GA 400 shoulder lane (Roswell, Boston, Lenox: sales, sales tax, dangerous)

[toll_booth]

Ga. 400 shoulder to open to traffic *| ajc.com

As of this morning, 400 southbound will be a 5-lane highway between Holcomb Bridge and the North Springs MARTA, 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM on weekdays. Emergency vehicles will now use the second-to-left lane instead of the shoulders; this has been raised as a point of concern.

Judging from this story, this almost appears to be a test run more than anything else. I kind of have mixed feelings about it. What do you guys think?

[chalvey]

Not a fan of it. My concerns are primarily about emergency vehicles as well as the increased noise some of the residents might have to deal with. I understand traffic is bad and that cash is short, but this is not the solution. Also, traffic on Holcomb Bridge needs to be addressed, that road is a nightmare .

[ATLTJL]

Sounds like a disaster to me.

Can anyone explain how a road that has so much volume that it has to figure out innovative solutions to widen that charges each driver 50 cents for a road that has long since been paid for doesn't have the necessary funds to widen properly?

I just don't get Georgia sometimes. 400 has a toll even though it's been paid for and it they say there's no money to widen it, then the government can't figure out how to use tax funds to deal with roads so they have to beg taxpayers to vote in an additional 1% sales tax just to fund a bunch of projects that really won't do very much to relieve congestion anyway....unbelievable.

Then the punchline is there's a mass transit line on this SAME VERY ROAD that just doesn't extend far enough north into the county where residents are already being taxed for it! I hate to point out the obvious, but what on earth is going on here????

[mich2fla]

I used it this morning to get off at Exit 6 to get to our lab on Roswell Road. It worked great today. I will need to give it some time before giving the thumb up or down.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Then the punchline is there's a mass transit line on this SAME VERY ROAD that just doesn't extend far enough north into the county where residents are already being taxed for it! I hate to point out the obvious, but what on earth is going on here????

You should address this to the Governor's office, as most in the DOT are personal friends of his who come up with these ideas.

[chalvey]

Just saw a diagram about how the "emergency" lane will be created in an accident...I am even more doubtful.

[PKCorey]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Sounds like a disaster to me.

Can anyone explain how a road that has so much volume that it has to figure out innovative solutions to widen that charges each driver 50 cents for a road that has long since been paid for doesn't have the necessary funds to widen properly?

I just don't get Georgia sometimes. 400 has a toll even though it's been paid for and it they say there's no money to widen it, then the government can't figure out how to use tax funds to deal with roads so they have to beg taxpayers to vote in an additional 1% sales tax just to fund a bunch of projects that really won't do very much to relieve congestion anyway....unbelievable.

That was one of the reason cited for extending the toll to continue to pay for repairs and new projects on GA400.

GA 400 | Programs & Studies | State Road and Tollway Authority

[cittic10]

I wouldn't expect such a dumb idea from any other place.

Nobody rides in the right lane anyway even though that's where you're supposed to ride.
Everyone pokes along in the left lanes. Don't believe me? Go look at any interstate.
This will only encourage dangerous weaving and passing on the right and if you can't make your car break down in the designated areas then god help you.

[red92s]

There is a similar setup on the roads leading from Boston out to Cape Cod. Seemed to work alright in my brief experience.

[billl]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

As of this morning, 400 southbound will be a 5-lane highway between Holcomb Bridge and the North Springs MARTA, 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM on weekdays.

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Sounds like a disaster to me.

Can anyone explain how a road that has so much volume that it has to figure out innovative solutions to widen that charges each driver 50 cents for a road that has long since been paid for doesn't have the necessary funds to widen properly?

Sure. I'd be happy to. The toll booth is between Glenridge Connector and Lenox Road. It would follow, then, that 400 "between Holcomb Bridge and the North Springs MARTA" isn't part of the toll road.