7QVXAFU"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"NLPQDPT2P5EDTL5MKUGRWBICIQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832593},"type":"text","content":"Distracted driving is still a major factor in the increase in road fatalities in 2021. An amendment sponsored by 17 senators in the Georgia legislature, however, would loosen the rules on the state’s biggest stab at enforcing anti-texting laws."},{"_id":"TFYHRWHQPNAC7DHVCYTGVIMA4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832594},"type":"text","content":"State Senator Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville) leads the bipartisan effort that would add to the exemptions in the 2018 Hands-Free Georgia Act. Their proposal: allow drivers to hold and use their phones when vehicles are at a complete standstill at any kind of traffic control device."},{"_id":"YKK3WQZ3QVELVJ54O44DRDWAEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832595},"type":"text","content":"Many drivers do, Ginn said, and he thinks loosening this restriction is common sense."},{"_id":"KQTBQMJZVRC7PFY3HB3ENYP5RA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832596},"type":"text","content":"“I’m not trying to make it unsafe for anybody on our highways. But I do know if you’re lost — if you’re making u-turns, if you’re panicked, if you’re getting late — that’s when you’re going to make a dumb driving mistake.” Ginn argues that people will drive more safely if they’re allowed to orient themselves while stopped."},{"_id":"Z3ZG34OR7NFNBDJWLFXAPNF7P4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832597},"type":"text","content":"Ginn pointed to his own difficulties in being able to see things on his phone mounted away from him and how the voice-activated settings do not work well on his device. “For me, this is simple: When your vehicle is sitting perfectly still, it’s not a crime.”"},{"_id":"NM3WDQBV6VDSPM45FWJOYULNFE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832598},"type":"text","content":"But he stressed his belief in the nature of the current law and the other distractions it forbids. “I want to keep our current distracted driving laws in place,” Ginn said. “I don’t want you going down the road holding your phone.” Ginn likens distracted driving to drunk driving, as many safety advocates do."},{"_id":"F7TCNEIZSBHZVKR6OQZK4HVTO4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832599},"type":"text","content":"One such safety advocate, state Rep. John Carson (R-Marietta), the lead sponsor of the hands-free bill, has not commented when asked multiple times about Ginn’s amendment. GDOT also will not comment, though the agency campaigns very actively against distracted driving."},{"_id":"U5L76NBWZJF7JEKCFHAY33JWJY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832600},"type":"text","content":"In 2018, Ginn helped negotiate the first time-offender loophole in that bill, which allows people to escape penalty if they show a judge a signed affidavit that they have an appropriate hands-free device. Carson unsuccessfully proposed ending that loophole in 2021."},{"_id":"KXEVTNYL3NH6DEKMBPKDMFIBYA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832601},"type":"text","content":"Ginn, who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee and is well-connected in the public safety-law enforcement arena, said he has heard from people who got tickets from undercover officers at traffic lights. Those offenders thought those tickets were cheap shots, similar to driving five over the speed limit in a well-known speed trap. “I just don’t want to make criminals out of our hard working citizens when they’re not endangering somebody.”"},{"_id":"HB27QVFLQRC3LAMFSSBLXF5AMQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832602},"type":"text","content":"He also has heard from officers in rural areas who don’t want to write these tickets because judges there know the families and throw out those small charges."},{"_id":"ZD3HMYESJZAANCXRUH5Y7ZRUDQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832603},"type":"text","content":"Ginn compared these offenses to slowing down and rolling through a stop sign when an intersection is empty. A driver in that case would have shown caution. They obeyed the nature of the law."},{"_id":"HDWS5BQQEREFNNNGI3WCCVHHCY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832604},"type":"text","content":"“One of the great things we give with our law enforcement is discretion,” says Ginn, whose amendment has gone to the State Senate’s Public Safety Committee, where it received its first hearing Feb 3."},{"level":2,"_id":"EPNI7DVU7VCRPOAX3RTIUUXBGI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832605},"type":"header","content":"Safety advocates oppose change"},{"_id":"4YZ7ZWO5PJHIVFMV4KEDKBHC3A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832606},"type":"text","content":"Mike Lutzenkirchen heads the Lutzie43 Foundation, which campaigns against drunk and distracted driving. Mike’s son, Phillip Lutzenkirchen, a standout Auburn football player from Cobb County, got thrown from a vehicle in a 2014 crash not long after his playing career ended. The driver and all passengers had been drinking and the driver was speeding. Phillip wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and the crash killed the 23 year-old instantly."},{"_id":"Z34CPEAECVEJFEGKFSYYYOZR7Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832607},"type":"text","content":"“The ‘hands-free’ bill or law was established to change behavior that has led to thousands of crashes, injuries and fatalities,” Lutzenkirchen explained. “[Senate Bill 356] reduces the seriousness of [the law] being ‘hands-free.’”"},{"_id":"3WMCKKYEWNCU7CVSC2MXGEIPNU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832608},"type":"text","content":"Lutzenkirchen said that a car stopped, but still in drive, is more dangerous than its being parked."},{"_id":"7M6YHWSRIVCERBQ6DNLWW2FK2Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832609},"type":"text","content":"Jenny Harty echoes that sentiment. She works as community relations director for Montlick and Associates’ iRideSafe driver and child safety program, after a bad crash nearly killed her daughter, Madison. After that, Harty campaigned to toughen the state’s car seat rules, eventually getting “Madison’s Booster Seat Law” enacted in 2004. Harty’s help was also instrumental in the Hands-Free Georgia Act."},{"_id":"2YR4P2472VFNVIU6VCNKBTEEU4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832610},"type":"text","content":"“The question to me is why would we choose to backtrack on a law to accommodate people that are breaking it?” Harty said, noting that the law was key in driving down Georgia driving fatalities in the two years before the pandemic."},{"_id":"TIHICCXB4BAIVIRRHNMTH6SVHM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832611},"type":"text","content":"Harty also drew on a 2013 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study that found the human brain needs 27 seconds to recover from the distraction of even using legal speech-to-text features. Certainly, Harty said, if a stopped driver holds their phone and checks texts and directions or scrolls social media, their brain isn’t going to be over the distraction when traffic moves. Even a half-distraction can cause a wreck. There also is the annoying instance of a distracted driver keeping traffic stopped at a green light."},{"_id":"H76DVY4XCBCPNMRILBDO5MGIEQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Influenced by criticism like this, Ginn has changed the amendment to only allow drivers to hold phones while at a traffic control device and not simply while a car is stopped."},{"_id":"PORXEAH25FEVHK5XEXJIPVHWLI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832612},"type":"text","content":"Harty, Lutzenkirchen and Ginn all agree that people often ignore the current law. Ginn thinks that is a sign to better focus the intent of the law. But Lutzenkirchen was gravely direct: Would any lawmaker that lost someone close to them in a crash caused by bad driving behavior want to liberalize safe driving laws?"},{"_id":"ORYKTP4DCJE35KD5XHOL2XGSFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832613},"type":"text","content":"One side that fights for laws like this thinks this law should be tougher. Meanwhile, Ginn and his camp want to stop punishing what they see as common sense behavior."},{"_id":"UAIHYKFQX5GHNLQARNJFESU5UQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643990832614},"type":"text","content":"S.B. 356 may only ever be a discussion point and, as of early on Friday, February 4th, hasn’t left the committee. But the fact that a coalition of 12 Republicans and five Democrats agreed on it could be a harbinger of its success under the Gold Dome."},{"_id":"37RXCAHNEFCSLPSDCQUMY3ESPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":"BIXXNQI43VBL3N4UN4GFHN7Y4I"},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. Contact him at [email protected]."}],"display_date":"2022-02-06T12:00:00Z","headlines":{"basic":"Gridlock Guy: Examining the proposal to loosen Georgia’s hands-free law"},"first_publish_date":"2022-02-06T12:00:02.266Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1034}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"spcontent"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"rct-content"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2022-02-06T12:00:02.255Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"subtitle":"Lawmaker wants to change state’s hands-free law to allow drivers to hold phones in stopped cars","width":800,"caption":"Lawmaker wants to change state’s hands-free law to allow drivers to hold phones in stopped cars","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/BZEEJ54CNVEL5MXI4KNTBPKTX4.jpg","height":533}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/gridlock-guy-examining-the-proposal-to-loosen-georgias-hands-free-law/CIFFGBQCZFHJBFMZK5WTMKZKD4/","_id":"CIFFGBQCZFHJBFMZK5WTMKZKD4"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"AWV6IMTXWRCRZBJZHD6JURP6DI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1593365483154},"type":"text","content":"One person was rescued after being trapped in a 13-vehicle pileup on the Downtown Connector on Friday morning, authorities said."},{"_id":"BBSJMEZN55D5HAZDVFCRFKCKHM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643994668360},"type":"text","content":"The widely scattered wreck shut down the southbound lanes at the Langford Parkway exit and created major traffic delays during the start of the morning commute. While no details about the wreck have been released, the Georgia Department of Transportation said 13 vehicles were involved."},{"_id":"BUPNAPTZHFF4ZAKVWGNPLAU3BU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643994668361},"type":"text","content":"Authorities shut down the interstate shortly before 7 a.m. and did not begin reopening lanes until one hour later. The crash also impacted the ramp to I-85, according to GDOT."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"caption":"Thirteen vehicles were involved in the crash, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.3","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EAPFAIQ43RDLNOD6F2ZROTR3SQ.JPEG","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Georgia Department of Transportation","type":"author","byline":"Georgia Department of Transportation"}]},"subtitle":"langford","width":1504,"_id":"EAPFAIQ43RDLNOD6F2ZROTR3SQ","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/Go55EGT030nK2hJWsjFrPavD4_M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EAPFAIQ43RDLNOD6F2ZROTR3SQ.JPEG","owner":"[email protected]","comments":[],"keywords":[""],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/Go55EGT030nK2hJWsjFrPavD4_M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EAPFAIQ43RDLNOD6F2ZROTR3SQ.JPEG","takenOn":"2022-02-04T12:21:10Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EAPFAIQ43RDLNOD6F2ZROTR3SQ.JPEG","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/Go55EGT030nK2hJWsjFrPavD4_M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EAPFAIQ43RDLNOD6F2ZROTR3SQ.JPEG","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/MF-6CxfRrVCZryDS7sNsd_K4mY4=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EAPFAIQ43RDLNOD6F2ZROTR3SQ.JPEG","version":0,"originalName":"langford connector 2.JPEG","mime_type":"application/octet-stream","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"BZPBQ2FUJVE35FHESILBNXPCIQ"},"created_date":"2022-02-04T12:39:42Z","last_updated_date":"2022-02-04T12:39:42Z","height":1838,"image_type":"photograph"},{"_id":"LWUDA35EGJAUTDROZHQB4ZMCUE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643978228446},"type":"text","content":"A spokesperson for Atlanta fire said one person became trapped inside their vehicle and needed to be rescued. Fire crews turned the scene over to paramedics with Grady Memorial Hospital, and it was not known if anyone was injured, the fire spokesperson said."},{"_id":"XQLW547DLZDRHIYMRM7RM3SFGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643994668364},"type":"text","content":"The crash was investigated by the Georgia State Patrol. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reached out to the agency for more information."},{"_id":"ZGNFJWSYB5B2ZH6CZFOCA5THHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643978228450},"type":"text","content":"— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates."},{"_id":"GEQE2NHRJVET3BF6EXMB6SISNQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643978228452},"type":"text","content":"
"}],"display_date":"2022-02-04T17:19:59.748Z","headlines":{"basic":"Person rescued after 13 vehicles wreck on Downtown Connector"},"first_publish_date":"2022-02-04T12:20:21.464Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1034}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/news","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"News","description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/news","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","LoggedOutMenu":null,"MainMenuRedesign2021":"https://www.ajc.com/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"site_url":"/news/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Atlanta GA News | Top News Page"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"News"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"News","Sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"true","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"_id":"/news","ancestors":{"AmpNav":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"default":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"BottomNav":[],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"LoggedOutMenu":[],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"TopicsBar":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1001,"default":1001,"SectionMap":1018,"MainMenuRedesign2021":1002,"ComposerNav":1137}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./news","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"breaking-news.ajc"},{"text":"publicsafety.ajc"},{"text":"atlanta-now"},{"text":"teamjennifer"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"ajc top news"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"intown atlanta"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2022-02-09T06:00:51.260Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"John Spink / [email protected]","type":"author"}],"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/dd680975-8e23-4fd8-b69a-7101ef326460.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"[email protected]"},{"site":"facebook","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.facebook.com/JohnSpinkAJC/"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/johnjspink"},{"site":"youtube","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvtlUebyaE0Mw1UnEu8q-w"},{"site":"instagram","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"jspink1"}],"org":"Atlanta","social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"[email protected]"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/JohnSpinkAJC/"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/johnjspink"},{"site":"youtube","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvtlUebyaE0Mw1UnEu8q-w"},{"site":"instagram","url":"jspink1"}],"name":"John Spink ","description":"John Spink is a multi-platform photojournalist with the breaking news team. 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(Credit: John Spink / [email protected])","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/HTVPJD7L5FB27HRBJ2TTJP4Q3U.JPEG","height":1488}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/traffic-alert-multivehicle-crash-blocking-lanes-on-downtown-connector/KKVNWMIFDNAODDOZ3CASRQYNFE/","_id":"KKVNWMIFDNAODDOZ3CASRQYNFE"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"A7ZWO2WLPBBBNF3PVLGAGH3L7E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132841},"type":"text","content":"The daily AJC political rundown “The Jolt” is a great collection of synopses on Georgia politics stories that is mandatory reading for me most mornings. Each subject may not warrant a full column, but the cadre of them makes for a rich read."},{"_id":"2Y2ZJGFEKNGIRMAYRQR7AGIZYQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132842},"type":"text","content":"With that format in mind, call this week’s “Gridlock Guy” column “The Bolt.” Alright, that needs some work."},{"level":2,"_id":"XLSMRKK7PBALDFKTTAFMY3CDMY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132843},"type":"header","content":"Masking on MARTA"},{"_id":"O5SHHIHDBVBITHPL4Y3QDVH4EM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132844},"type":"text","content":"Reader David R. from Atlanta emailed me about his riding the Atlanta rails during the pandemic and not seeing enough commuters wearing masks or enough agents enforcing the federal mandate for MARTA."},{"_id":"PCHB4HGYSNCBHIJZTJM4FC2SHE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132845},"type":"text","content":"After reading about some MARTA delays due to both COVID staffing shortages and passengers with medical issues, David also pointed out to me that he feels agents at the College Park station do not address maskless passengers."},{"_id":"GICQRGKVUJA7JHGAD5J7HK26RA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132846},"type":"text","content":"I relayed David’s observations to MARTA spokesperson Stephany Fisher."},{"_id":"MJTIM37MLJGNRATCAJBNAXRUOQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132847},"type":"text","content":"“The role of bus and rail operators and station agents regarding mask-compliance is one of education, rather than enforcement,” Fisher explained. “Enforcement of the mask policy, instated by the FTA [Federal Transit Administration], falls to the MARTA Police Department. While the force is sizable, it is not large enough to allow for officers on every train and bus, but there are officers systemwide enforcing the mask mandate. Bus and rail operators and station agents may request MPD support at any time if they feel unsafe after asking a customer to put on a mask.”"},{"_id":"QZJWGDSTHNFGRFJ76LNZIHIV5M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132848},"type":"text","content":"Fisher then shared mask-enforcement data from December and January (before the 25th) for MARTA’s four precincts: there were 1,352 requests for passengers to become mask-compliant. 32 were ejected. Five riders were suspended."},{"_id":"DA7A2OTC7RE4BPLPIBMZKD24YM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132849},"type":"text","content":"Fisher also noted that less people are wearing masks likely because of COVID-fatigue, but that the agency is committed to trying to keep people masked."},{"_id":"VJQQEMKPTZBQTBDTISKWX6S6FE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132850},"type":"text","content":"MARTA does face the same challenges as airlines or stores in enforcing mask rules, but the numbers show they are not ignoring their own rules."},{"level":2,"_id":"MLWZNHJL7FD75DWHE2SMX5MUSE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132851},"type":"header","content":"Harbins interchange hangup"},{"_id":"VVUA6KCM35HPLC27KY74CTFJDQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132852},"type":"text","content":"Gwinnett DOT had stated that the new Highway 316 ramps to and from Harbins Road and the new Harbins Road bridge over Highway 316 in Dacula would open on January 18th. We flew over it in the WSB Skycopter the afternoon before and it did not look ready to open, but we were optimistic it might."},{"_id":"GXQHEIGG2NFNFP4CO2F35FPOQM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132855},"type":"text","content":"Sure enough, the interchange did not open that Tuesday night… or for the next nine days. However, Smilin’ Mark McKay in the Skycopter saw a breakthrough on Thursday morning, January 27th. The new bridge and ramps opened."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1643384631180}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/mckayWSB/status/1486664572639535116","type":"twitter"},"_id":"VCQ3XHCHNVDGFJYDMWSZHOATAI","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"Mark McKay","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/mckayWSB/status/1486664572639535116","author_url":"https://twitter.com/mckayWSB","width":550,"html":"

nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/mckayWSB/status/1486664572639535116","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1643384631180},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"W5N2HVC4ZRBNBETOOJ7XG3YNEU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132858},"type":"text","content":"I reached out to Gwinnett DOT about the delay and they noted that the winter weather in the days before the scheduled opening."},{"_id":"PPA2UODHRZDDVJVS7VEYDYFUBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132859},"type":"text","content":"Weather is not controllable, but timing an opening can be. Since the Gwinnett DOT crew elected to open the interchange during morning drive, they paced traffic during rush hour, creating bigger delays than those maneuvers normally would."},{"_id":"JC3HSD7EFBEHFHJIKVHLNQVYWE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132860},"type":"text","content":"Since there was extra time to get that interchange opened, waiting until overnight or evening hours for that pacing would have been more prudent. Speaking of…"},{"level":2,"_id":"OPM2QJQXGVEINM6NA72C25VJKU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132861},"type":"header","content":"Striping slow downs in Brookhaven"},{"_id":"AQJQ76EQCBB5BB5XTZGHQSSQBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132862},"type":"text","content":"GDOT crews have been working in recent times to rehab the I-85 bridge near Cheshire Bridge Road (Exit 88), a process which usually closes some lanes in both directions of I-85 on most weekends."},{"_id":"NCAH7PDKTNBFBDRN2CGVS6DVGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132863},"type":"text","content":"As crews replaced bridge decks, the new khaki-colored pavement saw lane stripes that looked like grade school playground chalk lines. Seeing them on a sunny day was mildly difficult and darn near impossible on a rainy night."},{"_id":"I7OEOM3LNZDCRE6DOF63YBHXLI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132864},"type":"text","content":"I reached out to GDOT about the situation and while they were checking, proper striping began."},{"_id":"LWJUQNS3CZFGLCAGTIYPOARIRU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132865},"type":"text","content":"Starting on January 22nd, crews paced I-85/northbound and southbound traffic between Clairmont Road (Exit 91) and GA-400 (Exit 87) multiple times that Saturday and Sunday to stripe the lanes. They did the same off and on through the midday hours on Tuesday, January 25th, too. But that process continued into the 3 p.m. hour that day, even causing entire closures of traffic for over 10 minutes a time."},{"_id":"YXQKFFXMXZCP7LXSHHEXKFII2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132866},"type":"text","content":"Delays lasted longer than just those 10 minutes, as PM drive began."},{"_id":"EOTONUMRTRDCDNOX35BX27FOYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132867},"type":"text","content":"The WSB Traffic Team and I heard from multiple apoplectic motorists that sat stuck. They, like us, wondered why traffic pacing that often happens in overnight hours had to stop heavy traffic at high noon and rush hour on a weekday."},{"_id":"3CIKFJOCZJHHXF4BBDDKXIU7OE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132868},"type":"text","content":"Much like the pacing for the delayed opening of Harbins Road, the striping on I-85 was annoying on a weekend but far more frustrating during a busy weekday travel time."},{"_id":"IJWLEQBWGJFXZC66YBONLCJBG4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643378132869},"type":"text","content":"Thankfully, I-85 is now properly striped there."},{"_id":"37RXCAHNEFCSLPSDCQUMY3ESPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":"BIXXNQI43VBL3N4UN4GFHN7Y4I"},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. Contact him at [email protected]."}],"display_date":"2022-01-30T12:00:00Z","headlines":{"basic":"Gridlock Guy: On MARTA masks, a delayed interchange and drive time traffic pacing"},"first_publish_date":"2022-01-30T12:00:05.712Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1034}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"spcontent"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"rct-content"},{"text":"rct-content-mh"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2022-01-30T12:00:05.703Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Doug Turnbull, WSB Skycopter ","type":"author","byline":"Doug Turnbull, WSB Skycopter "}]},"subtitle":"Harbins Road bridge opens","width":1816,"caption":"After a nine-day-delay and a morning drive partial opening, the entire Harbins Road bridge and all ramps to and from Highway 316 were open by PM drive on Thursday, January 27th, 2022.","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KH7EWKV2GREQJKPN5E4B32ZDYA.jpeg","height":1017}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/gridlock-guy-on-marta-masks-a-delayed-interchange-and-drive-time-traffic-pacing/BTQHQGSGSFEXNOQV6Z55XPU4TQ/","_id":"BTQHQGSGSFEXNOQV6Z55XPU4TQ"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"VJZFN4QX5BFXZLHTCRHLUFIRQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643226966945},"type":"text","content":"One person was taken to a hospital with minor injuries following a multivehicle crash that shut down all northbound lanes of I-75 in Henry County for just over an hour Wednesday, police said."},{"_id":"VJZFN4QX5BFXZLHTCRHLUFIRQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643226966945},"type":"text","content":"Henry County police confirmed the lone injury in the interstate pileup that happened around 11 a.m. The crash at the Ga. 138 exit involved at least five vehicles, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1643227691431}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1486372518978011137","type":"twitter"},"_id":"O36RPQXLPJCWVMK34OIHRVA6EU","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"AJC WSB Traffic","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1486372518978011137","author_url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic","width":550,"html":"

nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1486372518978011137","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1643227691431},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"EWPYP3XDZJCX5M3VIV6VJG5IAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643215125883},"type":"text","content":"“Emergency responders are on scene working to reopen lanes, there is no estimated time of clearance, and all motorists traveling in this direction are advised to use alternate routes or give extra time for travel,” the Georgia Department of Transportation said in an alert."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1643227691433}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/VeronicaHarrell/status/1486375437823528963","type":"twitter"},"_id":"AJPXCAVQXRAJ3DSNW2AIVIBBOE","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"Veronica HarrellWSB🎙","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/VeronicaHarrell/status/1486375437823528963","author_url":"https://twitter.com/VeronicaHarrell","width":550,"html":"

nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/VeronicaHarrell/status/1486375437823528963","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1643227691433},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"JHE7DGQWIVFHPI5P2IPR7OEUGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643214526258},"type":"text","content":"— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates."}],"display_date":"2022-01-26T20:15:48.209Z","headlines":{"basic":"1 injured in multivehicle crash on I-75 in Henry County"},"first_publish_date":"2022-01-26T16:41:40.588Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1034}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/news","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"News","description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/news","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","LoggedOutMenu":null,"MainMenuRedesign2021":"https://www.ajc.com/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"site_url":"/news/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Atlanta GA News | Top News Page"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"News"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"News","Sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"true","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"_id":"/news","ancestors":{"AmpNav":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"default":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"BottomNav":[],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"LoggedOutMenu":[],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"TopicsBar":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1001,"default":1001,"SectionMap":1018,"MainMenuRedesign2021":1002,"ComposerNav":1137}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./news","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"breaking-news.ajc"},{"text":"publicsafety.ajc"},{"text":"atlanta-now"},{"text":"teamjennifer"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"henry county"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2022-01-31T06:00:49.363Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Georgia Department of Transportation","type":"author","byline":"Georgia Department of Transportation"}]},"subtitle":"henry crash","width":1767,"caption":"Multiple vehicles were involved in the crash in the northbound lanes of I-75 near the Ga. 138 exit. (Credit: Georgia Department of Transportation)","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZKEDNSLOYVCTDI7ICUSRTZZZWI.jpg","height":954}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/traffic-alert-multivehicle-crash-shuts-down-i-75-in-henry-county/YJBYW5426ND2FOFCRM65ER47GQ/","_id":"YJBYW5426ND2FOFCRM65ER47GQ"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"M4VELUJ7VFBA3C5IP4EAMZEYLU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347196},"type":"text","content":"Shoulders tensed. Stomachs churned. French toast ingredient-procurers invaded grocery stores. The National Weather Service deployed a winter storm warning for the mountains and then an advisory for a large swath of the Atlanta metro."},{"_id":"Y34SKUDIVBGK3IHUT2PM7OY5WM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642976066125},"type":"text","content":"Last Sunday was a hunker down moment."},{"_id":"MQREMQCURFCKFNH65Y3ZTP3OJM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347197},"type":"text","content":"While heavy winds put pressure on power crews and the few travelers on MLK holiday weekend, the impact of ice and snow was larger in the mountains. Atlanta got snow — just enough to be interesting and alter plans. But the worst of Mother Nature’s icy fury spared our region once again."},{"_id":"TYLPLJCGPRBZRBU2TA4JKJ7CEM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347198},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta was set to see its worst winter weather event since the legendary January 2014 Snowicepocalypsegeddon. We talked here a couple of weeks ago about what happened on I-95 and the emergency items to keep in a car, in case one gets stranded. Hundreds sat for hours on a heavily snowed-in I-95 in North Virginia just after New Year’s Day."},{"_id":"XB237YD63ZGFTDFVIA6AG4FPBI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347199},"type":"text","content":"Multiple inches of snow were a possibility closer to town, with freezing rain and sleet forecast as very likely. 95.5 WSB meteorologist Christina Edwards was most worried about that icy buildup taking down trees and wires and freezing on roads."},{"_id":"ZCW36DFQBVFEFCFQHLWOKA5R7Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347200},"type":"text","content":"As Georgia Power and local EMCs staffed up, GDOT began Friday deploying road crews to drop brine on the thousands of miles of North Georgia interstate and highway lanes. Brine decreases the freezing point for precipitation when it hits the roads."},{"_id":"CHJAE5XWV5E4RPQDBW7ZJAC75A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347201},"type":"text","content":"“Hats off to the DOT for spreading the brine solution on the roads. The pre-treatment certainly kept those who did venture out moving on the major roadways,” WSB Triple Team Traffic’s Smilin’ Mark McKay said. McKay and Alex Williams worked the first half of Sunday on radio and TV as the first round of weather arrived. I worked after lunch in the WSB 24-Hour Traffic Center with David Hubbard and George Clark as snow increased in-town."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"imageId":null,"caption":"Hall County sees some of the most snow in the metro Atlanta area","source":{"system":"photo center","edit_url":"","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"type":"image","version":"0.10.3","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3OJS4GWFZZFDHIHN7PPJFCAEUU.jpeg","usage_instructions":null,"licensable":false,"subtitle":"Hall County sees some of the most snow in the metro Atlanta area","ingestImageToAnglerfish":true,"width":1280,"photographer":null,"_id":"3OJS4GWFZZFDHIHN7PPJFCAEUU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/O-uZhv_OiSQkd6sFb1Qh58Kll38=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3OJS4GWFZZFDHIHN7PPJFCAEUU.jpeg","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/O-uZhv_OiSQkd6sFb1Qh58Kll38=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3OJS4GWFZZFDHIHN7PPJFCAEUU.jpeg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3OJS4GWFZZFDHIHN7PPJFCAEUU.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/O-uZhv_OiSQkd6sFb1Qh58Kll38=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3OJS4GWFZZFDHIHN7PPJFCAEUU.jpeg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/xzk00zIQVN6rI9btgKZ2vuU9-uM=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3OJS4GWFZZFDHIHN7PPJFCAEUU.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"t_26549d8cee064e348220a61938db025d_name_t_e7ddfeea41cb494fbe0245a124cd655e_name_6PV_TOP_WX_LINCOLN_HALL_VO_transfer_frame_371.jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[],"_id":"XU5OWAY56FGF5ODFMR6KRQYMAE"},"created_date":"2022-01-16T23:28:14Z","last_updated_date":"2022-01-16T23:28:14Z","slug":"Hall County sees some of the most snow in the metro Atlanta area","height":720},{"_id":"GDX7XE4BKBBBDGUGME7QHOZP6Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347202},"type":"text","content":"One concern with the brine was similar to what Virginia crews dealt with early this month: Heavy rain before the snow could potentially wash away the treatment. If the precipitation changed over before trucks could spill more brine, there would be more freezing potential."},{"_id":"NSDI2I4UPBGENILSFAIFOO4B74","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347203},"type":"text","content":"As the week progressed, the forecast for that changeover pushed from Saturday into Sunday and from early morning to early afternoon. The early morning hours that Sunday, however, brought traffic challenges before wintry mixes arrived."},{"_id":"KYXA4YIIXFDLPFDJWSCNFC522E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347204},"type":"text","content":"Rain overnight Saturday into Sunday and then high wind gusts downed trees and wires all over town, prompting a few dozen road closures. Those winds howled through Sunday and Monday causing more isolated damage reports. Statewide power outages peaked Sunday morning at just over 100,000 customers, with Hall County seeing the biggest metro Atlanta impact."},{"_id":"HTQXHCWQ6RFU5HUYIZ2J65FSVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347205},"type":"text","content":"“As predicted, the northeast corridor was hammered. At one point, I was told by a Hall County 911 dispatcher that the secondary roads were impassable and one deputy had recommended shutting down I-985,” McKay said."},{"_id":"JYFZTNSKSJF5NMWMORMZJZO3AQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347206},"type":"text","content":"As the rain changed to snow, it fell heaviest on the northern reaches of I-85 and I-985 and some stretches did get slick. But GDOT kept treating them and keeping them passable. I-985 did get dicey at one point and saw several wrecks late Sunday morning."},{"_id":"H2TTDHE6BFGWHMOPGK7ONXP4KM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347207},"type":"text","content":"Despite scattered reports of ice and snow creating tricky spots on Atlanta roads, including some icy spots on frigid Monday and Tuesday mornings, this winter weather scare was not a big traffic event. McKay: “It was a Winter Wonderland flying in the WSB Skycopter on Monday morning along the I-85 and I-985 corridor north of the Mall of Georgia. And bridges and overpasses were still tricky as ice remained.”"},{"_id":"LWC6XQNPXVE6VCG4QHOQWGFI7Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347208},"type":"text","content":"Police shut down the Old Peachtree bridge over I-85 that Monday to treat ice, but it opened by mid-morning."},{"_id":"O2OXOPI6SJD3JMQ6XUY2FVUN2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347209},"type":"text","content":"The heavy rain on Sunday was a bigger cause for traffic pain than any sleet or snow was. Multiple wrecks happened in the spot they always do in that weather: I-20/westbound just east of Candler Road (Exit 65) in DeKalb. There were some other wrecks on Sunday on wet ramps and a few other scattered problems."},{"_id":"GBCMRGFYCVBY7ICM7OHKG4GULI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347210},"type":"text","content":"Atlantans largely took this winter weather threat seriously and kept the roads clear both to be treated and to keep the crash counts low. Sunday, January 16th, was a great rainy day to stay inside and watch the liquid morph into a pretty snowfall."},{"_id":"WJANL2J72RFXRAMZDT2PUFFYGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347211},"type":"text","content":"But our region also got super lucky. Edwards, whose meteorological stamina got put to the test that entire weekend, with the demands of a changing forecast and all the needs of extra live programming on Sunday, dealt with a tricky system. This storm’s potential was dangerous for the state, but its complexity kept her on her toes. She recapped the event in a blog post, saying that this storm was a “Rubik’s Cube”, with temperatures widely varying."},{"_id":"TRJUKARRVZDYHI2UXRSOXGFDAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347212},"type":"text","content":"The air behind the rain just never got cold enough. Edwards said that by Sunday evening, the cold air from the Nashville area that was supposed to facilitate the icy changeover was actually closer to 40 degrees."},{"_id":"H7IT3RVAAJCGRDOR6LZSOOZVSE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347213},"type":"text","content":"Meanwhile, the Traffic Team and I monitored pavement temperatures and saw some areas flirt with the freezing mark, but they never stayed consistently cold enough to freeze. Phew."},{"_id":"UQ5FOWYPUVGPJAZTF6XZJKRK5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347214},"type":"text","content":"Naysayers would mark this as another “overhyped Atlanta weather event.” Not so. All signs pointed to this weather system being dangerous and potentially destructive. In some places it was."},{"_id":"4IH3QZ2IKVFILDOKXWI76FTYKA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347215},"type":"text","content":"Clermont, in Hall County, got six inches of snow. Hall County and Gainesville City schools canceled Tuesday classes, because the county still had power outages."},{"_id":"VD7EVNG6GZGF3KBGX4Q2M7FEMA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347216},"type":"text","content":"North Georgia had luck and preparation on its side. Winter weather hit on a Sunday, not a weekday. Monday was MLK Day, meaning fewer people had to travel. And the cold air and water never mixed enough to create more snow or freezing rain."},{"_id":"7Y4ZHGIXURCHPHISQCRKSET5UU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347217},"type":"text","content":"Given the potential for worse weather, churches canceled in-person services, people limited travel, and road and power crews deployed early."},{"_id":"TLHLEVN4Y5BGTLDBYTMAF53MWE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642791347218},"type":"text","content":"When our area hears the distant warning roar of Old Man Winter again, Atlantans need to act with the same caution and also keep their fingers crossed that arctic air and moisture don’t rekindle their romance in the North Georgia mountains."},{"_id":"37RXCAHNEFCSLPSDCQUMY3ESPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":"BIXXNQI43VBL3N4UN4GFHN7Y4I"},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. Contact him at [email protected]."}],"display_date":"2022-01-23T12:00:00Z","headlines":{"basic":"Gridlock Guy: Caution and luck keys to success in metro Atlanta’s first winter brush"},"first_publish_date":"2022-01-23T12:00:00Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1034}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"spcontent"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"rct-content"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2022-01-23T22:14:53.697Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN / AJC","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Winter storm hits metro Atlanta, North Georgia","width":3283,"caption":"January 16, 2022 Lawrenceville - Drivers navigate Scenic Highway in Lawrenceville as snow falls on Sunday, January 16, 2022. Snowfall continues to move south of I-285 and south Fulton and Coweta counties could see up to 2 inches of snow by Sunday evening. Major impacts near Lake Lanier and into the North Georgia mountains are being felt and certain spots could see up to 10 inches of snow. As of around noon, snow is moving through Troup and Coweta counties, as Fayette and Clayton counties still patiently wait for some flurries amidst the rain and some wintry mix. (Hyosub Shin / [email protected])","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YZSUGT2OPL4Z4TQGYPAQXKEUZM.jpg","height":2059}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/gridlock-guy-caution-and-luck-keys-to-success-in-metro-atlantas-first-winter-brush/B4OI5FLIMJEN3HJMDXKF4Q7FO4/","_id":"B4OI5FLIMJEN3HJMDXKF4Q7FO4"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"PBPXJSZ6ZRF53HH2CMM43C3LVI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1593365483154},"type":"text","content":"Three tractor-trailers jackknifed Friday morning in Union City in a crash that entangled multiple vehicles and backed up I-85 traffic for hours."},{"_id":"FC3JYFQDWJDATKCLAAHGDFNGTM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642787327947},"type":"text","content":"The crash was reported about 8:40 a.m. in the southbound lanes just past I-285, according to the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center. Authorities shut down the lanes between I-285 and Flat Shoals Road for two hours while they investigated, finally allowing some traffic to pass at 10:30 a.m."},{"_id":"DSFUZU2BRRDMTC3Z6UMA4E2PPA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642787327948},"type":"text","content":"Severe delays remained for the rest of the morning, the Traffic Center reported."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1642788460545}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1484549578707849217?s=20","type":"twitter"},"_id":"4DMXOGHSZJA2HJDBNT2SQLISRY","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"AJC WSB Traffic","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1484549578707849217","author_url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic","width":550,"html":"

nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1484549578707849217?s=20","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1642788460545},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"QFFJ2Z6ZX5AV5A4JABF7NRTYRE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642778360727},"type":"text","content":"No one was injured in the wreck, which also involved multiple passenger vehicles and a dump truck. The Union City Police Department is investigating, and a spokesperson said Friday morning it was too early to determine if anyone would be charged."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1642788460547}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/VeronicaHarrell/status/1484529899603902466","type":"twitter"},"_id":"M2QXKEG3P5GI7OQXYEGKFRMNU4","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"Veronica HarrellWSB🎙","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/VeronicaHarrell/status/1484529899603902466","author_url":"https://twitter.com/VeronicaHarrell","width":550,"html":"

nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/VeronicaHarrell/status/1484529899603902466","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1642788460547},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"DECYBD5D3ZDF7PA4S5QWYMFOMA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642778360731},"type":"text","content":"The Georgia State Patrol confirmed the Motor Carrier Compliance Division was asked to come to the scene for a commercial motor vehicle inspection. No details were released about the cause of the crash."},{"_id":"H7XQRW6ZTFESHACBF23FXD7RD4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642778360733},"type":"text","content":"— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"caption":"I-85 South was closed for more than two hours Friday morning.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.3","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IKQZKKU6UFDDPKWFJ2C6NPQGVM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"John Spink / [email protected].","type":"author"}],"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/dd680975-8e23-4fd8-b69a-7101ef326460.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"[email protected]"},{"site":"facebook","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.facebook.com/JohnSpinkAJC/"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/johnjspink"},{"site":"youtube","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvtlUebyaE0Mw1UnEu8q-w"},{"site":"instagram","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"jspink1"}],"org":"Atlanta","social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"[email protected]"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/JohnSpinkAJC/"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/johnjspink"},{"site":"youtube","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvtlUebyaE0Mw1UnEu8q-w"},{"site":"instagram","url":"jspink1"}],"name":"John Spink ","description":"John Spink is a multi-platform photojournalist with the breaking news team. 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Virus shut downs wiped out many predictable traffic backups, but also opened a void for super-speeders to spectacularly wreck and endanger surrounding drivers."},{"_id":"WS4TJRJMYJFHJAEOX7IOQUK34Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506900},"type":"text","content":"The return of traffic, mixed with virtual working and schooling, created far less predictable traffic delay patterns. And the lighter load on the roads, combined with fears of contracting the virus, saw MARTA and other mass transit ridership plummet."},{"_id":"WIG4UZAPRJBG5FEMRTQEXWLN6E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506901},"type":"text","content":"Even though teleworking is far more prominent than two years ago, people haven’t stopped driving. In fact, traffic is worse in middays and on weekends than it used to be, as, among other things, people run errands during lunch breaks and squeeze in recreational activities."},{"_id":"FVRCODMOMNE55A5RNYOQIUD6KA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506902},"type":"text","content":"Though omicron cases are surging right now, Georgians are not in spring 2020 “Hunker Down” mode. Cars, pedestrians, bikes — the streets are alive. When any of these experience errors, delays amass."},{"_id":"MB7NVKQZVNEDVOS72KU7FMAN5M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506903},"type":"text","content":"Given the butterfly effect of the labor and supply shortage, commuting now demands even more patience."},{"_id":"ERCVOSXM7ZAMPBMHSKATLHCUE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506904},"type":"text","content":"As part of my traffic job on 95.5 WSB, we listen to emergency radio scanners and interact with 911 dispatchers around the clock. We hear their frustration, as certain jurisdictions regularly have “calls pending” piling high. We experience the long phone waits to talk to operators, as many do."},{"_id":"5UG3ZPNUK5DYBEYKX7C6OW2ROY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506905},"type":"text","content":"First responders are feeling the effect of the labor shortage, both from the virus’ spread and “The Great Resignation.” Add in the egress of police officers and the problem has been tough for departments to overcome."},{"_id":"JOIEGSMDMBGVBMHL53RAREEYNM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506906},"type":"text","content":"Take these obstacles into account when making decisions behind the wheel. Even a small mistake can cause big-time havoc and delays. And part of the cause of the jams is the potential delayed response from police or med units. The virus has, at times, also highly impacted the HERO operator staff, meaning there are sometimes fewer neon-yellow trucks helping keep the freeways clear."},{"_id":"5PJTAPXCGNFHBGDAJP7M5HUFSY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506907},"type":"text","content":"Not only should these response shortages influence our proficiency and decision-making behind the wheel or on foot, but they also should affect our expectations. If traffic problems potentially take longer to clear, then our fuses might need lengthening."},{"_id":"HXKKBX5JMVGBNACNKUYPZQUTMQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506908},"type":"text","content":"Taking transit also requires even more patience these days. While MARTA has got some bold initiatives in place, including unveiling the look of its new 254 rail cars that they will phase in over the next seven years, COVID has made the road rocky. The agency had to scale back the majority of bus routes because of staff shortages and low ridership. MARTA’s vaccine mandate also caused the termination of dozens of bus operators who refused the shot."},{"_id":"5AC7C4Q4KBFCZLELJ2HTQRXUUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506909},"type":"text","content":"The WSB Traffic Team and I have noticed MARTA’s Twitter account lately showing many missed trips and rail delays because of sick passengers on trains. MARTA spokesperson Stephany Fisher said she hasn’t noticed a large number of those types of problems lately, but those issues do require a thorough response."},{"_id":"PVG6NEN2LBGKNNQLL4EDSPRCOU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506910},"type":"text","content":"“Typically, when there is a sick passenger that delays or cancels a trip it’s because of bodily fluids that need to be cleaned up and the vehicle sanitized,” Fisher told the AJC and 95.5 WSB. “If they become ill, they are assisted and medical services are called, and other passengers are removed from the vehicle. The bus or train is then taken out of service so it can be properly cleaned and sanitized before it’s returned. If an operator becomes ill during a shift, they notify their supervisor and an operator is sent to relieve them so they can receive medical attention. This can cause the delay or cancellation of a trip as well.”"},{"_id":"26P7424SPBCFFLDCFF252NEPVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506911},"type":"text","content":"Masks are required on MARTA, but passengers aren’t tested for the virus. Thus, Fisher couldn’t confirm whether these recent sick calls had anything to do with the virus surge or not."},{"_id":"KYYEE3JQSJCYZISCCIP5EZP75M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506912},"type":"text","content":"There is also a major shortage in truck drivers and there has been since before the pandemic. Longtime truck driver, industry safety advocate and all around good guy Herschel Evans says that the shortage isn’t affecting driver-quality like some surrounding motorists may suspect."},{"_id":"T5W5JXAW6VEYZKB765BHDQ5BP4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506913},"type":"text","content":"Drivers do get overtime, but there are strict hours restrictions in place to keep them sharp. And while the average experience level in the industry may be dropping, Evans says that new drivers are getting better training than the old guard and are even more prepared to enter the force."},{"_id":"C3MWXNGRENAM3C3MIILWI4OPGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506914},"type":"text","content":"All of that said, motorists around semi-trailers need to practice far more common sense. Erratic moves around 18-wheelers are often the cause for major truck wrecks. Big rigs just can’t stop on a dime and cutting them off has major consequences."},{"_id":"WKNPY5OEM5FILNTKRQ2LOS2FMI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506915},"type":"text","content":"Patience is a virtue at any time, but it’s worth meditating upon and enacting during the shortages that impact many of life’s facets, including commutes. First responder-shortages increase the clearance time for wrecks. So let’s try hard to cause less of those, eh? Less bus routes and delayed trains require even more planning and wiggle room for MARTA trips. And one bad move near a tractor trailer can spell both calamity and traffic jams."},{"_id":"FSML33Q5QJBLTOGMJODO5CVO5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506916},"type":"text","content":"This message may get old, but everyone in a commuting environment contributes to it. We all need to work together - and patiently - to wade through the latest challenges."},{"_id":"J7BPQR2CLVCGZFK5VZEFZ53MTM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642184506917},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. Contact him at [email protected]."}],"display_date":"2022-01-16T12:00:00Z","headlines":{"basic":"Gridlock Guy: Shortages affecting commutes — patience required"},"first_publish_date":"2022-01-16T12:00:00Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1033}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"spcontent"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"rct-content"},{"text":"rct-content-mh"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2022-01-16T12:00:03.200Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"JOHN SPINK / AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"John Spink / J[email protected]","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"AAJC 072421 crash","width":5351,"caption":"July 23, 2021: Cobb County: The driver of a Tesla was killed Friday morning, July 23,2021 after he lost control of the vehicle on I-285, slammed into a median and was hit after walking onto the interstate. Two other vehicles were involved in the chain-reaction wreck, but their drivers were not injured, according to Cobb County police. An investigation shut down the northbound lanes for nearly four hours and caused extreme delays through Smyrna and Vinings during the morning commute. Cobb police were called to the scene shortly after 4:30 a.m., department spokeswoman Officer Shenise Barner said in a news release. “According to investigators, a black 2021 Tesla Model 3 was traveling east on I-285 approaching the exit to Cobb Parkway when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing the Tesla to collide with the median retaining barrier,” she said. “The Tesla was then redirected back into the lanes of travel, where it came to rest sideways across the lanes facing south.” It was not clear what caused the driver, identified by police as 29-year-old Vivek Iyer of Atlanta, to lose control, or if the self-driving feature was turned on. 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(John Spink / [email protected])rrrr","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4BO45BLKP5ZTG55MOEBZQONWYA.jpg","height":3046}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/gridlock-guy-shortages-affecting-commutes-patience-required/X5XDUPQ2K5G75KQQ3TCSQCE7IU/","_id":"X5XDUPQ2K5G75KQQ3TCSQCE7IU"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"SYEYNI5VVZBLLFQLLTGXCFNQ3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1593365483154},"type":"text","content":"A driver was killed in a wreck that shut down the northbound lanes of the Downtown Connector and caused hours of delays Friday morning in Atlanta."},{"_id":"QGWUQSTRMJDOVMOKKTR6DOKZFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642162814746},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta police responded to the single-vehicle wreck near 10th Street shortly after 5:30 a.m. and found the driver dead at the scene. The lanes were shut down until the investigation cleared about 8:45 a.m., causing massive delays through Midtown for the entire Friday morning commute."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1642190001235}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1481987460699762689","type":"twitter"},"_id":"2M3B4PO6BNAFJIFQXY3S772GHE","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"AJC WSB Traffic","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1481987460699762689","author_url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic","width":550,"html":"

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The trip from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport into Midtown was clocking in at over an hour, and commuters crowded onto Northside Drive, Moreland Avenue and I-285 to avoid the delays."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"caption":"There were major delays into Midtown on Friday morning after a crash shut down the northbound Downtown Connector.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.3","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/42N3J7VI3NDIZJEXAUBZ2WJYTY.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"JOHN SPINK / [email protected]","type":"author"}],"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/dd680975-8e23-4fd8-b69a-7101ef326460.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"[email protected]"},{"site":"facebook","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.facebook.com/JohnSpinkAJC/"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/johnjspink"},{"site":"youtube","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvtlUebyaE0Mw1UnEu8q-w"},{"site":"instagram","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"jspink1"}],"org":"Atlanta","social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"[email protected]"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/JohnSpinkAJC/"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/johnjspink"},{"site":"youtube","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvtlUebyaE0Mw1UnEu8q-w"},{"site":"instagram","url":"jspink1"}],"name":"John Spink ","description":"John Spink is a multi-platform photojournalist with the breaking news team. 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The name of the victim was not released."},{"_id":"NQYJPLCUCBFDVG26U3FEKGBW4Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642162814754},"type":"text","content":"— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates."},{"_id":"3NSXZIBPFFH2FPXXR7ERKNLICE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1642167182643},"type":"text","content":"» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter."}],"display_date":"2022-01-14T15:44:06.043Z","headlines":{"basic":"Driver killed in single-vehicle crash that blocked Downtown Connector for hours "},"first_publish_date":"2022-01-14T11:37:19.015Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1034}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/news","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"News","description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - 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Snowmageddon. Or Snowpocalypse. The names don’t change the calamitous circumstances."},{"_id":"WOWAK66Y55GI7OXMTGFDZW5BVA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676205},"type":"text","content":"The topsy-turvy weather rollercoaster we rode in Atlanta around New Year’s is responsible for crazy weather nationwide. Heavy rain changed over quickly to snow and created a disaster on I-95 from just north of Richmond to south of Washington D.C."},{"_id":"MQ3NZ4RQFVAG5DSH6MQBVFFU6Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676206},"type":"text","content":"D.C. all-news radio station WTOP thoroughly chronicled the ugly snowball effect. Officials said that the rain preceding the snow kept crews from pretreating the roads. Then the snow changed over so quickly and came in such high quantities that the plow crews could not stay ahead of the accumulation. "},{"_id":"74IYO5F7FRAPJHXHUGQD5VZAL4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Does that sound familiar, Atlanta?"},{"_id":"GERGWKT6GVAS5DS3NUH4P274D4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676207},"type":"text","content":"Tractor trailers began jackknifing, cars ran off the road or into each other, many others simply got stuck. Then, as hours passed and the jam grew, people started running out of gas as they idled their autos to stay warm. So stalled, stuck vehicles and copious snow and ice made this stretch of I-95 impassable. This meant plows couldn’t get through lanes, nor could responders easily clear vehicles."},{"_id":"ZE2OTC2IJNHMRHWYFM7AWH7UGU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676208},"type":"text","content":"WTOP reported that area emergency workers responded to more than a thousand crashes by Tuesday morning. Miraculously, there were no serious injuries or deaths on this epic 48-mile I-95 closure."},{"_id":"YCTCBY656NCZRAWF2CHRXFK5IY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676209},"type":"text","content":"Further put into perspective, the length of this I-95 shutdown is similar to closing I-75 from Marietta to McDonough or I-85 from Norcross to Palmetto. As bad as road system in Atlanta was during our infamous ice bash eight years ago, nowhere was any freeway shut down for 50 miles for two days."},{"_id":"OHBIM7SY5ZA4FC3ULUIBTI47SY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676210},"type":"text","content":"But the events were similar. This chilling opening for 2022 in the Mid-Atlantic is a great reminder for us Georgians that we should prepare for emergencies on the roads at any time."},{"_id":"3WNMELZ2I5HOVOIIDEDCR6NDKI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676211},"type":"text","content":"First and foremost, when inclement weather is forecast, driving should be a later resort. Travel is often necessary, but some events are movable and discretionary. Virginia gets snow more often than Georgia does, so they have more crews and preparation that we do. And even they got smacked as hard as we did in 2014. Wonky weather can slay the best laid plans, so our plans as drivers need to center around worst case, not best case scenarios."},{"_id":"5RINYK6P2BHKBBOY4WWIDYIZIY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676212},"type":"text","content":"Personally, I prefer not to be out in my vehicle during bad thunderstorms, if possible. I certainly don’t want to be out driving if precipitation is falling and has any chance of switching over to freezing. I don’t want to get stuck or hurt."},{"_id":"NHAMFUOGMVC3FDEOLDSKWY4P5Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676213},"type":"text","content":"MARTA normally keeps trains running and can keep the rail lines clear in inclement weather much more easily than crews can keep the roads clear. Where it makes sense, MARTA rail can be a viable alternative for necessary trips and can work for travel when roads are slippery."},{"_id":"HVU5AEJJVBAERENSOFTAMII6XU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676214},"type":"text","content":"But emergencies almost always catch people by surprise. Bad crashes happen out of nowhere and shut down freeways for hours. So, weather aside, the Virginia debacle serves as a great reminder to keep emergency kits in our vehicles."},{"_id":"RYIJZCOKTZDK7OIXRVAP6WIED4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676215},"type":"text","content":"Founding Gridlock Guy Mark Arum made a thorough list after Snowmageddon 2014 and updated it multiple times. I lean on this annually. Arum includes non-perishable food, blankets, water, winter clothing, an ice scraper, personal hygiene items (especially toilet paper and hand sanitizer), cash, a book or game or puzzle, matches or a lighter in a waterproof container and prescription meds on his emergency list. Phone chargers and first aid items should also be in this vital pack. Arum and I also recommend not venturing out on low fuel, especially when traveling in bad weather. This sounds like overkill, but testimony from Virginia drivers might change that sentiment."},{"_id":"BG3HDNEYCVESTES32UDRNRZ5KM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676216},"type":"text","content":"The I-95 closure stranded some drivers for nearly 48 hours. One told WTOP they were en route to Boston to take their father to surgery. Another thought they might miss their father’s funeral. Some had children with them. Virginia Senator and former VP candidate Tim Kaine got stuck for hours trying to get back to Washington. NBC News’ Josh Lederman published an illuminating Twitter play-by-play of his stranded experience, which included melting snow to give his dog water."},{"_id":"A23QXY47OVD2XJISAZJPZS5HHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676217},"type":"text","content":"Lederman’s narrative breeds great advice: Remember pet passengers and have food and water for them set aside for emergency traffic shutdowns."},{"_id":"YXLWM2SKAFGRXPYY2LUFTENKJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676218},"type":"text","content":"The best preparation for any commute is simply checking conditions before leaving on a trip. Although traffic and weather can change quickly, there were inevitably people in Virginia who drove right into that I-95 closure and could have detoured off miles before or even postponed their trips. Atlantans should download my team’s WSB Triple Team Traffic Alerts App and tune in for live updates around the clock on 95.5 WSB and mornings on Channel 2 Action News. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution does a good job summarizing weather forecasts and potential traffic problems each day, too, on AJC.com."},{"_id":"UBTZWY4XOZAUVBIH6BZPDYXWAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1641477676219},"type":"text","content":"Georgia had a taste of winter weather early last week, but there were no terrible traffic catastrophes, thankfully. With the infamous Snowmageddon anniversary on the horizon and Virginia’s disaster top of mind, now is the time to make that emergency kit for the car and get into the mode of rescheduling unnecessary trips when bad weather is in the cards. Before any trip, we need to gear ourselves toward preparedness — both with materials and information."},{"_id":"37RXCAHNEFCSLPSDCQUMY3ESPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":"BIXXNQI43VBL3N4UN4GFHN7Y4I"},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. Contact him at [email protected]."}],"display_date":"2022-01-09T12:00:00Z","headlines":{"basic":"Gridlock Guy: I-95 Virginia closure grave reminder for Georgia drivers"},"first_publish_date":"2022-01-09T12:00:00Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1033}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"spcontent"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"rct-content"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2022-01-09T12:00:01.076Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/gridlock-guy-i-95-virginia-closure-grave-reminder-for-georgia-drivers/T2CLSC3MV5ETJFH55CT7OHCLCU/","_id":"T2CLSC3MV5ETJFH55CT7OHCLCU"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"7FM4BRGBL5GWXCDSLPCTC3B2SU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693428},"type":"text","content":"The making of New Year’s resolutions — or even worse, writing about such — can be seen as cliche. But I wanted to try a different exercise for 2022 and cast a net on my social media channels to see what commuting goals people made for the New Year."},{"_id":"3UD5DGCNLRE7FFXPILWTFZEANE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693429},"type":"text","content":"There is one caveat: People could not make goals for other people. These had to be goals one could control about their own way of getting around. These were not wish list items they hoped other drivers or the government would accomplish."},{"_id":"RKIU4ZYQR5GDJDVDFSSGGRJ4LU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693430},"type":"text","content":"My wife, Momo, understood the question the best, and answered with a simple mea culpa: “More distance to the car in front of me.”"},{"_id":"F6MDQBLTIVGJDGSAD7WOV5RJOY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693431},"type":"text","content":"Great goal. Easily attainable, too. Most drivers should take a look in the mirror (rear or side-view) and consider whether they leave enough room or, more broadly, practice enough patience behind the wheel. Room to breathe leaves room to stop and room to react.The majority of the several responses to my traveling query involved less traveling:"},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"UROTWKZKOVAS5LITIV2G2QY7MA","type":"list","items":[{"_id":"QVHH32KMKFCIPJB74F4TIBOULM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"@rbrianc wrote on Twitter, “To keep commuting up the stairs to my home office.”
"},{"_id":"JRYQT6SUORBCBPXRFPO2RD25F4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Kerry Lowery Loy echoed this sentiment bluntly on Facebook, “To not commute.”
"},{"_id":"OTFW5GE3PNFDXD754VE3MSQK5E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Reg Griffin, a former 95.5 WSB news and traffic reporter chimed in with more specificity on Facebook.”Whenever we return to the office, shifting my in-office schedule to Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, while working from home on Mondays and Fridays. Less gas, less stress, freeing up some pavement.”"}]},{"_id":"MLIXEVL2VBHW3DM5PQHVGYMJ3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693438},"type":"text","content":"Telecommuting and flex-scheduling are great ways to ease the road load and improve air quality. And, as many have learned since the deadly pandemic roared to life in early 2020, the convenience of working at home really improves the quality of life."},{"_id":"IG4BTYLEXNBOBAT4Q4MRQEH4W4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693439},"type":"text","content":"Flex-scheduling has some of the same benefits, while also breaking up the monotony of sitting in the home office for days on end. Appearing in the office once or twice a week also allows the intrinsic empathy of in-person interactions again. People should not undervalue watercooler talk."},{"_id":"2A7ZTSLYUNHVVEAURWWW6KUPRE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693440},"type":"text","content":"But many employees cannot fully control whether or not they telecommute. Employers might mandate workers returning to the office. Bad home Wi-Fi could also send people back into the workplace. However, aiming for a largely virtual job experience carries too many benefits to ignore and is very attainable, given the spread of COVID-19 these days."},{"_id":"QAB6FA6FHNBPNFE3MD7EY75Q2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693441},"type":"text","content":"One person offered to stay on a healthy course in 2022."},{"_id":"FO5YAD6TCJBNHGJSBMJGQVZJO4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640901927750},"type":"text","content":"“I’ll keep walking and riding @MARTAservice like I have been for the past five years!” @GTLaxbro34 offered on Twitter."},{"_id":"VOAQJRPDWFDV3A6KQG2RDRE4VI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693442},"type":"text","content":"Thinking outside of the “driving box” is what makes population growth sustainable in this city. There just aren’t places to keep adding lanes, and then buildings and then more lanes. Using the non-vehicle approach to commuting — whether virtual, on foot, on two wheels or on public transit — is a great way to kill the gridlock beast with paper cuts. All approaches are needed."},{"_id":"SEPUDVO3BRAZTBMTTLMVGJSNZE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693443},"type":"text","content":"And MARTA really needs higher ridership to become more viable."},{"_id":"R4TYEORBNZBD7J6HJAAGOBQUEE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693444},"type":"text","content":"Also, no matter the commuting mode, people are going to keep ordering and buying things and the trucks need the roads to get those goods to stores and warehouses. The supply shortage may curb commerce in the short term, but demand is not decreasing and the transportation industry needs the space on the roads to move the products."},{"_id":"JVJZQ6VV3BA3BFB5N7QERUKVEE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693445},"type":"text","content":"As for my resolution, I want to continue to try and drive less distracted, to walk and take MARTA when those options make sense and, like Momo, be more patient. But here is a specific one that I really dug into over Thanksgiving: I want to get better gas mileage."},{"_id":"4R6N6TYX2ZHG7GD3ZTOGPNXKUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693446},"type":"text","content":"Driving slower and less abruptly are the main techniques I need to use with my current vehicle. And practicing my other ongoing goals will play into the mileage milestone."},{"_id":"CHJI3RMOLJCGTGUHEGMS5JXT7Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640900693447},"type":"text","content":"Around this time in 2021, a reckless driver plowed over and killed Sergeant Daniel Mobley on the Downtown Connector on a Saturday morning. That was a horrible way to start a dismal year of driving safety in Georgia. Deploying all of the above goals of leaving more space between cars, working virtually, flex-scheduling, walking and riding MARTA and being more patient and less aggressive all help decrease the chances of our being a part of the same kind of tragedy that befell Sgt. Mobley."},{"_id":"37RXCAHNEFCSLPSDCQUMY3ESPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":"BIXXNQI43VBL3N4UN4GFHN7Y4I"},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. Contact him at [email protected]."}],"display_date":"2022-01-02T12:00:00Z","headlines":{"basic":"Gridlock Guy: Our 2022 New Year’s commuting resolutions"},"first_publish_date":"2022-01-02T12:00:00Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1033}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"spcontent"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"rct-content"},{"text":"rct-content-kw"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2022-01-02T12:00:01.357Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Jenni Girtman","type":"author","byline":"Jenni Girtman"}]},"subtitle":"Infrastructure","width":3000,"caption":"MARTA is reopening some stops closed for Covid-19 and is considering requiring masks on busses and trains. The train from Decatur to Five Point on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 has passengers who did and did not wear masks. (Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KH6MIDBGZFCEVLAYR3NGPIC3ZE.JPG","height":2016}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/gridlock-guy-our-2022-new-years-commuting-resolutions/P4BX5FPUB5FHTKGGCO4NGBHYOQ/","_id":"P4BX5FPUB5FHTKGGCO4NGBHYOQ"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"GQZ2WXE7EBHSRO53PKA575RETU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"We had the chance to answer some of your traffic questions on Halloween, which only opened the gates for more. As we all gear up for 2022 and bask in the euphoria of Christmas gifts, here are some more answers and insights."},{"_id":"KKBCHLCSTZAFBHD5MZI2ADND4Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"As always, questions have been edited for clarity and length."},{"_id":"F7CUYTBXPNE4BGUSADGITGYI2A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The southbound Grady curve has been a problem forever it seems. The issue is people getting on I-75/85, while others are getting over for I-20. Once I get past that spot, the traffic clears up. During the Olympics, the on-ramp from right there beside Grady was closed for security and guess what, there was no southbound slowdown. If the city/state wanted to help traffic, they would find a new way for folks to get on I-75/85 and I-20 that doesn’t interact so much."},{"_id":"FUZWFOOWARHK5KZCFKVMN2S5BY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"-Mike B."},{"_id":"N6UAMHFXMRGWZLFNLYWACKCRMY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The worst parts of most Metro Atlanta interstates are where they meet other ones. I-285/eastbound in DeKalb is jammed in the right lanes on that slow transition to I-85/northbound. I-75/southbound interacts horribly with I-285 in Cobb. I-75 and I-285 go together like spaghetti and tuna fish in Clayton. I-20 and I-285 are bad mates on both sides of town. Oh... and did I mention GA-400 and I-285 (which is getting rebuilt)? And how I-20 gets jammed ramping to the slow I-75/85 ramps in drive times?"},{"_id":"WUWDT2GLKBHXLFV7D3JUEALSBY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Yeah... all of them stink. But there is something just as insidious and somehow even more annoying about I-75/85/southbound’s ramps to I-20."},{"_id":"JKED572VZRCAXHBMOY2OIWUE2I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"DOT added pavement shields a few years ago in an inexpensive attempt to get traffic to commit early to those ramps and to free up the left lanes. But that has done very little, if anything, to mitigate the problem."},{"_id":"YJQRSESWXFFJ7NF7I67EYHUWAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"I am not sure what a redesign would look like. A bunch of traffic just wants to get in the same place. And unlike the GA-400/I-285 interchange, which is being rebuilt with a bunch of CD ramps that will force people to commit to exits earlier, I don’t think there is the real estate to do that in Downtown Atlanta."},{"_id":"65FRHYNKHREUTGHKOP43E7B36Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"GDOT told me that they are always looking at making improvements, but they do not have any imminent solution in that spot."},{"_id":"TFXFQPSIJJDGHDPXEZDPM54STM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"I live up In Peachtree Corners. But before that time, I was ITP and even then asked myself the same question: When will GDOT recognize the single-lane PIB exit heading north off I-285 is inefficient and flat out dangerous given aggressive drivers behavior?"},{"_id":"KJ4HNEJODBDATIKZSWFUSW4PII","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Are there any plans to address this before I kick the bucket?! Lol."},{"_id":"3RURHYORDVHWFFMIPP4BT5EQTM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"-Mike D."},{"_id":"JSK7AWOMX5CH7HKCWIWVKHZ2AI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"GDOT actually does have plans in this busy Doraville juncture and they are attached to much larger ones."},{"_id":"QDJOSHPFOFBERIZC5B2P4JDHBI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The state will begin work in Q2 of 2022, combining the I-285/westbound (Outer Loop) ramps to Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (Exit 31). They are separate now. They also are adjusting the angle of the ramp to PIB/northbound. All of this is in an effort to cause less jams on I-285 there."},{"_id":"HHDFJW5UDNGP5KPS5P7SQEOECY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"I would suggest Braves and Cobb County might want to meet with UGA and Athens Clarke County."},{"_id":"F44FU5YFRFEDBB32JZHFYK7IVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Six times each year they manage over 90,000 plus in attendance at Sanford Stadium/Dooley Field. I won’t say there haven’t been a few games over the years when we’ve been gridlocked for a short time but not many. And in Athens, you have the same atmosphere [as The Battery Atlanta] with bars and restaurants spread across Downtown Athens right next to campus as well as huge areas with tailgaters. There are thousands in town on gameday who don’t have a ticket to the game."},{"_id":"OKSLHIMOJFBKJNOK7XWDRDDNSU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"-Brenda K."},{"_id":"6CLVT4GDX5HYTDTK2AWJXJVP5I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta Braves officials never responded to my queries about their role in the jammed traffic leaving the big 2021 MLB playoff games. But Brenda makes a great point: How does Athens do this better?"},{"_id":"3H7DCQRFWZEIBJOJ6TDSJGRQVI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"One reason could be because there are a lot more regular attendees to Sanford Stadium than there were to the Truist Park World Series games. Familiar drivers decrease delays. Or maybe more people hang around after games in Athens than hang around The Battery. But there likely are some lessons that officials in Athens-Clarke County and with the Georgia Bulldogs could teach Cobb County and the Braves."},{"_id":"HAJ5LKZVMFCTHC2LSJAQMGKI6U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"There was mention of cars automatically turning on lights when you turn on the wipers. My 2004 Chrysler Pacifica has a setting which performs this function and it turns on both headlights and taillights. I know there may not be similar settings in all cars but if a 2004 had it, it would pay to check your owner’s manual for a similar setting."},{"_id":"HYZUJIVQ7JDG3E5VM2VLVHLZVI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"-Ken B."},{"_id":"OSR2Q4T2EJBEVKAI47FJWCHA3Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"After reading the recent Halloween Q&A column, Ken and other readers also helpfully chimed in similarly. Others noted that their various 2018 SUVs have headlight-activation tied in with the use of their windshield wipers. I’m either envious or just ignorant at the intelligence of my own cars. Thankfully, the auto industry beat this great"},{"_id":"RPN32SDLDJBVHMKFUVJI7LSMBM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Every week, I see drivers pulled over in center turn lanes or side turn lanes looking at their phones. Occasionally, they will have hazards on (even though they aren’t in distress), but usually they are just sitting there, in their car, using their cell phone. Is this legal? We have the hands-free law in Georgia, but I don’t think it was intended for people to use turn lanes as phone lanes! In my mind, I see this as a hazard as I think they could easily be hit or just cause problems for people who need to use those lanes to, well, TURN. I have seen cars pulled over in front of a parking lot, sitting in the turn lane for said parking lot. It just seems unsafe and was wondering if you knew how the law was interpreted regarding this."},{"_id":"OK6DXKMC2VFNJBWDDGZK4RDWAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"-Becky C."},{"_id":"IK5QTNNN4FEUROLKMA3H4MF2HM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Great observation, Becky, and you are absolutely right. The 2018 Hands-Free Georgia Act essentially bans most drivers from holding cell phones at all. The scope of that ban extends to any car that is in a travel lane, stopped or moving, hazard lights or not."},{"_id":"UXUP5U66Y5CWFDZ4L3LJV3YEVQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Drivers that are stalled or are in a wreck and cannot move out of lanes, of course, can use their phones to call for help. But pulling into an active turn lane of any kind and then illegally illuminating the flashers is not a legal remedy for phone-use. Drivers that need to hold their phones should pull to a shoulder or onto an exit and into a parking lot."},{"_id":"JSAI3QGOEJBV5M37RPGTKKLZLE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Imagine if every single person that wanted to put their phone in their hand pulled into turn lanes. Stopped cars would clog the lanes and moving cars wouldn’t be able to use them."},{"_id":"Q2X3IY4MQRD5NMIIKCABSB5L6Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Note that most new cars have infotainment systems to make phone use hands-free and Bluetooth adapters exist to modernize cars without the dash-screens. I use both and they work well."},{"_id":"BIAWKKKL6FEY7ACLWUJXKOYJPQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Thanks for the great questions and thoughts and here is to a safer and better 2022 on the roads!"},{"_id":"37RXCAHNEFCSLPSDCQUMY3ESPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":"BIXXNQI43VBL3N4UN4GFHN7Y4I"},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. Contact him at [email protected]."}],"display_date":"2021-12-26T12:00:00Z","headlines":{"basic":"Gridlock Guy: Answers on interchanges, turn-lane texters and wiper lights"},"first_publish_date":"2021-12-26T12:00:00Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1033}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"spcontent"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"rct-content"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2021-12-26T12:00:00.786Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Ben Gray","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"[email protected]","type":"author"}]},"width":6000,"caption":"211123-Atlanta-Traffic on the Connector just South of Downtown ahead of Thanksgiving on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. 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In DeKalb County, I-85 South was closed for more than five hours before lanes reopened shortly before 8 a.m. At the Cobb Cloverleaf, I-285 West was shut down for the entire morning rush."},{"_id":"MKYWC2HEJBBS7BS5BBDLKSOQ5I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640284349250},"type":"text","content":"One person was killed in the I-85 incident when the moving truck he was driving tipped over. The victim’s body was found in the driver’s seat of the burned-out truck near Cheshire Bridge Road, according to the DeKalb County Fire Department."},{"_id":"4KRIBTKBIBEZXCJPWX4Y37S3BY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"2DMXPPT6ZVDU7MY2XNJBWWVKPU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"1 dead after fiery crash involving moving truck on I-85","url":"https://www.ajc.com/neighborhoods/dekalb/1-dead-after-fiery-crash-involving-moving-truck-on-i-85/ZYOIM74NKZH6VPD4SGE4GJUT5M/"},{"_id":"XV3U43JCSRAO7FKSMQWJ6JXIYI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640284349252},"type":"text","content":"The vehicle was on its side and engulfed in flames when fire crews arrived about 3 a.m., department spokesperson Capt. Jaeson Daniels said. The victim, whose name was not released, was the only person injured in the single-vehicle wreck."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1640285215510}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1473999225730052103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1473999225730052103%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ajc.com%2Fneighborhoods%2Fdekalb%2F1-dead-after-fiery-crash-involving-moving-truck-on-i-85%2FZYOIM74NKZH6VPD4SGE4GJUT5M%2F","type":"twitter"},"_id":"BRHAUNHGHFDTZBAGAPY6RJQA2A","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"AJC WSB Traffic","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1473999225730052103","author_url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic","width":550,"html":"

nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1473999225730052103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1473999225730052103%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ajc.com%2Fneighborhoods%2Fdekalb%2F1-dead-after-fiery-crash-involving-moving-truck-on-i-85%2FZYOIM74NKZH6VPD4SGE4GJUT5M%2F","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1640285215510},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"STSQVFKUWVETZCDM2JOD63W2LE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640284349254},"type":"text","content":"No one was injured in the Cobb County wreck, which was reported about 5 a.m. when a tractor-trailer overturned on the ramp from I-75 South to I-285 West. The truck burst into flames, also catching parts of the interstate on fire, according to fire officials."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1640285215512}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/cobbcountyfire/status/1473991818601713677?s=20","type":"twitter"},"_id":"TAI4ZKZFQJGHZPIBNHWSITKUPM","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"Cobb County Fire","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/cobbcountyfire/status/1473991818601713677","author_url":"https://twitter.com/cobbcountyfire","width":550,"html":"

nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/cobbcountyfire/status/1473991818601713677?s=20","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1640285215512},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"JIFK2GLWRNC5REIQQEVCEA34YA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640272923074},"type":"text","content":"For more than two hours, fire crews worked to put out hotspots, the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center reported. Cleanup efforts continued nearly three hours more as crews with the Georgia Department of Transportation evaluated the road for safety."},{"_id":"BC75KEYDXZCDXMIY7FNELNBS3Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640284349257},"type":"text","content":"The I-75 ramp and all lanes of the I-285 outer loop were reopened by 9:45 a.m. when the wreckage was moved to a right shoulder, the Traffic Center reported."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1640285215515}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1474027311993434118","type":"twitter"},"_id":"2KAVTWDM3ZA5JNTVEB6WFR6QHU","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"AJC WSB Traffic","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1474027311993434118","author_url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic","width":550,"html":"

nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1474027311993434118","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1640285215515},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"NQG3AUAAZJFB5GMTYWMAW4DFDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640284349259},"type":"text","content":"No other details about the Cobb crash were immediately available."},{"_id":"VMPE7HDGXNFIDL77DGRUJKOES4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"XVAAU7ZEO5B7LPS7SMD5CIDKBY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Where is the Cobb Cloverleaf in Atlanta? I-75 at I-285","url":"https://www.ajc.com/atlanta-traffic/where-is-the-cobb-cloverleaf-in-atlanta-i-75-at-i-285/27Q762TTCVFXZHNI2H3VPWCQXA/"},{"_id":"HJXERAUVGVCTHOH3EBLCLJP2J4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640262581045},"type":"text","content":"The dual shutdowns complicated matters on one of the busiest travel days of the year. AAA is predicting metro Atlanta traffic to be heaviest between noon and 6 p.m. Thursday. On Christmas Eve, the worst time to drive will be between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., while the best time to hit the road is before 1 p.m."},{"_id":"YVMRLQBQFNAHNGFQ36VXS4BO3M","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"6HASZY7FNVBITACMW4P2ZESXKI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"The best and worst times to drive in Georgia for Christmas 2021","url":"https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/atlanta-winter-guide/the-best-and-worst-times-to-drive-in-georgia-for-christmas-2021/42XX6CDXJJDK7ELBHXSRQYEYBY/"},{"_id":"YEJUN7I22BEPDPOIHE57RWSJDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640262581048},"type":"text","content":"— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates."},{"_id":"I2LDLGLKQNGCFJT5MFEEN3OZLQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640262581050},"type":"text","content":"» For updated traffic information, listen to News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter."},{"_id":"4YBPQV4TJVDN7DM35O4SF6FODY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640262581051},"type":"text","content":"
"}],"display_date":"2021-12-23T18:48:34.958Z","headlines":{"basic":"2 fiery crashes snarl Atlanta traffic on busy holiday travel day"},"first_publish_date":"2021-12-23T12:05:00.382Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1033}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/news","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"News","description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/news","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","LoggedOutMenu":null,"MainMenuRedesign2021":"https://www.ajc.com/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"site_url":"/news/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Atlanta GA News | Top News Page"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"News"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"News","Sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"true","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"_id":"/news","ancestors":{"AmpNav":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"default":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"BottomNav":[],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"LoggedOutMenu":[],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"TopicsBar":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1001,"default":1001,"SectionMap":1018,"MainMenuRedesign2021":1001,"ComposerNav":1136}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./news","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"breaking-news.ajc"},{"text":"atlanta-now"},{"text":"teamjennifer"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"cobb county"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2021-12-28T06:00:47.913Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"NewsChopper 2","type":"author","byline":"NewsChopper 2"}]},"subtitle":"truck fire","width":1534,"caption":"Crews shut down the ramp from I-75 South to I-285 West after a tractor-trailer crashed and burst into flames Thursday morning.","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/65Q5TVPTK5ATNDTDWF3PRGDXKU.png","height":870}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/traffic-alert-truck-fire-shuts-down-i-75-ramp-in-cobb-county/ITQKLM2IEVEZJLHICCHSZQDCHE/","_id":"ITQKLM2IEVEZJLHICCHSZQDCHE"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"55WKTHS7QNBFBFNKWVXNMSRAQE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1596756515113},"type":"text","content":"If you listen to Atlanta traffic reports, one of the frequent locations in the news is the Cobb Cloverleaf, the intersection of I-75 and I-285 on the north side of Atlanta."},{"_id":"G5EGBSS2ABHFPKGW7K2UFKMHPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640266692407},"type":"text","content":"As the name suggests, it is located partly in Cobb County and partly in Fulton County near the borders of Sandy Springs and Atlanta."},{"_id":"VWDR27R5DRCLXO3V7GFMR4GVXQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640266692408},"type":"text","content":"It’s a key intersection for traffic entering and leaving Atlanta on I-75, and also close to Cumberland Mall and the Atlanta Braves stadium, Truist Park."},{"_id":"V4ZEQ4K56ZHBXBC7FYA2XNLOTQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"7CEFGMQFJNHULMSXP66V5QB7EE"},"type":"raw_html","content":""},{"level":3,"_id":"E54KGCH4INEZBAFIQDQ5CPC5GM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"header","content":"For Atlanta traffic alerts and alternate routes"},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"MH2FARFZ2NFN3BQ6FQ74KXSJYA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"list","items":[{"_id":"DKU5FSP53JDPNO7R3IUMDPSACU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"In your car, tune your radio or phone to 95.5 WSB radio."},{"_id":"AR4DSDGV4JCYLNVANKMHXTZJAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"From your computer, use the AJC Atlanta Traffic map or the Georgia DOT 511 site and follow @ajcwsbtraffic on Twitter."},{"_id":"YK5RLVVY3VAKVBZGDS32MOA6DM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Using the toll lanes in metro Atlanta requires a Peach Pass. If you’re just passing through, they are available for purchase at select CVS and Walgreens."}]},{"level":3,"_id":"2MKYUK5PVFG7LEGD5MI44JBWRM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1596756515122},"type":"header","content":"Other Atlanta traffic names"},{"_id":"EN5ZJ5P3FZBC7D5VIQFUWRI2A4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640267777134},"type":"text","content":"Top-end perimeter: Also I-285, referring to the northern part of the quasi-circular-ish highway around Atlanta (where Braves pitcher Pascual Perez got lost one day driving to the ballpark). The outer loop goes from east to west. The inner loop goes the other way."},{"_id":"I2WACBT63FHKJNK3KFQAIK7WUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640267777135},"type":"text","content":"Spaghetti Junction: The other bottleneck on the north side of Atlanta, where I-85 and I-285 meet northeast of Atlanta. It’s so famous the New Georgia Encylopedia gave it a listing."},{"_id":"PLE3XXEHMJEO7FZMOLA3OBPUBY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640267777136},"type":"text","content":"The Captain Herb Flyover Ramp: Georgia 400 South inside I-285 at I-85."},{"_id":"PZ4FBBDIPVHYFEQC276IXTPUTI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"EA4M3SUEHBFBLI67B2ZCULYT4I"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Atlanta traffic and weather updates from the AJC breaking news team","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-traffic-news/"},{"_id":"ZKXOSL23NZAOXDVHPOBB6PVD64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640267777140},"type":"text","content":"Staff member Brian O’Shea contributed to this article"}],"display_date":"2021-12-23T13:27:52.886Z","headlines":{"basic":"Where is the Cobb Cloverleaf in Atlanta? I-75 at I-285"},"first_publish_date":"2021-12-23T13:27:52.886Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1032}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"Traffic"},{"text":"rct-content"},{"text":"rct-content-ck"},{"text":"spcontent"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2021-12-23T13:57:01.308Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[]},"subtitle":"Gridlock Guy 081020","width":469,"caption":"The feeder ramp that runs from Cobb Parkway and the I-75 ramps to I-285/eastbound (Inner Loop) is a common spot for traffic backups. GOOGLE","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GXK3KIMWD5FFHEUG2OYJEYEQSE.jpg","height":375}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/where-is-the-cobb-cloverleaf-in-atlanta-i-75-at-i-285/27Q762TTCVFXZHNI2H3VPWCQXA/","_id":"27Q762TTCVFXZHNI2H3VPWCQXA"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"L2JNIGHXFZDNLL4O7UFTM6OA7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748153},"type":"text","content":"The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted everything from commuting habits to supply chains. But there are still plenty of vehicles on metro Atlanta highways. And public officials are still trying to address traffic congestion."},{"_id":"JJ5QSM5QNNCCNMECVQ5AQ3LIXA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748154},"type":"text","content":"Here’s a look at the top transportation stories affecting the region in 2021."},{"_id":"IJKQLKLF7VF5PM4HDTKGKXTQ7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748155},"type":"text","content":"Infrastructure plan: Billions for Georgia"},{"_id":"MSD3DNWU6VD4HKFJ4ZZ5F3NLKM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748156},"type":"text","content":"In November, President Joe Biden and Congress approved a $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan that includes $8.9 billion for road improvements in Georgia over five years, plus $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs. And that’s just the money distributed based on population and other factors. More could come through competitive grant programs."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"Atlanta Journal- Constitution","address":{"locality":"Atlanta","region":"Georgia"},"syndication":{},"caption":"Georgia will get billions of dollars for road and bridge construction under the federal infrastructure bill Congress approved in November. 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They must wait for more details and find money to match the federal funds."},{"_id":"5PETCF6DEBAVLOTPEF2FXZAVOA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748159},"type":"text","content":"But there’s no shortage of highway and transit projects that need funding. Look for more details in the months ahead."},{"_id":"K3LEASOA6VE3LE6GOAZ3HJS2EQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748160},"type":"text","content":"Pandemic affects roads and rails"},{"_id":"HM6ZYNSFVRAY5KNC3EULDLTWIQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748161},"type":"text","content":"COVID-19 continues to affect commuting."},{"_id":"6NNNBIBCLVEUZLKPIRPDMVMTXI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748162},"type":"text","content":"More people are working from home. E-commerce has exploded, which means more delivery vehicles on the road. And after years of declining, traffic fatalities are up – public safety officials say less traffic and higher speeds on highways have made crashes more deadly."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"© 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution","address":{"locality":"Atlanta","region":"Georgia"},"caption":"Two women were killed and a man was in critical condition after their vehicle was rear-ended Nov. 15 on I-285. Traffic fatalities are up during the pandemic. 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Transit agencies are spending more on cleaning and equipment to protect passengers and employees. But passenger revenue has plummeted as fewer people ride."},{"_id":"3BS7MZDOUNDNXFQGRIASWU54UM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748164},"type":"text","content":"Federal aid is bailing out local transit agencies. But service has been disrupted – MARTA has twice scaled back bus service during the pandemic."},{"_id":"C6E7KOB2MZFMXB7AMJOUJ3UFVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748165},"type":"text","content":"Bottom line: We probably won’t know what the “new normal” for Atlanta traffic and transit looks like until after the pandemic."},{"_id":"5BJTBTJSQZCDDNP4HSDMWZGZS4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748166},"type":"text","content":"Delays for major road work"},{"_id":"MJ6QOSXVF5B6BMRXLHUEIHIAHI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":166,"comment":"back"}],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748167},"type":"text","content":"Major construction on the new I-285 interchange at Ga. 400 began in 2017 and was supposed to be done last year. An expansion of the project pushed the timeline ahead to the end of 2021."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution","address":{"locality":"Sandy Springs","region":"GA"},"caption":"Construction of the new i-285 interchange at Ga. 400 will continue until the third quarter of 2022. 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The contractor cited bad weather, unmarked utilities and pandemic-related staffing and supply shortages."},{"_id":"OOEUXILCKJCX3I3WDURHEKCTJY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748169},"type":"text","content":"GDOT also announced it rejected the lone qualifying proposal to build new toll lanes along Ga. 400 in Fulton and Forsyth counties. The cost was far more than the agency’s $1.7 billion budget for the project. Although no new timetable has been announced, restarting the procurement process will add another 12 to 18 months."},{"_id":"OVEU2JOAXBF2XF2H5LP7THVVUI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748170},"type":"text","content":"Transit expansion continues"},{"_id":"NZRYNULTQFFNLCGCGVL32CDVKA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748171},"type":"text","content":"Pandemic or not, metro Atlanta continues to plan for transit expansion."},{"_id":"6LOTGXVFAFFGDHDI2SKVRZT6RM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748172},"type":"text","content":"In Atlanta, MARTA is moving forward with its Capitol Avenue/Summerhill bus rapid transit line. It’s also choosing between light rail and bus rapid transit for Campbellton Road. And it’s renovating Five Points and other transit stations."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"caption":"MARTA will choose between light rail and bus rapid transit for its new Campbellton Road transit line. Light rail would run in the middle of the road. 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Some transit supporters worry the agency will back away from its longtime commitment to light rail on the loop."},{"_id":"ZH4AO2NV7ZFS7MMEXZUKM5XL34","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748174},"type":"text","content":"In Clayton County, MARTA is already backing away from plans for commuter rail from the East Point station to Jonesboro and Lovejoy. It may build bus rapid transit along the route instead. MARTA is also moving forward with the Southlake bus rapid transit line in Clayton."},{"_id":"2JDW7ANBUBCERIF5Z7TJF4RYNA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748175},"type":"text","content":"Meanwhile, some suburban counties are developing transit expansion plans. And several government agencies have agreed to study bus rapid transit along the top end of the Perimeter."},{"_id":"LEAHLJMWJRAZPIBYDEPDLUMK2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748176},"type":"text","content":"Georgia to put tolls in private hands"},{"_id":"OR6NG2AVJ5FSBOAMGPCHS3UMSE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748177},"type":"text","content":"Georgia sets toll rates on metro Atlanta’s growing network of express lanes. But last summer, state officials announced they will let a private company set tolls on a 40-mile stretch of the Perimeter."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"workflow":{"status_code":4},"caption":"State officials may allow a private company to set and collect tolls on the top half of the Perimeter. 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"},{"_id":"RK6XAB53SVD6VKAMUCZZ7QM6YA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748180},"type":"text","content":"The new plan also has potential risks. A private firm may charge higher tolls than the government would to earn a profit. And some companies that invested in U.S. toll roads have filed for bankruptcy because tolls didn’t produce as much revenue as projected."},{"_id":"MU2IMRB5C5H4FOYX26JTOMEONE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748181},"type":"text","content":"State officials say such concerns can be addressed in the contract with the company selected."},{"_id":"CB5QJTLRG5DWPCXTEJKEMW6GHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1640100748182},"type":"text","content":"It’s not clear how the new plan will affect the timeline for the project. The lanes had been set for construction in segments beginning in 2023."}],"display_date":"2021-12-21T18:00:00Z","headlines":{"basic":"Metro Atlanta: Top transportation stories of 2021"},"first_publish_date":"2021-12-21T18:00:00Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1032}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"teamsusan"},{"text":"localnews.ajc"},{"text":"intown atlanta"},{"text":"buckhead"},{"text":"fulton county"},{"text":"north fulton"},{"text":"clayton county"},{"text":"dekalb county"},{"text":"gwinnett county"},{"text":"cobb county"},{"text":"marta"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2021-12-21T18:00:00.336Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Ben Gray","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"[email protected]","type":"author"}]},"width":6000,"caption":"The coronavirus pandemic is just one of the big stories affecting metro Atlanta traffic in 2021. (File photo by Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NEWUTIZGSHZ2TNXO2FZDBRYANE.JPG","height":4000}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/metro-atlanta-top-transportation-stories-of-2021/GZJWLNV6EZEC5DCYKVII2FOJAM/","_id":"GZJWLNV6EZEC5DCYKVII2FOJAM"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"I4L4WXC4ZFGRRDK42GMUVNXKAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709652},"type":"text","content":"American auto death totals increased by 16% in the first half of 2021, compared to 2020′s totals, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and National Security Council numbers show in a summary compiled by QuoteWizard."},{"_id":"P2LGM666S5CXNP5ZEKTVFHKG5Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709653},"type":"text","content":"Despite COVID-19 shutdowns that heavily decreased 2020 traffic counts, vehicle fatalities occurred at a higher rate per mile than in 2019. As we have covered in this space numerous times, the increased speeds on the then-uncrowded byways led to harder impacts and more deaths. But overall road speeds decreased in 2021 and traffic total deaths have surpassed pre-pandemic levels."},{"_id":"S2YOZFL36RGDBHFKHQVBF6V6QQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709654},"type":"text","content":"Georgia fell right in line with the national trend, the NHTSA reported. There were 911 deaths on our state’s roads in the first six months of 2021, 29% more than in 2020 and 24% more than in 2019."},{"_id":"OYWDY3ORBFE4HNDJFWUL2N6UMM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709655},"type":"text","content":"So while the culprits of a newfound space to speed and thirst for recklessness are still viable, other dangers persist outside of the coronavirus’ influence on patterns and habits. These dangers are what keep the battle for safe roads constant."},{"_id":"ZGH2OFFXCFFCJBI4UPEAVVPATU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709656},"type":"text","content":"The state enacted the Hands-Free Georgia Act in July of 2018, essentially banning drivers from holding mobile devices while they drive. This made enforcing the existing texting ban easier and seemed set to temper the increasing demon of distracted driving. And early returns show that it worked as fatalities decreased through 2019."},{"_id":"T64T3G7GB5F5JGUPE76UAD6WPU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709657},"type":"text","content":"Meanwhile, as we discussed last week, new automobiles continue to get safer. Late models have better airbags, more driving assistants, warning lights and sounds, cameras, and sensors that all should decrease someone’s margins for error. Newer cars tend to have good infotainment dashboard systems that phones normally can easily pair with to make a nearly seamless hands-free experience."},{"_id":"YRPBGAHOUFBTNL3MDE63ONO74Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709658},"type":"text","content":"There are numerous auto insurance discounts given for policyholders who take driving courses and behave properly behind the wheel. And, in general, we have more information and warnings at our fingertips than we ever have."},{"_id":"45GRAVOMKNCSTO4GKWKNFKHF4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709659},"type":"text","content":"Rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft may be having similar labor issues as other industries, but they still offer fairly timely, effortless ways for inebriated passengers to dispatch ways home, as opposed to driving drunk."},{"_id":"IMFCGCICEZA7HJWBT3B7NAILOI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709660},"type":"text","content":"And yet, just as is the case with smoking, dietary habits or even gun safety, people still continue to run the proverbial stop signs and worsen highway safety numbers. As a society, we are absolutely micturating away the highway safety gains that we ourselves have made."},{"_id":"DFZ6DOIMKFFX5PCPVROAZIP3MY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709661},"type":"text","content":"Not long after the hype and awareness around Georgia’s distracted driving rules-revamp, phones started popping back into hands more often. Drivers have since become even worse about trying to hide their palmings of smartphones to make calls and type messages."},{"_id":"MR3PQUVEQ5FXPOO3PFCQOFN2JQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709662},"type":"text","content":"Speed demons in 2021 are still having their way with traffic, whether conditions are heavy or not. And when a missile meets a wall with brute force, the fallout is often tragic."},{"_id":"S4CD4AQNOJELHI3OU2IPMLKQYU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709663},"type":"text","content":"But more insidious than distracted and inebriated driving or reckless speeding and maneuvering is the selfishness that all of us at least somewhat possess"},{"_id":"KUO52EED4VCDZFRPOFTPRU6DZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709664},"type":"text","content":"That voice inside that tells someone to drag race or to look down and dial that call or to try and drive after staying through last call is the same murmur that creates a real-life RPG right behind our eyes. That’s the human condition, no matter what we tell others we believe. We are fallen because of our egos — because of our constant prioritization of our own desires."},{"_id":"2QJE2ILRNRCMVHHQBSKPL7BZX4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709665},"type":"text","content":"All that said, imagine how much worse these fatality numbers would be if we didn’t have the same advancements in laws and technology. Then imagine how much better the numbers could be if we could just take a breath to consider the fallout from our driving selfishness."},{"_id":"W65LVGYC7BAO5GHPZB7ZIITPGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709666},"type":"text","content":"In this season and Christmas holiday of giving, one gift we could give to strangers around us that doesn’t cost a penny, but potentially provides an invaluable gain, is the gift of putting their safety ahead of our own wants and vices. By doing that, we put all human lives first."},{"_id":"ORNQKDH2OZBXZP53ZH4WOGNAWE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639760709667},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. Contact him at [email protected]."}],"display_date":"2021-12-19T12:00:00Z","headlines":{"basic":"Gridlock Guy: Auto safety advancements squandered again in 2021"},"first_publish_date":"2021-12-19T12:00:00Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1032}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"spcontent"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"rct-content"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2021-12-19T12:00:00.810Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Ben Gray","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"[email protected]","type":"author"}]},"width":6000,"caption":"211123-Atlanta-Traffic on the Connector just South of Downtown ahead of Thanksgiving on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/TDO7LOVHPKN4KN3K2J7Q7YRRQE.JPG","height":4000}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/gridlock-guy-auto-safety-advancements-squandered-again-in-2021/7JZPR2CEJNCY7GR6UUYRGSKVCM/","_id":"7JZPR2CEJNCY7GR6UUYRGSKVCM"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"UWI5P2PSXFBG7CDAJ7MUJU2GMM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1593365483154},"type":"text","content":"A 19-year-old woman died Sunday afternoon after a crash on I-575 in Woodstock, authorities said."},{"_id":"H4UPIWS54BHEBHGAWXKBHEHGL4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639415009963},"type":"text","content":"Jasmine Jovanna Beasley was driving southbound when she lost control and crashed around 12:30 p.m., Woodstock police spokeswoman Brittany Page said. Beasley was not wearing a seat belt and died on scene, Page said. No other vehicles were involved."},{"_id":"OEB7QPHDYFAI7PXIZ3HVSIYC6Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639415009964},"type":"text","content":"Woodstock police were at the site until around 3:40 p.m. investigating the wreck. The incident remains under investigation as of Monday afternoon. The southbound lanes were blocked for nearly two hours."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1639428466836}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1470089432543940609","type":"twitter"},"_id":"TOB26WDAAVAZFM7NCJ4VZ3LMC4","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"AJC WSB Traffic","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1470089432543940609","author_url":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic","width":550,"html":"

nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/ajcwsbtraffic/status/1470089432543940609","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1639428466836},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"6UCMVU3CTRE3HHOMJGONBRVI3U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639336095179},"type":"text","content":"A family friend set up a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral expenses. The teen is a survivor of kidney cancer and graduated from high school in 2020, according to the page."},{"_id":"IJJ6UPZAVRBPHP76GZ64NEJDBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639427988410},"type":"text","content":"“She had a love of God, family, children, and motorcycles along with several other hobbies,” the friend wrote."},{"_id":"FKBZ2XPM65DGFL7IJUZWSMZUYU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639427988411},"type":"text","content":"Beasley is survived by her parents, sister, uncles and cousins."},{"_id":"6QVFESHAW5EUNKK54TDGWS55CM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639336095185},"type":"text","content":"— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates."}],"display_date":"2021-12-13T20:49:38.264Z","headlines":{"basic":"19-year-old dies in Woodstock crash that shut down I-575"},"first_publish_date":"2021-12-12T19:13:32.439Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1032}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/news","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"News","description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - 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Canton, Woodstock, Holly Springs"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Cherokee County"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Cherokee County","_id":"/neighborhoods/cherokee","ancestors":{"AmpNav":["https://www.ajc.com/","/neighborhoods"],"default":["https://www.ajc.com/","/neighborhoods"],"BottomNav":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"]},"order":{"SectionMap":1012,"ComposerNav":1058}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./neighborhoods/cherokee","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"breaking-news.ajc"},{"text":"crime-news.ajc"},{"text":"publicsafety.ajc"},{"text":"atlanta-now"},{"text":"teamjennifer"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"cherokee county"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2021-12-17T06:00:44.838Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Family Photo","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Family Photo","type":"author","byline":"Family Photo"}]},"subtitle":"Jasmine Beasley","width":1050,"caption":"Jasmine Beasley was killed Sunday in a single-vehicle crash on I-575.","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LY5SRLRMHJHZ5O3LOHIVGTQVWE.jpg","height":600}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/breaking-one-dead-in-woodstock-crash-that-shut-down-i-575/GNLQWTKKSJAHRC3DFP66BMEGTI/","_id":"GNLQWTKKSJAHRC3DFP66BMEGTI"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"XIOG3SQUDZFFDCNGYVYPPKJ25A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570605},"type":"text","content":"As 2021 screams around its final turn, we turn some brief leaves on a few traffic stories of recent interest in Metro Atlanta."},{"level":2,"_id":"S7EHC6DJ4JAJDKO7DX53XW6HHY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570606},"type":"header","content":"Atlanta surprisingly low in 2021 traffic rankings"},{"_id":"464KIH62B5EGVJHUXN7HRLACFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570607},"type":"text","content":"Isn’t that funny? Traffic seems really bad and especially so since the fall time-change, but it actually pales in comparison to the jams people around the world experience, traffic data firm INRIX reports."},{"_id":"QNYJP7VVJRFU5EALV3FZ3TU6TE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570608},"type":"text","content":"Their annual Global Traffic Scorecard ranks Atlanta with the 10th-worst traffic in the U.S., based on hours lost per year in congestion. Atlanta was 22nd-worst in the country last year."},{"_id":"7JUSOLDSBVC4ZJVXSDXSIQRVOY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570609},"type":"text","content":"COVID-19 shutdowns and habits took the sap out of traffic jams around the world, as Atlantans only lost 20 hours per driver in 2020, by this measure. We lost 53 in 2021, based on 10 months of data extrapolated over the final two months."},{"_id":"KS3NIVGF7NCH5LFJTZDT22QR6U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570610},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta drivers lost 82 hours in traffic in 2019, pre-pandemic. INRIX said that Atlanta still has 16% fewer downtown trips than in 2019 and 36% less congestion."},{"_id":"5BPMBVIR45DFJPMMVV27ZNUQ4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570611},"type":"text","content":"INRIX uses GPS data for these metrics and compiles data for 1000 cities worldwide. New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia are the top three U.S. cities with the worst delays, but their delay-numbers are also still far off of 2019′s. People have taken to and stayed telecommuting, even if COVID cases are low in their region."},{"_id":"2SXTQPUZG5GCPIMWG2TO5KBN24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570612},"type":"text","content":"London has the worst traffic in the world and is only 1% off of its 2019 numbers. Atlanta is only 59th, but was 174th a year ago."},{"_id":"OL5RXKQVMFE5XGKSORO2IBODAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570613},"type":"text","content":"INRIX said last year that Atlanta’s lack of reliance on mass transit meant there was less of an increase in vehicle-traffic when subways closed or people were scared to take them. The city’s apathy to MARTA meant that changes in mass transit habits added very little to traffic on the roads."},{"_id":"VPIIJ7TBQZAPPBKIPX6YXBZT3M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570614},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta has had and still does have notoriously bad traffic and traffic rankings really mean nothing. Different metrics show Atlanta fluctuating in these lists even within a year."},{"_id":"LQF663VCQRFLBDQ2BP6ILU5UKM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570615},"type":"text","content":"But, despite the fact that Georgia opened earlier than most states, new commuting habits have made traffic better - in some respects, anyway."},{"level":2,"_id":"CNU5DPU3G5DG5H5Q7RLW4TJBIU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570616},"type":"header","content":"String of hit-and-run tragedies in recent days mar Atlanta roads"},{"_id":"S4CLBRWHNRDJ3G4ZOUDX7YMHKU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570617},"type":"text","content":"The AJC’s Alexis Stevens detailed a tragic rash of fatal crashes where offending drivers fled scenes."},{"_id":"HTO7DIVMYFHL3PYNJACRYNBP5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570618},"type":"text","content":"Driving distracted and reckless and causing such pain and misery is bad. Not owning up to the terrible consequences is far worse. The fleeing driver leaves a trail of terror behind and has to carry their own guilt and paranoia, something that no sports car can outrun."},{"_id":"KQTHIHAFEJAMBIK47NG3LSZZSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570619},"type":"text","content":"Jasmine Gaither stood on the side of I-85 in DeKalb County, a passenger in her friend’s car that had just been in a four-vehicle wreck Friday night, December 3rd. Another passing car lost control and struck and killed Gaither, just shy of her 32nd birthday. Her sister, Brittany Flournoy, said she and Gaither had lost their mother in a fatal crash back in October, too."},{"_id":"VCWMRPEK7FBMVDNWI3JFO4HXPQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570620},"type":"text","content":"Flournoy and her family approach Christmas bearing the weight of two avoidable tragedies."},{"_id":"LQPL2TKNKNC4NIMILIFWUY6YAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570621},"type":"text","content":"Police arrested Lester Rodriguez within a couple of days and are charging him with vehicular homicide and driving on a suspended license, Stevens reported."},{"_id":"Q52EA32PJZCBFLABDVHEGFDXDU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570622},"type":"text","content":"In neighboring Gwinnett and on the same night, two cars ran over and killed 55-year-old Julio Sandoval on Singleton Road at Thompson Parkway. Gwinnett PD told Stevens that they haven’t made an arrest."},{"_id":"QRKUKTSGBFABXLFLDLDWCMLL3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570623},"type":"text","content":"Chamblee PD has not arrested the driver that ran over and killed a man at 3:30 last Monday afternoon. They shut down Chamblee Tucker Road east of Buford Highway for over an hour, as they investigated. CPD is asking the public for leads."},{"_id":"EFY72OWQ7JB3JDDUC33ZVSJSAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570624},"type":"text","content":"One thing we all can control is how we handle crash scenes and how we cross the streets: with care. Stay in vehicles after a crash; sitting inside a stopped car is much safer than standing outside. And cross roads safely, after looking both ways multiple times, and, if possible, in crosswalks and well-lit areas."},{"level":2,"_id":"T7XKLVQRPJD6JLSVAWH75ZIKQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570625},"type":"header","content":"Traffic safety firm: seniors need newer cars"},{"_id":"ISLUKDKV2JAHBMJCOFFY2RZ62A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570626},"type":"text","content":"We have covered this topic here before, as studies have shown that teens fare better in cars with more safety features."},{"_id":"6TQMTWQJIJABJKLARI46Q4FULU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570627},"type":"text","content":"The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has also recently sung the same tune for drivers 70 and older."},{"_id":"AEO2QLPP3JDRPEOVO234P22JG4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570628},"type":"text","content":"Buy newer rides, they say."},{"_id":"MBOJ4PRB4NB6PPSQRD6AH2KGTM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570629},"type":"text","content":"While the numbers IIHS crunched indicate septuagenarians and octogenarians are crashing less often than before, they also are driving cars on an average of 16 years older than drivers 35-54-years-old."},{"_id":"CGSWUKMLWRB4HM7RX2XHCYHSCM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570630},"type":"text","content":"Older drivers are generally more frugal and many are on fixed incomes, so not splurging on new cars makes some sense. But cars made in the last decade or so have several driving assists and side-impact airbags which can lessen the chance of injury or death in wrecks."},{"_id":"F43ZN43W3JAMNALFTZLOVQCRJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570631},"type":"text","content":"There is no fix-all solution here. However, generally, driving-ability and age begin to have an inverse relationship after age 70 and vehicles are manufactured to be safer each year."},{"_id":"UT3OWCHXORCDBB5AJG2ICOGQAY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570632},"type":"text","content":"The supply-chain backup is making the demand for new and used automobiles skyrocket, so now may not be the best time to buy. But senior citizens should at least consider upgrading to newer vehicles, if their finances allow."},{"_id":"SSSP745ACZH57E7KTK3U5WTCMI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1639145570633},"type":"text","content":"Late model cars can raise insurance rates, because repair costs are higher. But the AARP driving course can sharpen skills and help lower costs."},{"_id":"37RXCAHNEFCSLPSDCQUMY3ESPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":"BIXXNQI43VBL3N4UN4GFHN7Y4I"},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. 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Well, “deep” may be an exaggeration. But the monotony of wide-open freeway driving can narrow the spectrum of what one might consider entertaining."},{"_id":"ETL54NSHGZHMLPYC3MWR5PS5XM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"That brings us to my recent drive down I-16, a line-straight Central Georgia bisector that pipes traffic between I-75 in Macon and I-95 in Savannah. One’s view of that drive depends on their mindset: it’s either the most mind-numbingly boring stretch ever or nice and easy and therapeutic."},{"_id":"RMR2ECF64NFJHMYV6DMUWDUZ64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Considering all the stop-and-go driving that we do, I relish a pristine block of time that involves nary the navigational turn or even a slow down."},{"_id":"5XX2MILEZZGKREE7WVIREYVWSQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"My wife, Momo, and mom, Stephanie, joined me in a Thanksgiving morning drive from Atlanta to Savannah. Traffic was light on I-285 and I-75, so the flow was certainly easy on I-16/eastbound. Momo went to sleep and my mom was chilling on her phone in the backseat, so I sat with my thoughts behind the wheel."},{"_id":"WOWR5OPU4BFTJFBOJT642SVEQA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Last spring, I wrote about a road trip where I landed a speeding ticket in our new car. My new relationship with cruise control bore a “game” where I watched the “miles per gallon” gauge increase instead of my previous game of filing down the “ETA” on my Google Maps navigation. I enjoyed that challenge on that trip and a few other road trips since."},{"_id":"MXSAZIWMXNBGVJWTLYLHSD23UQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"So on Thanksgiving Day, while the Macy’s Parade crept along in New York City, I concocted a new car game as we cruised I-16 leaving Macon."},{"_id":"ZBY6W2KAN5ESRMZLZY37BZVF7E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"I hit the reset button on the steering wheel, erasing the bad gas mileage that city driving created. The speed limit is 70 miles per hour on I-16, so I set the cruise control for 79. I choose nine miles per hour over the limit, because 10 and above is usually what stands out to law enforcement."},{"_id":"DUS5NJTYS5BRFII6WDUW66XQJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"There were three goals on this straight-shot ride to Savannah: increase gas mileage, stay in the right lane as much as possible and hit the brakes as little as possible. These kept me engaged in the silence of the car’s cabin."},{"_id":"RURT4OR6KRBORCMZK4QZEACYNU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"When we approached slower cars, I would dial down the cruise control speed with my left thumb ahead of time. I would try hard to not mash the brake pedal. Hitting the brakes turns off cruise control and also hurts gas mileage more than just lifting on the gas. The difference between human and computer efficiencies may sometimes be infinitesimal, but the challenge was not."},{"_id":"J7NP4ZZ6SRB7VFYWHVFREVLMAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"My biggest insecurity with cruise control is the lack of use of my right foot. I am afraid that leaving my foot off of the pedals decreases my reaction time, if I need to react to a sudden slow down. So I try to keep that in mind — and keep my lead shoe very close to the slow and fast pedals."},{"_id":"22S7JVZQP5CVHC5XNFDWLSPDKM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Making small adjustments to speed, instead of larger brake taps and gas mashes, put our gas mileage at about 25.7 mpg, compared to around 24. Striving to stay in the right lane of this two-lane freeway left a passing lane open for those that wanted to zoom by and risk getting a ticket. And even if this slightly neurotic “Cruise Control Game” really didn’t save much time or gas, it kept me mentally-alert on a drive with very few attractions."},{"_id":"CHKWSUT5QNF2JC2M2SYCM6KMWI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Since my wife and mom napped for some stretches on this trip, interactive car games sat on ice this past Thanksgiving. So I cranked the Beatles and Twenty One Pilots and let my hands and cruise control “Drive My Car” on our “Ride.”"},{"_id":"37RXCAHNEFCSLPSDCQUMY3ESPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":"BIXXNQI43VBL3N4UN4GFHN7Y4I"},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. 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The bridge was closed for more than eight hours while police investigated the crash and crews work to install a new pole."},{"subtype":"facebook-post","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1638481078719}},"provider":"https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post/oembed.json/?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://www.facebook.com/dunwoodypolice/posts/263961882438574&locale=en_US","type":"facebook-post"},"_id":"6KDK43KMYFCR7PAWEVAZQ2Z6TY","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"Dunwoody Police Department","author_url":"https://www.facebook.com/dunwoodypolice","width":552,"html":"

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Update, the intersection is still shut down for the most part.nnAshford Dunwoody Rd south (from Dunwoody out) - you CAN...

Posted by Dunwoody Police Department on Thursday, December 2, 2021

","provider_url":"https://www.facebook.com","_id":"https://www.facebook.com/dunwoodypolice/posts/263961882438574&locale=en_US","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1638481078719},"provider_name":"Facebook","type":"facebook-post","version":"1.0"},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"4RB4HXUEQVD5DNFAI3AI3FC55U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638463474898},"type":"text","content":"A white sedan exited I-285 East and crashed into the power pole about 6 a.m., Dunwoody police Sgt. Kerry Stallings said from the scene. Photos provided by the police department showed a crumpled sedan and a leaning power pole, as well as downed wires crossing both the exit ramp and Ashford Dunwoody Road."},{"_id":"KPF2S6WRABFRLH2E4IXCCUOXNE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638473639718},"type":"text","content":"No injuries were reported, Stallings said. The cause of the crash remains under investigation."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1638481078722}},"provider":"https://publish.twitter.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://twitter.com/DunwoodyPolice/status/1466369843758784527","type":"twitter"},"_id":"YKQ3TGNAFFFCFC7XO6U46J5YEU","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"Dunwoody Police","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/DunwoodyPolice/status/1466369843758784527","author_url":"https://twitter.com/DunwoodyPolice","width":550,"html":"

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nn","_id":"https://twitter.com/mckayWSB/status/1466370244801441793","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1638481078724},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"6KL5CY5PWNHMPJSZ3QJCBTJRNY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638455890830},"type":"text","content":"— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates."},{"_id":"5SP2Z3BF3BCVBAJR3W7U65ORDA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638455890831},"type":"text","content":"
"}],"display_date":"2021-12-02T19:51:48.998Z","headlines":{"basic":"I-285 bridge in Dunwoody reopens hours after crash"},"first_publish_date":"2021-12-02T12:07:15.201Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1032}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/news","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"News","description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/news","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","LoggedOutMenu":null,"MainMenuRedesign2021":"https://www.ajc.com/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"site_url":"/news/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Atlanta Georgia News main page: Breaking News, Atlanta Weather Forecast, Crime, Politics, GA Schools, Local Articles - Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Atlanta GA News | Top News Page"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"News"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"News","Sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"true","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"_id":"/news","ancestors":{"AmpNav":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"default":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"BottomNav":[],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"LoggedOutMenu":[],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"TopicsBar":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1001,"default":1001,"SectionMap":1018,"MainMenuRedesign2021":1001,"ComposerNav":1135}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./news","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/neighborhoods/dunwoody","parent":{"default":"/neighborhoods"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/neighborhoods","name":"Dunwoody","description":"Community news and information about Dunwoody, Georgia from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 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Authorities reopened the bridge Thursday afternoon.","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/R2PJNLTBSRGEBPFMBHGCLN6DKI.jpg","height":563}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/traffic-alert-crash-shuts-down-i-285-bridge-in-dunwoody/IQSBTSAPJFBSFFLW3SSGZI7VXE/","_id":"IQSBTSAPJFBSFFLW3SSGZI7VXE"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"OFY3NWAJ5VCFTNTLSR3UCY5T4Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110485989},"type":"text","content":"A known traffic axiom has become prominent this fall, especially after the recent time change. The crash counts spike when traffic is light in one spot and then suddenly slow the next. Drivers in the speed limit-plus-zone peg their speedometers and then have very little time to react when their race car (grocery wagon) encounters a line of brake lights. This has shown its teeth since the time change and during unpredictable holiday traffic flows."},{"_id":"YOKA7A53YFATZGY6YOWUHNCOJQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110485990},"type":"text","content":"When the clocks fell back a couple of weeks ago, the last hour of the PM drive began taking place at dusk or in the dark. Without fail, early sunsets cause delays to increase the reasons are not always obvious."},{"_id":"K7MDJX3LVVFSFMG2FRAK2SUJDA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110485991},"type":"text","content":"The most apparent delay-culprit is the angle of the sun, which gets lower in the west horizon at the height of the PM drive. The sun usually sets as the roads begin to get better, but autumn and early winter see very difficult sight conditions when traffic volume and delays peak. Sunshine delays are a real thing, as we know."},{"_id":"ASPLUCZJONAFZCDOZ35LZCIUBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110485992},"type":"text","content":"But the post-sunset jam sessions are more flummoxing. Recent evening rush hours stay rowdy all the way through the 6 o’clock hour and later, when the tides beforehand receded around 6:30 p.m."},{"_id":"5NP3VETTMVBWZLPR4BLMYS3HFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110485993},"type":"text","content":"One reason for this is because traffic is at its peak ugliness when the least people are out of town. Mid-fall is when most schools are in session, the least amount of people are taking vacation days, and extra-curricular activities in all arenas are in full swing. Fall is the bridge between summer vacation and the winter holidays."},{"_id":"3JENAYEGEZBUBP7P2WMZO3TTR4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110485994},"type":"text","content":"But why is the late-PM drive traffic swell endemic to the fall pattern and not also in the height of spring?"},{"_id":"B4O67EPZHNDI5HKRRUGZ5CSHSI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110485995},"type":"text","content":"Early darkness from late October through December simply makes brake lights show with more contrast. When tail lights are brighter, reactions are more reactive and harsh. Multiplying these slight overreactions in the dark over thousands of drivers translates to far bigger delays."},{"_id":"TTZE5HZT5JFHNF7EGHN2AOJTYY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110485996},"type":"text","content":"After 6:30 p.m., as more people exit the road system, the lines of delays lessen or perforate. And those gaps open the door for aggressive drivers to zoom in, over-react and over-correct in the night time, and then pile into the jams. As I dismount from the WSB Skycopter each evening, Mike Shields and Alex Williams happen on a sudden string of crashes late in the rush hour. A fair share of the wrecks on the WSB Jam Cam involve multiple cars jacked up and into the left median walls - right next to the fast lanes."},{"_id":"LK4OLW4Y2NFRNBQCSEX2VWZ6VE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110485997},"type":"text","content":"We’ve just come off of an extremely busy Thanksgiving travel holiday and this phenomenon holds true in getaway traffic patterns, both day and night. Drivers from out of town are unfamiliar with the lay of Metro Atlanta. All drivers are encountering traffic in directions against the normal rush hour grains. Mix in the line of commercial freight trucks and the table is set for trouble to erupt with the wrong catalyst. The mixture of changing speeds is just that."},{"_id":"T4P63GZI5RDRDBQZX2DELYZMBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110485998},"type":"text","content":"When drivers take advantage of the presumed void and floor it, they leave themselves and those around them very little margin for error. That error usually results in spectacular wrecks and those crashes usually spur more behind them."},{"_id":"ARHWLIKQ6RAA5KFLIECQOZSEYM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110485999},"type":"text","content":"So as we continue in the fall traffic pattern and gear up for Christmas holiday, we all need to take a breath. Prepare for your commute or trip by plotting out the directions on your GPS app before just blindly following them. Download the WSB Triple Team Traffic Alerts App to check what lies ahead on your commute and to hear reports my team and I record, which play automatically when you drive in the path of trouble. Then tune in to 95.5 WSB for traffic updates 24/7."},{"_id":"WLGLEFDL5ZGW3K74M2PINOC7NI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110486000},"type":"text","content":"After all of that preparation, the next steps are even more simple. Slow down and expect the unexpected. Keep your hands off the phone and your eyes on the road. All of these achievable steps build in more time and leeway for when traffic goes wrong. And, as Atlantans, we all know that conditions on the roads can change their tunes at any time."},{"_id":"O4B3HT6SF5GK5IMTOO7PSHHNGU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1638110486001},"type":"text","content":"Drive safely this holiday season, my friends."},{"_id":"37RXCAHNEFCSLPSDCQUMY3ESPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":"BIXXNQI43VBL3N4UN4GFHN7Y4I"},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. Contact him at [email protected]."}],"display_date":"2021-11-28T12:00:00Z","headlines":{"basic":"Gridlock Guy: Mix of speeds makes mess of holiday travels"},"first_publish_date":"2021-11-28T12:00:00Z","taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","parent":{"default":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"https://www.ajc.com/","name":"Atlanta Traffic","description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"https://www.ajc.com/","default":"https://www.ajc.com/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"https://www.ajc.com/","MainMenuRedesign2021":"/news","TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"https://www.ajc.com/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"AJC Live Atlanta traffic map shows your commute at a glance, including major accidents, traffic delays, lane closings and stop and go road conditions you may want to avoid","site_title":"Atlanta Traffic Delays and Road Conditions"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Traffic"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Atlanta Traffic","_id":"/atlanta-traffic","ancestors":{"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["https://www.ajc.com/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":["https://www.ajc.com/","/news"],"TopNav":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1012,"default":1012,"SectionMap":1004,"MainMenuRedesign2021":2008,"ComposerNav":1030}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./atlanta-traffic","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/atlanta-traffic","name":"Atlanta Traffic"},"tags":[{"text":"spcontent"},{"text":"traffic"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"rct-content"}]},"type":"story","last_updated_date":"2021-11-28T14:42:07.284Z","promo_items":{"basic":{"promo_image":{"url":"https://d1fegwn2wjh0cs.cloudfront.net/10-15-2021/t_6b007c3854524dd2bd9636f2fa5cf441_name_t_f5ada4851ef8484a94644614ac975c69_name_ax_85_atl.PNG"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"WSBTV Videos"}],"by":[{"org":"WSBTV Videos","name":"","type":"author","slug":""}]},"headlines":{"basic":"1 man dead after being hit by a car on I-85, police say"},"type":"video","promo_items":{"basic":{"caption":"1 man dead after being hit by a car on I-85, police say","type":"image","url":"https://d1fegwn2wjh0cs.cloudfront.net/10-15-2021/t_6b007c3854524dd2bd9636f2fa5cf441_name_t_f5ada4851ef8484a94644614ac975c69_name_ax_85_atl.PNG"}}}},"canonical_url":"/atlanta-traffic/gridlock-guy-mix-of-speeds-makes-mess-of-holiday-travels/EZ55N33NAJBULOBJTAHGSSWAJQ/","_id":"EZ55N33NAJBULOBJTAHGSSWAJQ"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"MDCYSF3GAVEMTDZ3AQT5AL4MW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"After the Braves’ jubilant World Series win over two weeks ago, I decided to grade the team’s traffic plan after five seasons at Truist Park. Considering the placement of the stadium — in the northwest corner of the bustling I-75 and I-285 cloverleaf in Cobb County — what really could have been a traffic disaster over this half-decade simply has not been."},{"_id":"EN6AN7Y5CJE6JG4XIKKL3P5VP4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"However, one blind spot that I need to account for is the wheel-beating gridlock that many experienced while leaving the property after these recent October playoff games. After reading the recent celebration piece, readers such as Gary, Matt, Brian, Lamar, Michael, and David emailed me with varying levels of anger with those in charge of the traffic plan for the mass-egress from Truist Park and The Battery. They had gotten stuck longer than they expected."},{"_id":"DRLLWFEIHNB3BDT7HDAGINHEXA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Having sat in the same big backups after Game 1 of the NLCS and Game 3 of the World Series myself — and, frankly, resigned to those kinds of jams — I decided to see what Cobb County and the Braves have learned and could implement after the biggest crowds in that stadium’s short history."},{"_id":"EXHQCOLYWFGVBEQBCQWTJOHTZ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"But also having idled in similar lines leaving recent concerts at State Farm Arena and Cellaris Amphitheatre at Lakewood, I had to ask: Is there something that traffic plans around major events fundamentally lack?"},{"_id":"OASFVPA2UZELRC7TLNNZDLUFSE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"“Ultimately you’re facing a capacity issue and the roads aren’t made to handle that many at once,” Georgia Tech Professor Michael Hunter told the AJC and 95.5 WSB."},{"_id":"IB57ZXMC6FB3XBVYRWL36R4H3I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"“It’s 10 gallons of honey in a five-gallon jug. It’s inevitable,” Hunter, a transportation systems engineer, illustrated."},{"_id":"QK2CC4EGIJHXTGHKCDDDIUT7QQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Make it 50 gallons during the World Series."},{"_id":"SLSHZAZHZRHM7DHXJB3HGSMPZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Traffic planners cannot just build their way out of these bottlenecks, Hunter explained. “How much would it cost to build a road around a facility to handle that many people at once?” It doesn’t make sense, given most venues only host several or a few dozen events per year. The average Braves game doesn’t cause the same gridlock as a marquee one does."},{"_id":"GLP2A5EWNVFNTO5VTCSJTCOWU4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The restaurant and entertainment-filled Battery has been a centerpiece of the Truist Park traffic plan’s overall success story. Fans could come early to games and events and stay late, staggering the mass people movements."},{"_id":"MEBDSO4FWFA4FHFGICQXAS2VCY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"But that same open-air, mixed-use party district also attracted thousands, in addition to the capacity crowd inside Truist. The Cobb County fire marshal reportedly had to stop people from entering the slam-full Battery ahead of the potential World Series-clinching Game 5. Frankly, more people showed up than expected, since they didn’t need tickets. Frenzied fans just wanted to be near the action."},{"_id":"RL7JQQQENFGMHEDA2HBKAHCZDQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The surge of folks created both a parking shortage and also hordes trying to zigzag their way to their parking spots or rideshares post-game."},{"_id":"AVIHYAKMMFE7HG2EQPLAF3L5HA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Special events, Hunter said, offer unique traffic challenges. “A lot more people are unfamiliar with an area. Repeat customers have a better path.” Uncertain travelers create more delays."},{"_id":"IP7UG5TOOZBJFHI7KIULNFJFGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Cobb County spokesperson Ross Cavitt was at some of the games and says the traffic plan for what the county predicted worked. But the sheer volume of extra people made enforcing the plan for everyone nearly impossible."},{"_id":"UIYOZOCHK5AKFEP6YVCW4ASA5M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"“I saw pedestrians crossing roads and using sides of roads that they usually don’t use,” Cavitt said. Hunter also explained that Cobb PD cannot simply deploy the entire force to every deck; they still have to patrol the rest of the county."},{"_id":"VYAVV4AN3BFQBIEKEDQ2MQI4Y4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Cavitt, our former, longtime Channel 2 Action News cohort, also heard some of the same horror stories that several people emailed to me: two-hour waits exiting the parking decks nearest to Truist Park. Cavitt explained that the Braves manage the deck operations and the shuttle buses. Cobb PD Sergeant Wayne Delk echoed the same sentiment and said the police department handled the big crowds properly."},{"_id":"MIUT6JVBKNFIRE2WT23SSN2X3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Braves officials did not respond to any of my traffic inquiries by the writing deadline."},{"_id":"GX3DDBG4NNCGRKSLTQAKZTW4KY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"I received multiple complaints about a lack of frequent shuttles from Truist Park to the offsite parking at Lockheed-Martin. Others said they had no choice but to park at the pricier lots closest to the stadium, because they had family members with disabilities. The decks closest to Truist Park had, by far, the worst exit delays."},{"_id":"SBD57IC4UVFSXIATACKRKFQQ5Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"And, of course, several complaints came in about the lack of mass transit getting to the Braves’ home field. Cobb voters have shot down MARTA multiple times over the decades. In the past, MARTA ran lines of shuttle buses between the Five Points Station and Turner Field."},{"_id":"6VYD7CIJW5HVRNMGDULYPZFEAU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Hunter said that developments like The Battery are what many venues envision, because of the extra revenue, for what entertainment districts do to stagger traffic flow, and how they give the property life in between big events. Turner Field and Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium both lacked that allure."},{"_id":"IBSFAOGPX5AATCXEGH3MJYBKKI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Turner Field also had 5,300 less sanctioned parking spots and 9,000 more in seating capacity than Truist Park, the team told the AJC in 2017. But Turner Field’s lots were all relatively close to it and there were also many private, satellite lots not included in that total. Parking at Truist Park is quite tricky and simply requires planning — and paying — more.The team should look to bolster the amount of shuttles (and maybe even some shuttle-only lanes) to the most distant lots."},{"_id":"MJ7DZ7Y24RENBDL6U6NYDERCSE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Solving for the extra crush of playoff fans at Truist Park is also trickier, Hunter said, because planning far ahead for elimination series is just not possible. Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the City of Atlanta had over a year to plan to host the Super Bowl and managed that traffic very well. Cavitt said that Cobb County definitely learned some lessons and can make some improvements for next time."},{"_id":"Y3O57SATXJCXRAACVOR4F4B3JI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Another chance is exactly what Braves fans want. The easiest way to solve the World Series-playoff frenzy-fan flock problem is for the Braves to lose games. The MLB champs had the second-highest home attendance in the 2021 regular season. Congestion, Hunter said, is not always a bad thing. “It means people have some place to go - like to work - or to a World Series game.”"},{"_id":"XDQBC66MKVHNLAH452XSZLKKWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Looking ahead, the Braves and Cobb County should consider several improvements. They could better direct both traffic out of decks and wayward pedestrians, provide more shuttles to far off parking lots and tweak the signal-timing to flush traffic out of the Cumberland area more quickly."},{"_id":"BSNQOTAXLREW5HOX5747S4RNAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"But every single engineer, officer or spokesperson with whom I have spoken has had the same response: Moving a bunch of people at once through a small corridor simply takes time. They just have to manage that delay, just as commuters need to manage their expectations."},{"_id":"THMKCRVOZZDY5MJ7R344H2WVMU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"So Hunter told drivers to take this mindset: “50,000 of my friends and I are at this game. Just enjoy it. We’re in the World Series.”"},{"_id":"FIVG4KXXDJAKLAEQ6X67RHEZCU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Go Braves."},{"_id":"37RXCAHNEFCSLPSDCQUMY3ESPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":"BIXXNQI43VBL3N4UN4GFHN7Y4I"},"type":"text","content":"Doug Turnbull, the PM drive Skycopter anchor for Triple Team Traffic on 95.5 WSB, is the Gridlock Guy. He also hosts a traffic podcast with Smilin’ Mark McKay on wsbradio.com. 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