Now officially done, how Beltline Complete Streets initiatives turned out

Sure, Atlantans have been using these infrastructure upgrades for months. But Atlanta Beltline Inc. leadership is now calling two major safety and mobility initiatives officially complete—and evidence of how city streets can evolve to accommodate more than drivers.

According to Beltline reps, two “transformative streetscape projects”—Complete Streets additions to Ponce de Leon Avenue on the eastside, and Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard in Southwest Atlanta—were both declared 100 percent finished and open last month.

The infrastructure updates share a common goal of creating safer sidewalks and streets, better access to economic opportunities, and enhanced mobility along two important corridors on opposite sides of town, per Beltline officials.

Both include better pedestrian crossings, upgraded lighting, and fresh landscaping to enhance multimodal transportation options from functional and aesthetic standpoints.

Beltline officials provided Urbanize Atlanta this week with the following project recaps and photos to illustrate what CEO and president Clyde Higgs called in a statement “high-impact infrastructure projects” that “underscore our broader commitment to building an Atlanta that is safer, more accessible, and better connected for all.”

Ponce de Leon Avenue Streetscape

Courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

More than a decade in the making, this Complete Streets project now spans .7 miles from Boulevard to John Lewis Freedom Parkway and provides direct connectivity (at last—hallelujah!) to the Beltline’s Eastside Trail. It includes:

Upgraded sidewalks and pedestrian lighting;
New ramp to the Eastside Trail at the north side of the Ponce de Leon Avenue bridge;
Improved and extended bike lanes;
New traffic signals and relocated utilities from Boulevard to Ponce de Leon Place;
Raised center medians.

Courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

The Ponce work was funded through the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Centers Initiative and made possible by an 80/20 split between federal and local funding sources, including funding from the Regional Economic Business Assistance program and the Beltline.

Design was by Kimley-Horn, and JHC led project construction, per the Beltline.

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Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard Streetscape

Courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

Shorter but sweet, this ½-mile streetscape overhaul makes the heart of Southwest Atlanta’s Westview business district more approachable for people on foot and two wheels.

Changes span along Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard from East Ontario Avenue to Willard Avenue, through the middle of a district chockfull of small businesses. Highlights:

A designated marked crosswalk and center median for KIPP Strive Academy, along with median protected parking for the Westview Cemetery farther west on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard;
New bike lanes;
Road resurfacing;
Widened sidewalks and curb replacements;
New striping and pedestrian lighting;
Newly planted trees and landscaping.

Courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.

The Westview project—designed by Volkert and built by F.S. Scarborough—was funded via the Renew Atlanta Infrastructure Bond.

The streetscape work is adjacent to the Beltline's Westside Trail, which includes a new trail access point (with ramp and staircase) and a plaza at South Gordon Street and Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard. That work was funded through the Beltline Tax Allocation District, per project officials.

“With improved walkability and bike access near the Westside Trail, this project supports local businesses and encourages healthy, active mobility in a historic neighborhood,” Kim Wilson, Beltline vice president of design and construction, said in a statement provided Thursday. “It’s about more than infrastructure—it’s about investing in the heart of our communities.”

Courtesy of Atlanta Beltline Inc.