Baker Street - Harris Street Two-Way Street Conversion and PATH Project Feasibility Analysis
Overview
This project aimed to document and assess the feasibility of a two-way conversion of the Baker Street and Harris Street corridors and the potential for a dedicated bicycle-pedestrian facility within one or both of the two streets as identified in the 2005 Imagine Downtown plan and the 2003 JSA-McGill Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) Study. Two-way travel on both streets would allow for improved connectivity between Centennial Olympic Park (and its surrounding attractions, such as the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta), the rest of Downtown, and access to and from Interstate 75/85.
Currently, Baker Street and Harris Street function as a one-way pair. Baker Street consists of four through travel lanes westbound and Harris Street consists of four through travel lanes eastbound. The Baker-Harris corridor has also been identified by the PATH Foundation as the preferred route for a multiuse bicycle-pedestrian facility that would connect to the Freedom Parkway trail network into Downtown and to Centennial Olympic Park.
The Baker Street Two-Way Street Conversion and PATH Project Feasibility Analysis, which also includes consideration of Harris Street improvements, was completed in August 2007. The analysis served as a first effort towards exploration of the feasibility of two-way conversion of the Baker-Harris one-way pair. Stakeholder interviews and group meetings were used in conjunction with data collection efforts and existing and future traffic operational analyses to guide and assess the development of improvement alternatives.
Five future traffic alternatives were developed for the corridors. The alternatives vary in complexity, operational needs and costs and cover a wide spectrum of applications varying from the "Baseline" alternative (maintaining the existing one-way pairs) to converting both Baker Street and/or Harris Street to two-way operation with dedicated pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Alternatives 2, 3 and 5A and 5B are recommended for further review and investigation.
Following the identification of project funding, schematic and conceptual design activities will be needed to define detailed improvements for both corridors. The work of the Feasibility Analysis and the ongoing coordination with project partners, such as the PATH Foundation, and corridor stakeholders serve as a starting point for future design development.
Summary Documents
More Information
For additional information about this project and to request a copy of the Feasibility Analysis Final Report and supporting documentation in its entirety, contact Angie Laurie at (404) 522-5010 or alaurie at atlantadowntown.com.
Background
The 2003 JSA McGill LCI Study proposed that both Baker Street and Harris Street be re-striped to allow two (2) travel lanes in each direction. The study also recommended on-street parking for portions of the Harris Street corridor, dependent up traffic volumes.
The initial 2005 Imagine Downtown plan included the following recommendations from the JSA McGill LCI Study:
- Re-stripe Baker Street from one-way to two-way traffic east of Centennial Olympic Park (COP) Drive, taking into account a future multiuse path connection to Freedom Park on the south side of the street.
- Re-stripe Harris Street from one-way to two-way east of COP Drive
- Investigate the possibility of providing on-street parking on all or portions of Harris Street.
- Provide streetscape improvements, including a bicycle facility and new sidewalks along Baker Street.
The recommendations above formed the basis for the Feasibiltiy Analysis scope of work.
