Reinventing Atlanta’s Commuting Culture

But that commute to the office costs more than just time. My vehicle emits 475.5 grams of carbon dioxide per mile, 75 grams above average, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. My vehicle emits 21,875 grams per round trip to work. That’s 87,492 grams per week, 349,968 grams per month and 4.2 tonnes per year – just to get to and from work.

If I lived within half a mile of a bus or train station and could get to work in 30 minutes, the potential reduction in carbon emissions, travel time, fuel costs and maintenance costs would be significant. And by taking my car off the road, other commuters would get to their jobs more quickly, which would mean less congestion, pollution and other effects. Imagine the change if only 30% of commuters had access to a 30-minute commute to work by public transit.

One of the major obstacles is the “last mile” of public transportation: getting to the station or stop. Cycling and pedestrian infrastructure are essential to getting people out of their cars, as is, in limited cases, adequate parking at suburban transit stations. Renting bikes or scooters at bus and train stops, secure bike storage, protected bike lanes and safe walking paths have been proven to reduce traffic congestion.

If something doesn’t change, our region will suffer. Imagine it’s 2050 and you live in metro Atlanta. Your daily work commute takes about 90 minutes to cover 15 miles each weekday. Alongside you, hundreds of thousands of stressed and frustrated commuters share the same fate.

You arrive at work irritated and exhausted. You just spent 90 minutes of your morning stuck in traffic. In a typical work week, you spend about three hours a day on the road. That’s more than an entire month a year to commute to work.

Over time, your productivity and morale decline, making you a less effective employee. This isn’t just a problem for you; many other employees in the metro area are experiencing the same thing. Of course, this has an impact on employers. Job turnover rates, job satisfaction, presenteeism and opportunity costs have all worsened due to long commute times, putting increased pressure on these employers.

Despite the efforts of local and state authorities in recent years, the infrastructure itself remains largely insufficient. Road expansion, the typical solution, provides only temporary relief. As new lanes are added, more people are encouraged to drive, leading to more traffic congestion. The construction and timing of these projects often exacerbates the problem, causing more congestion due to lane closures, reduced speeds and confusing detours.

As traffic jams have gotten worse, so has driver behavior. National roads and highways have become battlegrounds during rush hours, leading to a steady increase in road accidents and fatalities every year.

Calls for expansion, improvement and rebranding of public transportation have seemingly been brushed aside as ridership continues to struggle outside the Interstate 285 loop. That has made rail transit services a system almost exclusive to the city, forcing more people to drive to work, creating more traffic jams.

Residents are increasingly frustrated by traffic congestion, the need for more efficient and attractive public transportation, poor driving behavior and the complacency of local and state government officials. Metro Atlanta has become a shining example of the consequences of neglecting decades-long problems.

This is what happens when nothing is done to resolve persistent problems. (Take for example the recent water main problems in Atlanta.)

Addressing the challenges of population growth and traffic congestion is a shared responsibility among government officials, residents and businesses. Here are a handful of solutions that could be implemented to help alleviate these challenges.

First, refresh and rebrand MARTA. Improve service standards by ensuring cleanliness, installing live maps, upgrading speaker systems, and strategically placing attendants to reset customer expectations and streamline navigation. Leveraging social media to amplify positive experiences could increase ridership and reduce traffic congestion. Rebranding plays a vital role in shaping public perception. MARTA could revamp its image to foster a positive association with public transit. Updating its logo, like Kia’s redesign, could signify progress and modernization.

Second, expand bus and bicycle lanes. This is not just a theoretical solution, but also a practical one that has proven effective in reducing travel times for commuters in cities like Chicago and Boston. These lanes streamline commuting and alleviate general traffic congestion by separating buses from general traffic. Atlanta, for example, could impose bus-only lanes during weekday rush hours, allowing only designated vehicles such as bicycles and emergency services outside of those hours. Fines for unauthorized use of lanes could be imposed via surveillance cameras, promising safer, more efficient public transport and reduced emissions while facilitating urban development.

Third, take advantage of artificial intelligence. Like many areas, metro Atlanta is struggling with a shortage of police officers, making efforts against reckless driving more difficult. The integration of AI, particularly advanced speed detection devices on crucial roads, could ease the pressure on law enforcement. Placing radars strategically in accident-prone areas, with AI-guided predictions, could effectively deter carelessness. Fewer accidents would mean less congestion.

Finally, cities should prioritize and provide incentives for mixed-use developments and transit-oriented neighborhoods. Mixed-use developments, such as Avalon in Alpharetta, combine amenities such as hotels, offices, residences and retail in one walkable area. This could improve fiscal health, stimulate local economic activity and increase property values. Meanwhile, transit-oriented neighborhoods, like in Chamblee, include mixed-use spaces connected to transit stations, all supplemented by rental bikes or e-scooters, reducing reliance on public transportation. respect for cars and traffic jams while promoting sustainable transport practices. This could lead to reduced transport costs and more sustainable development practices.

Meeting the challenges of population growth and traffic congestion is not the job of a single entity. This is a shared responsibility between public officials, residents and businesses. Each of us has a role to play here. Together, we can take concrete steps to alleviate these challenges and build a more sustainable future for metro Atlanta.

Garrett Keith Shan works in Chamblee’s planning and development department.