Traffic Congestion in Atlanta | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Traffic Congestion in Atlanta

Traffic in Atlanta is bad, and it's only going to get worse

522
Traffic Congestion in Atlanta
https://az616578.vo.msecnd.net/files/2017/12/11/6364856055220577891994594664_ATL%20Traffic%20.jpg

As anybody who has ever driven into Atlanta knows, traffic is bad. Really bad. According to the TomTom traffic index, there are only 11 cities in the nation that have traffic congestion worse than Atlanta. This may not sound particularly damning until one considers the fact that Atlanta is the 38th most populous city in the nation. All indicators point to this problem becoming worse. Since 2010 the population of Atlanta has increased by over half a million, and this trend will only continue in the future. Most projections have Atlanta’s population increasing to almost 9 million by the 2040s, an increase of approximately 4 million people.

 

There are a number of reasons for the traffic congestion in Atlanta. The root cause of most of these is urban sprawl. For decades Atlanta has been expanding through a seemingly endless amount of suburbs. The problem is that most of the people residing in this suburbs work in the metropolitan area itself. Twice a day there is a huge movement of people in and out of the city. The rates of congestion are highest during the morning and evening rush hours when these people are going in to or getting off of work.

 

This wouldn’t be an issue if Atlanta had a sophisticated public transportation system that could accommodate this daily movement of people. However, MARTA is severely underdeveloped, paling in comparison to the transportation infrastructure boasted by other major cities. Plans to expand MARTA are in the works but any major structural improvement would likely take a decade or more to complete. In the foreseeable future people will continue to be forced to use cars for their commutes due to a lack of legitimate alternatives.

 

A third reason for the congestion has to do with the Atlanta Downtown Connector. The connector is one of the primary ways to enter Atlanta and is one of the most congested areas in the city. The connector was initially constructed almost half a century ago. At the time the connector was designed to accommodate thru traffic into the city. This would accommodate the commuter traffic we see today, but an issue has arisen. The connector is now being used predominantly by local traffic for intercity travel. This causes serious congestion and unsafe driving environments where cars get on the connector, only to cut across multiple lanes to make a quickly upcoming exit.

 

There are a number of ways that the city is looking to solve the congestion problems. Some alternatives include building transportation infrastructure specifically for intercity travel. These ideas range from building additional bridges or tunnels to investing heavily in public transportation infrastructure. There are also other options that could solve the problem in a more roundabout way. These options include simply closing down ramps onto the connector, charging a toll on the connector, limiting parking in the city, and attempting to reduce urban sprawl through incentivizing living in the city. It’s not clear what the best option is, but it is clear that something needs to be done soon.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

168849
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

54437
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

48515
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments