Fresh Loaf

Sorry, Andisheh. A $110-million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will be used for high-occupancy toll lanes along a section of I-85 primarily in Gwinnett County.

I pass the mic to Ariel of the AJC:

The 14-mile project, from the Perimeter in DeKalb County to Old Peachtree Road in Gwinnett, is seen as a seed that would spread to all 44 miles of Atlanta’s HOV lanes.

The tolls will be electronic, with sensors pinging a transponder in each car on the toll lane, and no stopping for toll booths. The toll price would rise and fall with congestion on the main highway: a higher price when traffic congestion is high, lower when traffic is light. Officials said questions like how much the toll price would be required more study. A similar project in California costs drivers about $1 a mile at the most congested time of the week.

And as usual, the comments are the best part.

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Thanks to the efficient and helpful staff employed by the Mexican airline Aeroméxico, I had an 18 hour layover in Mexico City over the weekend. (more…)

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The intersection of Adair Street and West Howard Avenue in Decatur is so dangerous, there were three city employees directing traffic there this morning: two school crossing guards and a police officer yelling at drivers through a megaphone.

How much do traffic lights cost? Are they less than the cost of putting two crossing guards and a cop and an intersection twice-a-day for an entire school year?

All I’m doing is saying.

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Number of building permits issued in Decatur in 1995: 349

Number of building permits issued in Decatur in 2007: 822

Percent decrease in car volume at the intersection of Ponce de Leon Avenue and Church Street from 2001 to 2006: 20

Population of Decatur in 2000: 18,147

Population of Decatur in 2007: 17,914

Average household size in the U.S.: 2.58

Average household size in metro Atlanta: 2.7

Average household size in Decatur: 2.12

Source: City of Decatur 2008 Annual Report, Decatur Court Traffic Impact Analysis

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…Decatur’s traffic declines. That’s what Nick at DecaturMetro discovered when he perused the 38-page traffic study completed by the developers of the proposed 315 W. Ponce project in the smart-growth posterchild’s downtown (more on that project, called Decatur Court, later.)

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Georgia’s highways can be a dangerous place. Not only are there drunk drivers out there, but there’s a literal lake of beer. With sharks swimming in it.

Question about the sharks slide show: Why are all the carcasses’ faces blotted out? Is WSB-TV waiting for authorities to notify the next of kin?

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At a June 2 press conference, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced that he has halted a state gas tax increase because of high prices at the pump and tough economic times. And what did he say about commuter rail or using less gas? Nada.

“I’m persuaded we’ve got great reserves here that we can bring to the market very quickly rather than being held hostage from the international perspective.”

— The governor on why the U.S. should drill for oil.

“I’ve seen people do it. I see them ride a little car for a little while, and then they’re back in big vehicles after a while.”

— Perdue’s response when asked if he’d consider switching the state’s fleet of vehicles or his personal transport, a SUV, to hybrids.

“I travel pretty lightly as most of you know.”

— Perdue says his retinue is smaller than that of most governors. Perdue has visited at least 14 Georgia cities since April 24. After the press conference, he flew to Savannah.

(Photo illustration by John Yardley)

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