I drove through Atlanta once in my life in June of 1968. I remember traffic was bad then so I can't even imagine how congested it is now. I also drove in downtown LA including freeways once in my life on a July weekday afternoon in 2002. I swore I would never do it again. I've driven various times in CA since then but never in the larger urban areas.
Deggesty BaltACD My last passes through Atlanta were in 2007 - Jacksonville to Topeka and return - I-75 straight through downtown. Set my pass through times to be non-rush hour. The Westbound trip passed through about lunch time. The Eastbound trip was after the evening rush hour period. Smart fellow! The last time I drove through the Atlanta area was in 1974; we ate breakfast in Asheville, lunch in Atlanta, and supper in Tuscaloosa--all at IHOP's.
BaltACD My last passes through Atlanta were in 2007 - Jacksonville to Topeka and return - I-75 straight through downtown. Set my pass through times to be non-rush hour. The Westbound trip passed through about lunch time. The Eastbound trip was after the evening rush hour period.
My last passes through Atlanta were in 2007 - Jacksonville to Topeka and return - I-75 straight through downtown. Set my pass through times to be non-rush hour. The Westbound trip passed through about lunch time. The Eastbound trip was after the evening rush hour period.
Smart fellow!
The last time I drove through the Atlanta area was in 1974; we ate breakfast in Asheville, lunch in Atlanta, and supper in Tuscaloosa--all at IHOP's.
On my travels through 'big' cities, I do my best to time my pass through in non-rush hour times. I try to stop to fill one tank when I have to empty the other.
Since I am now retired - I don't have to key my start time to the time I would get off work. For long trips I tend to start at 11 PM. Minimal traffic through the night. If the 'drowsy's' start - pull over and take a power nap of 1/2 hour or so and away we go.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Johnny
Wait until you drive there and become the filler for a 4 truck sandwich.
blue streak 1 You have no idea the stress driving 285 and transiting to I-75.
It's likely changed considerably since I last lived there (1989). I lived in the Paces Ferry/ Atlanta Rd area.......and worked in North Midtown. Usually I'd take surface streets, Paces Ferry RD to Northside Drive, then cut over to Peachtree on Deering Rd....Never really had a problem.
I'm sure the new ballpark up there in Cobb contributes it's own set of headaches.
From what others have posted, I'm glad that I last drove in the Atlanta area in 1972. It was bad enough then.
The first time I drove on the "bypass" was in 1961. and it was bad enough then--two narrow lanes in each direction. as I remember.
Convicted: I-75 ? Now it is 10 lanes each way with 2 additional HOT reversible lanes. You have no idea the stress driving 285 and transiting to I-75.
I recall living there just as they were putting the finishing touches on I-75 between the downtown connector and the north perimeter as well as the opening of the Northeast Expressway/285 interchange 30 some years ago. Mind boggling to think that is all under-capacity now.
I always felt they missed the boat not building a MARTA train line up into Cobb County. Now I see there is some talk about connecting Cumberland to 5 points, but that they are going to do it by extending the line from Bankhead? That seems like a tremendous mistake. I had always hoped they would build a branch from the Arts Center up towards Cobb with stations at Brookwood, West Paces Ferry, and Cumberland.
The biggest joke that is played on people transiting Atlanta is the signs outside the city calling I-285 an Atlanta Bypass!
Paul of Covington I don't know first hand what Atlanta traffic is now, but in the 70's and 80's I had to make a few trips that way and learned to avoid Atlanta unless I could do it in the wee hours.
I still have relatives there, and they use whatever routes they can, if possible, to stay off 285.
One thing that upset me on 285 was that the lanes always changed. You could be in one of the middle lanes, and if you drove for any distance, soon you would be in left exit or right exit lane.
I agree with your point. It would be nearly impossible to build an effective system there.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
York1I-285 was jammed up 40 years ago.
I don't know first hand what Atlanta traffic is now, but in the 70's and 80's I had to make a few trips that way and learned to avoid Atlanta unless I could do it in the wee hours.
From the above posts, it seems like the problem may be that with just a few routes, unless both your origin and destination are on those routes, you're left stranded. Until you have a system that blankets the whole city, it won't be useful transportation.
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"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
I rode MARTA from Dunwoody to the old baseball stadium. It was a nice ride and saved traffic headaches and parking fees.
However, that main north - south route is very specific.
Atlanta is one of those cities that has businesses spread over a wide area. The three intersections listed are not near downtown, but around the perimeter.
I-285 was jammed up 40 years ago.
Traffic at those three locations is due to commuters well outside the Atlanta city limits. Lots of construction needed.
I live near one of theose locations and would love an option to take MARTA to ATL airport. The bad thing is the 18 stops from north to south.
CSSHEGEWISCH There is some rapid transit (MARTA) but rail suburban service isn't going to happen until the political climate changes.
There is some rapid transit (MARTA) but rail suburban service isn't going to happen until the political climate changes.
The question is, do the people of Atlanta want it, and will they use it? I was in Atlanta last weekend, and the traffic was awful. However I noticed that the streetcar, and the MARTA buses that went by my hotel downtown, were less than a quarter full most of the time. If the people are not using the public transportation that is availble, what makes one think enough people will use a new option to make a difference in traffic?
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/atlanta-streetcar-ridership-plummets-and-many-don-pay/5zo9Wiujugtp7WqLgHbARI/
An "expensive model collector"
Top 10 most congested highway intersections could not get last three to copy. Atlanta has three
1. Fort Lee: I-95 and Route 4
2. Atlanta: I-285 at I-85 (North)
3. Nashville: I-24/I-40 at I-440 (East)
4. Houston: I-45 at I-69/US 59
5. Atlanta: I-285 at I-75 (North)
6. Chicago: I-90/I-94 at I-290
7. Atlanta: I-20 at I-285 (West)
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