Chatter

By DD

January 25, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this

Two hours and forty minutes from Beaver Ruin to downtown on I-85. There was no way to exit Courtland St. to get to my office so I had to back track to get there. Where is the APD? I didn’t see one directing traffic. My husband used the backroads and saved some time getting into the city but it took him 1 hour and 15 minutes to go 4 blocks around the Capitol. Again, no police out directing traffic!

By bzrun1

January 25, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

I left my home at 7:30 expecting an hour ride - maximum. I did not get to my office until 9:45 after spending over an hour sitting in traffice on I 20 from Glenwood to Capitol Ave.

WOW!

By cdrpar

January 25, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

I was stuck on 85 south coming from N.Druid Hills, getting off at Courtland. Why do they schedule these events the same hours as work hours? It seems as if the event planners should consider the traffic problems as they are on a regular day in the ATL and adjust the events hours with that in mind.

By Al

January 25, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

I live just 4 miles away from my office in Midtown, but after making zero progress on Central Ave for 30 minutes, I turned around and came back home. Telecommuting is the greatest thing ever!

By BackHome

January 25, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

Brutal traffic. It has caused my wife to turn back on her way to drop off baby and go to work. It might have been nice to have some coverage about these conventions on AJC … er … yesterday?

Earlier this week she was re-routed trying to get through downtown due to a right to life march in the city .. again no coverage on ajc before (or after) the fact.

Enough with the home showcase nonsense on the front page (online) every other day, please post some news about these events before the fact that actually affect the majority of Atlantans due to traffic tie-ups.

By NT

January 25, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

2 hours and 45 minutes from Douglasville for a ride that usually takes 35-45 minutes. I got to my office around 10:30. Central Avenue was slammed so I manuvered around to Hank Aaron. From there, it took me around 45 minutes to get to Auburn Avenue. I don’t care what anyone says, this is a classic example of why MARTA needs to be in every metro county! And no, everyone can’t afford to live in the city.

By Mike

January 25, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

81 minutes from Chastain Road (Kennesaw) to North Avenue Marta station — and that’s using the 481 GA Express bus!!!! I feel sorry for all those who didn’t ride the bus this morning. I bet I-75’s empty HOV lane sure looked tempting for you solo drivers. :)

By Lateforwork

January 25, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this

Coming from Vinings to downtown. Left at 7:50 arrived at work at 10:30. Horrible!

By Kerington

January 25, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

I live on delk road 75. It would have took me 3hrs to get to work but I cut that in half and made it in 1hr and 30min with a little help from the HOV

By Natasha

January 25, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this

It took me 2 1/2 hours to make a 20 minute drive from the airport this morning, a drive made all the more joyous by having my 3 year old in the backseat screaming “mommy” every 30 seconds. I don’t even know where to begin to describe the level of frustration I was at by the time I finally reached my office. Next time there’s some huge event in the middle of a workday in downtown Atlanta I’ll be calling in sick cause this is some major BS.

By Jake

January 25, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this

Dropped off son for school at 8:05 at Indian Trail and 85.

Arrived at work, near 5 points MARTA station at 9:31. (1 hour 26 min.)

Usually takes 35 min to make drive.

By Nick

January 25, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

Poultry Convention? For the love of God. What a stupid reason to block up so much traffic and make people late for work. And I seriously doubt the “Poultry Convention” has any booths on the humane treatment of poulty. Perhaps a little warning ahead of time from the AJC and/or elsewhere might have been appreciated. But then again, not having a silly Poultry convention in our city might have been appreciated too.

By T

January 25, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

2 hours 40 minutes from windy hill to downtown - I HATE tourists!

By CBL

January 25, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

1.5 hours from Shallowford/I-85 to North Ave. My colleague spent 3 hours and 45 minutes coming in from Newnan. I could have driven to Charlotte by then. This is what we can expect with more out of control residential development and laughable excuses for public transport because GaDOT couldn’t organize a drinking session in a brewery.

By Rail Rider

January 25, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

I saw the traffic backed up on the Connector this morning as my MARTA train rocketed over it. If you live near a MARTA stop, consider ditching the car once in a while and taking the train. And those who work for employers that encourage mass transit: Take them up one it.

By ATL43

January 25, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

Atlanta is not prepared to handle this kind of event. Think about it… how many times has this happened? And what does the city do? NOTHING! I drove through downtown and saw TWO cops directing traffic by the Dome on Northside. That was it. Just TWO! The city buries its collective head in the sand and waits for it all to go away. Our city government is USELESS!!!

By SA

January 25, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

I live in Lithonia, GA and work in Smyrna. Normally my morning commute is roughly 1 hour. TODAY however, it took me 3 hours 15 minutes to get to work. Needless to say I am NOT in the best of moods today….

By Kittycat

January 25, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

1 hour and 8 minutes from Maynard Terrace on I-20 to the 10th-14th Street exit on 75-85 North. This is usually about a 20 minute drive even in traffic. Disgusting!! It seems there is NO thought given to traffic planning in this city.

By Hunter

January 25, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

2 hours from Sugarloaf to Chesire Bridge/Lenox this morning. I agree with the previous poster, why was there no advanced warning coverage on the AJC homepage about these events?

By StuckInMyTruck

January 25, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this

I live in East Point and work downtown off International. The connector northbound was unusable, so I took surface streets. It took almost 90 minutes to get to work!

Why did all of these people wanting to hear motivational speakers have to drive their Lexus, Mercedes, Volvo and BMWs? Couldn’t they try mass transportation once and let the people who have to work for a living get to work???

By Jason

January 25, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this

Today it was one of the rare time that it was actually smarta to take MARTA. Other students were saying most MARTA decks were full. The Decks at Dunwoody were a bit more packed than usual, but there were still plenty of spaces. I was downtown in less than 30 minutes. I saw all the traffic from the train and just laughed at all of those folks stuck in traffic. LOL

By Tricia

January 25, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

During all this drush hour elay, there was NO information on the GDOT website, not even a single red mark on any of their online map of the downtown surface streets.

And the traffic radio reporters were only talking about the I-85 lane closures in Coweta County.

By DB

January 25, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

2 1/2 hours from Kennesaw? What kind of city do we live in when 2 events in one area can shut the city down.

By De

January 25, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

Even MARTA was bad. Trains were delayed and of course that made the trains packed when they did come. Had to pass up the 1st train, too full and I only had to go 3 stops! Just one of those days!

By Judith Smith

January 25, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

If Marta knew there was a convention in town today why didn’t they add more trains this morning. I have never seen the north bound train in the mornings so pack till you had to wait for the next train to come, then that one was to crowded for everyone to get on. The bus driver was apologizing for being late getting to the Marta station because there was so much traffic they couldn’t get by. Whose does the planning for these events and why there are no police directing the traffic? I was not expecting this or I would have left home earlier.

By die hard traffic fan

January 25, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this

WHAT A MUD DUCKING JOKE!

I never been in a town that is so unorganized.

Sure cater to the out of towners but forget the great citizens of Georgia!

I swear we will never get a major professional game (NBA or NFL or even soccer) in this town again because yall dont have a clue about traffic flow and conventions.

Personally the Mayor is at fault!

And so is the AJC and Chopper Dan!

I left my house at 730 am but didnt get to work till 845 am. Lucky I am smart enough to car pool. HOV is the car poolers dream But too many fools were in the HOV because they were late for work and couldnt take. Man where the Traffic Enforcement patrol that handle this? Could have made $10,000 easy in a 2 hour period for Fulton County because the HOV was backed up the way to 285/20 interesction.

ATL TRAFFIC STINK LIKE MANURE!

And the mess up thing a lot of people got written up for being late and or fire. Not at my job but at other location because blackberries and pda were going off like crazy this morning.

MAYOR FRANKLIN WHATS GOING ON WITH YALL???

I TELL YALL NEED TO WAKE UP!

By Jim

January 25, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

To DD: That’s our Atlanta city government for you!! Now you and everyone else knows why North Fulton wants to break off from the rest of this county (especially Atlanta) to form their own government-and rightly so!!!!

By bob

January 25, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

If you’re looking to “get motivated” maybe you should consider going to work instead of spending the day at Phillips Arena.

By MariettaGirl

January 25, 2007 11:14 AM | Link to this

To get from Marietta to Downtown this morning took over 2.5 hrs. This city should not be allowed to bring anymore conferences to town until they figure out a traffic plan. Every highway was a disaster. MARTA wasn’t prepared (shock). I know it is a good $ generator but what about the poor people who live and work here?

By Beege

January 25, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

Oh what a nifty ride this am, I had even started earlier than usual from my home in Douglasville because yesterday was a mess & I didn’t want to be late for work Downtown. Oh my goodness yesterday was a breeze compared to today. What is wrong with these people that come down to conventions or whatever, people are trying to get to work and those idiots are blowing their horns wanting us to get out in the middle of the street to block traffic when the light changes and anyway the police dept should have had cops out there directing traffic (especially off the xway ramp). Doesn’t the police dept keep up with when conventions & seminars are in town? My God!!!!

By Jim

January 25, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

To Bob: In reality, there are many great audio CD’s to help someone in their personal lives with the exact same information that you would have to shell out hundreds of bucks for a live apperance such as the one at Philips Arena.

I agree with many-the city of Atlanta and its structure is NOT equipped to handle a multitude of events going at the same time, unlike cities like Los Angeles, NY, Chicago, Miami, etc. These cities are more spread-out and have a better freeway and transit system-Atlanta is too cubby-holed, and whoever thought of the hare-brained scheme many decades ago of bringing 75 and 85 together in downtown Atlanta was way off their rocker!!!

By KW

January 25, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this

The Georgia Dept. of Transportation variable message signs on the interstates should have at least warned of the increased congestion due to the event. Officers should have been directing traffic. Radio traffic reporting needs improvement. If I am in Midtown, driving towards downtown, trying to figure out why it is taking so long, the last thing I need to hear is the commute time from Mcfarland to I-285 or an incident at Barrett Pkwy. on I-75 that has nothing to do with appears to be the most significant event of the morning…

By CBL

January 25, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

Amen, bob. The amount of money lost due to missed meetings, cancelled appointments, wasted fuel, and wasted time—all due to this silly little celebrity orgy— far exceeds anything that will be made by “motivated” attendees.

By Intowner

January 25, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

Nice. Blame Shirley Franklin because you choose to live 30 miles from downtown.

Try moving ITP. I live in Sandy Springs, and it took 20 minutes down Northside Dr. to downtown.

There are alternatives to the burbs, but if you choose to live that far from work, please accept the consequences.

By granny of 3

January 25, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

I ride GRTA from the Newnan P&R in Coweta. Our bus sat in standstill traffic behind that terrible rollover accident on I-85 Northbound for an hour. As bad as it was, it could have been a WHOLE lot worse had it not been for our operator, who kept his cool throughout the ordeal and is always so courteous and thoughtful towards his passengers. Atlanta FINALLY did something right, when they created their commuter service!

By Akagi

January 25, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this

Maybe if we can get the APD to rough-up a few more event goers, we won’t have to worry about convention traffic anymore.

By jane

January 25, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this

Pray tell what time do we need to leave downtown to get home in time to pick-up our children from daycare?2:00 p.m.?? Maybe I will get in 3.5 hrs today at my job.

By bzrun1

January 25, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

Re - ‘Rail rider mass transit’

It takes me 45 minutes to get to work on an average days drive. For me to take marta I would have to drive to a park and ride, ride a bus to get to the train, ride the train to 5 points, switch trains, and walk 1/2 a mile. I could also drive to the express bus station and park, ride the bus, and get caught in traffic anyway since all of the exit ramps and main streets were a nightmare. On a good day the mass transit trip is twice as long as my average drive.

There are activities that must be accomplished in my day that require a car.

Marta is not a choice.

You are lucky, glad you enjoyed your trip.

By sadefari

January 25, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this

Normal morning commute from West Cobb -> Buckhead = 45-60mins

today - 45mins..

Backroads for the win.

By Jim

January 25, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this

To Bob: In reality, there are many great audio CD’s to help someone in their personal lives with the exact same information that you would have to shell out hundreds of bucks for a live apperance such as the one at Philips Arena.

I agree with many-the city of Atlanta and its structure is NOT equipped to handle a multitude of events going at the same time, unlike cities like Los Angeles, NY, Chicago, Miami, etc. These cities are more spread-out and have a better freeway and transit system-Atlanta is too cubby-holed, and whoever thought of the hare-brained scheme many decades ago of bringing 75 and 85 together in downtown Atlanta was way off their rocker!!!

By CBL

January 25, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

Maybe if we have a few more botched jokes for traffic flow at special events, the organizers will decide to remove Atlanta from the list of host cities. At a minimum, we can convince out of town visitors that we are the most disorganized city in America and they will think twice about moving here for lower taxes and warm sunshine.

By Teleworkedyesterday!

January 25, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this

I left Rome at 6:50 am and started slowing down on 75 South about a mile past Highway 92 around 7:45. I exited off of 75 at Howell Mill Road at 10:00 am!

By Leslie

January 25, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this

Fortunately, I left Lawrenceville at 6am and made it to work in under an hour. However, the traffic was beginning to build up at that time at the Brookwood Exchange. Whew, glad I left at 6am!

By bflood

January 25, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this

Took an hour and half to go 3 miles - from Moreland Ave. to downtown! Is this a preview of Atlanta in 10 years, when the population has increased to the projected amount? If this isn’t an indication that Atlanta needs creative and responsible traffic options ASAP, then City and regional planners will never understand how critical the situation already is.

By SpeedyGirl

January 25, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

I live off of Hwy 92 in Acworth. It took me an hour and ten to go less than 8 miles. At that rate, it would have taken me almost 3.5 hours to drive 29 miles. I turned around at Barrett Parkway and am telecommuting. From what I heard from coworkers downtown, it is a nightmare - between the lack of APD directing traffic, to the huge number of stoplights that aren’t working it is just a zoo!

By e

January 25, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

Talk about a communication breakdown. No forewarning of any possible traffic alerts, no planning by Atlanta government for two conventions going on at the same time. Talk about a CF. This city is ridiculous. We can’t even handle our own population driving to work each day and then they dump another 40,000 people to the mix without thought or warning. IDIOTS. if any convention should be held downtown it should be about fixing the traffic problems in this city. If i had a MARTA stop that didn’t require me to drive 20 minutes, pay to park and then start my commute, I would use it in a heartbeat. But as it is you have to fight your way through traffic to get to one that is 5 miles from your house, then find a parking space and you still get to work in about the same amount of time as on a “normal” traffic day. It’s just not worth the extra hassle in my opinion. This city sucks. I’m moving to Florida.

By Harried

January 25, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this

Word is that the motivational seminar will be letting out around 4:45 p.m. today. Commuters, you’ve been warned.

By Pam

January 25, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this

A great example of why the Gwinnett Arena is starting to attract more events. People say that metro Atlanta won’t drive out to a suburb for events, but with the disaster that such events like this create in a MAJOR city, it’s obvious why Gwinnett has proven them wrong! All of that convention traffic would have been going opposite of the major traffic flow.

By HK

January 25, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

I left Wesley CHapel @ 7:45 on I-20 - 75/85 Downtown. Trying to bypass the normal I-285 logjam on my way to exit 11 Alpharetta on GA400. My hour ride became 3 hours. I got off on Hill street after 30 minutes on I-20. Every street Downtown going north or west was gridlock.(Capitol ave, Northside Drive, etc..) I never once heard a traffic report telling me to avoid Downtown. I had friends check GA Navigator on the Web and it couldn’t even give a good report. My wife finally got me a report around 9:30 about the convention traffic. I eventually was able to turn around and go back to I-20 and 285 East to get North to Alpharetta.

By Ed

January 25, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

Yes, we can make it illegal to yak on cell phone your entire drive, I mean come on you drive a 1999 KIA and you work for minimum wage, whats so important about the call that can’t wait until you get home, its not like you’re talking someone through open heart surgery. Same as the work addicted blackberry owner, so you have a blackberry…whoopee, big deal; get the email when you get home and deflate your ego, you’re not all that importatnt, if you die today the world goes on without you. If you don’t believe me, test my theory and see. Same as the person eating the entire drive, you were fat enough yesterday, do you have to eat ALL THE TIME ? Same as those that read and drive, you’re just a total idiot, I am surprised you own a book. It must be porn you’re looking at. There, I am done, drive safe and have a nice day.

By B_Hall

January 25, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

Today was a prime example of what happens when a money hungry city and state governments attempt to hold a convention in the middle of downtown during normal business hours. Our city is not designed for this. This is why TD Jakes did not bring Megafest back last summer. Word to the Wise - Be more considerate to your constituents or you will not be re-elected!!!

By laughing at y'all

January 25, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

Quit blaming the City of Atlanta: it’s the ACVB who should have alerted the APD that there would be issues. The Poultry Convention is here EVERY January, and it’s always one of the biggest conventions of the year. Add the Motivational seminar, and you’re cooked. I guess everyone will be motivated to MOVE OUT OF ATLANTA METRO after today!

By LRM216

January 25, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

I live in Marietta, off Powers Ferry Road and the South Loop, exactly 13 miles from entry onto 75S to my parking garage on Courtland. 2 and 1/2 freaking hours to get there this morning!!! I suggest the Poultry Farmers and Zig Ziegler hold their next conventions in Alaska.

By Jess

January 25, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

It took me 3 hours to drive to Midtown from Canton this morning. Once I got inside 285, I saw about 100 single-rider cars go by using the HOV lane, which I’m sure saved them a TON of time but just added to the backup for the rest of us because eventually, all those HOV violators have to get back in the flow of traffic to get over to their exit, further jamming traffic for everyone. I did see one police car go by in the HOV lane, but he apparently didn’t give a hoot about the HOV lane violators cuz he never pulled anyone over.

In a traffic situation like the one we had today, I think it would REALLY help to open the HOV lanes, just to get the traffic moving a little better. I know that’s not fair to the carpoolers, but in an extraordinary situation like today, it would help the 98% of the rest of us.

I never saw even one person (cop, crossing guard, anybody) directing traffic once I got off of 75 either. That would have really helped too.

P.S. I’d LOVE to be able to take Marta to work, but there are only a couple of routes from northern Cherokee County, none of which fit my (inflexible) work schedule. More buses, more routes at more times, please! I’m begging you.

By Gloria

January 25, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

Hey, Intowner: Some of us don’t “choose” to live in the burbs. The house I have that is exactly 1/4 mile OTP would cost 1.5 million in Morningside. Excuse me for not wanting to live in a $300,000 2/1 house. AND i traveled down Briarcliff this morning and it still took 45 minutes to get from Emory to Midtown. SO SHUT UP.

By SS88

January 25, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

Okay, who are these people who are able to crowd into downtown Atlanta during work hours on a Thursday and where do they work? Are their companies hiring? Cause CLEARLY I am in the wrong field. I need a job that’ll let me off work to go hear a bunch of middle aged men say the exact same things they have written in their books that I can check out of the library for FREE.

By David

January 25, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

4 hours from Marietta to downtown- Marietta Street. 4 hours.

By KT

January 25, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

40 minutes to get from Howell Mill Road to Courtland street! Yikes, I just moved here, this is crazy. I agree that the AJC should have maybe warned us about this yesterday.

By Shouldacallednsick

January 25, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this

It took me 3 hrs to get to work coming from Cobb Parkway, it usually takes 20 minutes. Who in the world decided it was smart to host two conventions side by side on the same day and at the same time state legislation let in? Then the traffic sign had the nerve to post: Events Downtown Expect Major Delays, it would have been nice to know that YESTERDAY!!!

By WSB listener

January 25, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

People who “never once heard about the traffic,” AM 750 was warning about this as early as 7:30am, when my alarm went off, saying the traffic was terrible.

By Billy Bob

January 25, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

Ihate Atl Traffic. It Sucks! 1hr 30min in traffic for a 15 mi- 20min ride

By KLS

January 25, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this

I left my house at 7:50 this morning expecting a typical 25 minute commute from Moores Mill to CW Grant Pkwy. I finally arrived at work at 9:35. The city should issue alerts days before expected congestion such as this. I would have happily left at 6:30am to avoid sitting in this type of traffic.

By Don Mills

January 25, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this

We must improve our road systems! Where is APD when you need them, but I bet they will be there when you are doing 60 in a 55.

By Ray

January 25, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this

20 was hosed this morning so I decided to take Memorial drive only to find that the reversible lane during this mornings commute was going outbound instead of inbound. Inbound Memorial drive was limited to one lane.

Since the reversible lane was outbound during the morning commute are they going to swith it to inbound for the evening commute.

By Uvatexn

January 25, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this

Am I correct in the horrible thought that all these people have to go back home tonight? I might have to get a hotel instead of trying to navigate the 7 miles to my house (which took me 1 hr, 5 min this morning)

By rekkidbraka

January 25, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this

Thank you to the kindhearted lady who let me cross two lanes of traffic on Windsor St. downtown after we’d both been sitting in convention traffic for 40 minutes this morning, going nowhere for less than 1/4 of a mile.

Instead of being selfish about your space in traffic, you let me exit the traffic nightmare, get on I-20 west, head south to East Point and take MARTA. That allowed me to get to work (eventually). And at the MARTA lot, after I found my parking space, I helped another woman find a space so she could get to work on time. Good goes around.

By Beege

January 25, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this

Oh what a nifty ride this am, I had even started earlier than usual from my home in Douglasville because yesterday was a mess & I didn’t want to be late for work Downtown. Oh my goodness yesterday was a breeze compared to today. What is wrong with these people that come down to conventions or whatever, people are trying to get to work and those idiots are blowing their horns wanting us to get out in the middle of the street to block traffic when the light changes and anyway the police dept should have had cops out there directing traffic (especially off the xway ramp). Doesn’t the police dept keep up with when conventions & seminars are in town? My God!!!!

By PO'd

January 25, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this

This should be a wake up call to Atlanta. If Atlanta wants to continue to host these events, some kind of FUNCTIONAL mass transit MUST be in place.

Either that or we need to tell all of the tourists, include the damn AmericasMart idiots, to GO HOME!!!

By JJ

January 25, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this

The Atlanta mayor is a complete imbecile! In fact, most of the people running this city are! Just a bunch of ghetto thugs without a clue dressed up in suits. Who thinks its appropriate to bring an additional 50k people into the city during rush hour traffic…especially without any warning for incoming commuters!?!?!? What a joke…

By Barbara

January 25, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

All of Atlanta media were caught with their pants down this morning concerning traffic. I agree, why not inform us earlier, as in the day before? As a subscriber who still believes in reading the written/printed word: enough of home styles, pandas, Michael Vick’s adolescent behavior. Traffic is a hot topic in this city. Report before it happens.

By Deborah

January 25, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

traffic was a breeze this morning except for the small silver pick up truck and red small car that had to show rode rage on I-20. anywho My drive in from Loganville to Crawford Long Hospital took me 40 mins. but I did leave home at 5:30am and pulled into my parking space at 06:10am

By die hard traffic fan

January 25, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

TO INTOWNER…

IT COST AN ARM AND A LEG TO LIVE IN THE GREAT COUGH COUGH AND I SAY THAT WITH AN OUNCE OF SINCERITY .. I MEaN GREAT CITY OF ATLANTA…

I normally take the MARTA but no thanks to STONECREST MALL.. they were mad at us for parking on mall property despite the fact we shop there and eat there after the blue flyer bus drop us off. I dont even shop there no more.

I take my hard earn $$$ and shop in the city.

IF we live 30 miles away from the city it because it cheaper to live 30 miles away from the city.

Frankly the Mayor is at fault because she has the power to put the police on the streets to direct traffic.

By JMS

January 25, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

I could tell something was up when I left my street…but not a word on the radio!! What ups with that!!! At least let us know what is going on over the radio!! I figured it out by myself and it took and extra 20 min I could have saved if I had had a heads up on the radio!! The police try but they are CLUELESS when it comes to directing traffic. as there is no communication and it just builds and gets worse, time fixes the jam not the directing by police, sorry to say!

By Lazy1

January 25, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this

I really have to play catch-up at work today because of the traffic. So I thought I would waste more time and do an AJC blog entry.

By die hard traffic fan

January 25, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this

another thing .. i understand these out of towners and conventioneers bring mega $$$$$ to the city’s economy.

But what the heck is the city doing with all that money???

Cant buy no traffic patrol unit?

The solution is to make MARTA bigger.. if yall dont have a clue.. yall need to fly to new york city.. one of the biggest transit system in the world… and see how they do it there.

IT IS A FACT THAT ATLANTA IS GROWING FAST and the MAYOR need to step it up!!!

URBAN RENEWAL INITIVATES NEED TO TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION.

AS FOR CONVENTION IN GWINETT COUNTY .. it was a smooth ride.. i really like how the cops and folks make it a smooth transistion in arriving and leaving.

MARTA need to go beyond the city..expand into all the counties.. forms alliance and partnership. IT SHOULD BE 24 hours! after all the airport is open 24 hours why not MARTA?!?!?

I AM LEAVING WORK at 3pm cuz I REFUSE TO be a sitting duck in traffic lol

By ITP

January 25, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

Is that fun stories to read or what. I agree with intowner.

By SC

January 25, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

Even MARTA is overtaxed today…North Springs is completely out of parking (something I have NEVER seen happen before) and people are reporting trains are packed.

The poultry people are here every year…Get Motivated, get bent.

By SC

January 25, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this

BTW…it took me about 30 minutes to get to downtown from Northridge, but that was at around 11:30 am. :p

By ralph

January 25, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this

I have no sympathy for your Gwinnett and cobb commuters. You all should have voted MARTA rail years ago. Choke on your smog in 75-85 traffic.

The state needs to take over MARTA and make it a true regional transit, not the joke GRTA is. Of course, Perdue and the GOP idiots aren’t going to do anything worthwhile.

I should be able to get on a rail train in douglasville, conyers, Marietta, Canton and ride anywhere in the metro atlanta area. I’d love to be able to do that before I retire or die!!

By brian

January 25, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this

Everyone can afford to live inside I-285. Just not where they want to live. Plenty of houses south of I-20 for less than $150K.

Conventions charge good money for attendees. Give them MARTA passes with their registration.

DOT, spend money on getting a rail system (MARTA or otherwise) to run from Lawrenceville to Newnan and from Conyers to Lithonia, etc.

To MARTA, I live off Cheshire Bridge and have to walk half a mile to catch the bus. Wonder why I don’t ride it? WE need better coverage if people are expected to use public transportation.

My 15 minute commute was 30 minutes this morning. Not bad considering everyone else’s issues. But still, twice as long as it should have been.

By Sandra

January 25, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

I took me 1 hour 45 minutes to go 17 miles from Glade Rd to Delk. I did not even go highway all the way.

By Mel

January 25, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

It took me 20 minutes to get from one side of the Andrew Young Int’l Boulevard bridge that spans the Connector to the other side. That was maybe 150 feet (0.08 mph). I don’t usually come into Atlanta from Druid Hills, but I had to drop my son off at school in Decatur. I finally gave up on trying to make it the last block to Courtland St. within eyesight of my turn and turned right on Piedmont instead to get over to Courtland from Baker Street and Baker wasn’t a whole lot better. I wondered why the Perimeter on the east side from Ellenwood to Decatur was such a breeze this morning: everyone was in downtown!

By Kinsey

January 25, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

I was an hour and a half late for an interview. Great first impression huh. And Also….No Police anywhere! Amazing to me that there was no one directing traffic. Took 2 hours to go 10 miles.

By Intowner

January 25, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

All I’m saying is that people make choices. Living intown does cost more, and you have less square footage for the same dollar. But, the commute is better. Tradeoffs. And, there’s plenty of neighborhoods to live in rather than Morningside, which is the poshest address in Midtown.

I do agree with the bloggers who question where the advance info from the AJC was. They sure seem to be all over the story now.

By Ron

January 25, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

I live downtown and, as usual, I cruised leisurely to work as I laughed at all the suburbanites stuck in traffic coming the other way.

By BUSHWACKER

January 25, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

Any adult who needs to see a motivational speaker is a LOSER who is only making the speaker rich!!!

By AG

January 25, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this

Atlanta ISN’T ready for these events. Atlanta can;t even handle the traffic that already exist in Atlanta in small suburban areas.

GET IT TOGETHER ATL

By Susan

January 25, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

I’d seen it bad before, but never as bad as this morning. Atlanta Cops need to recognize that downtown streets have lights for a very good reason. Get the cops out of the intersections, and let traffic move through its normal routines. Alter the lights maybe, but don’t turn them off. Cops make incompetent traffic directors. On the other hand, the cops should be proud. There were probably 15 of them at most, and they affected thousands of people’s lives for the worse. That 6:45a backup all the way up 75 Northbound this morning? Thank your trusty APD, standing in the intersections downtown off Williams Street exit, thinking they can do better than the engineers who arranged the traffic lights.

By Olivida

January 25, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this

Whew! My drive in from Kirkwood usually takes 15 minutes, but this morning I was stuck in traffic for TWENTY minutes.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

nyeh nyeh nyeh

By scared

January 25, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this

What happens in an emergency is what I wanna know.And I watched the news all night last night, and nothing was given to warn about this mess they call a commute.

By dino

January 25, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this

It took me almost 3 hours to get from Kennesaw to my office in downtown today—-I sat on I-75 for 1 hour from Chastain Road to 285. The state needs to add more lanes to I-75—-it’s not equipped to handle a lot of traffic. But, with the morons in the Transportation Dept., it’ll never happen.

By Dresden_Rocks

January 25, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this

I’m glad I don’t work in Midtown or Downtown. After reading some of these comments, I am so glad I work in Buckhead!

HOwever, what the hell is our city doing? Where are the cops? What the freak is our honorable Mayor doing? And, she is supposed to be one of the best mayors in this country?! This is the same person who campaigned for her party’s Fulton County commission campaign by claiming that if her candidtae did not get elected, Republicans would take us back to the days of getting hosed by water pipes and attacked by police dogs!

It is precisely this kind of racist politics and administrative ineptitude that forces the tax payers of our northern suburbs to form a separate county. They want us to pay our taxes, but where is the service, when we need it, Mayor Franklin?!!!

By What Traffic Jam?

January 25, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Bless you GRTA!!! Drove 5 miles to the GRTA bus stop, got on the bus, fell asleep immediately. Woke up an hour later to see the horrible traffic jam AND that I was a block from the Marta station. Hopped on Marta, rode right up to the entrance of my building. Total trip: 45 miles Trip time: 1.5 hours Much needed nap: 1 hour Total Cost: $1.40

Don’t hate me because, I’m well rested!!

COMMUTE PEOPLE!! It’s the way of the future!

By Mrs. T

January 25, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this

I left home at 7:00am from Conyers. I arrived here in my office at 10:45am. Horrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Nicole

January 25, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

I left my house in Canton at 7:15 this morning and FINALLY arrived at work at 11:15!!!!!!! Why would the DOT choose to put signs up alerting us to major events downtown the morning of as we are already sitting in it. Here’s a thought, let us know the night before so we can prepare. Or just take the day off.

By Nana

January 25, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

I left Marietta at 6:57 a.m. I arrived at the state Capitol for work after the nightmare traffic at 10:16 am. That’s over 3 hours and 16 minutes, folks. Dealing with Legislators on a daily basis is never this bad.

By spoiled

January 25, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

Re: Kittycat - My work starts late (around 10) so i can usually make it from Maynard to 14th in about 10 minutes.

Since it took me about 15 minutes to get from Kirkwood to Grant Park on I-20, I ultimately got off at Hill and took Piedmont. It still took me close to an hour. Glad I did, now that I see how long you spent on the connector.

Much apologies to the citizens with real commutes. I’d push MARTA on you too, except conventions make MARTA even more unreliable than usual.

By Akagi

January 25, 2007 12:43 PM | Link to this

Intowner:

You also get worse schools, higher taxes, poorer services, and higher crime. So I’ll take an occasional nightmare traffic day over the alternative.

By BUSHWACKER

January 25, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this

You morons who need motivation are only MAKING THE SPEAKER RICHER, hope one of you has the guts to tells us all what you got out of the speech.

By Dee

January 25, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

Coweta accident + International Blvd exit = 2.5 hours of commuting. Did someone say “more public transportation?” If they build it, we will come!

By D. Potter

January 25, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

Took 2 hrs. 45 min from E. Cobb - open up the HOV lanes to all traffic when these horrendous conventions take place & keep Williams St. moving for god sake.

By Kittycat

January 25, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

Hey, Intowner -

I DO live inside the perimeter. I drive 5 miles on surface streets to get to the expressway, then drive 5 more miles on the expressway to work, and this morning that 5 mile drive on I-20 took 68 minutes. And once you’re on the expressway, there’s no exiting back on to the surface streets since everyone else is trying to do the same thing too.

Don’t be so smug. No matter where you were coming from this morning, traffic sucked. You’re the ONLY person so far today I’ve heard of who had a perfect commute.

By If You'd Taken MARTA

January 25, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

Where’s the clown that said “If you’d taken MARTA, you’d be there by now”? That’s a lie. I took MARTA this morning I was not there when I should have. Northside Ave was horrible. This city and its leaders don’t have a clue !

By what 2do

January 25, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

Yes, traffic sucked today. I even used the back roads from Vinnings and it still took me a hour to get to North Ave. Now “they” say that the afternoon drive will be even worse. Well, screw that! I am so glad there is a pub down the block from my office. I wonder what the specials are today?

By Wish I wore Nikes

January 25, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this

I live in Covington and it took me 3 hours to get to work downtown! I-20 was an absolute mess. I didn’t hear anything on the radio either. I wish I wore Nikes to work instead of these hig-heels - I’d probably get home faster!

By BW

January 25, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

Just another example of why metro atlanta needs a major overhaul where transportation is concerned.

It amazes me that the powers to be have not gotten their act together since the Olympics were hosted here in the 90’s, that adequate transportation alternatives would be needed. The population has been growing in leaps and bounds since then and nobody had the foresight that this might become an issue!!! How stupid can gov’t be to think that building more roads/highways is the solution to this problem?

IDIOTS!!!!

By Thursday

January 25, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

I work and live in the ‘burbs, so didn’t have to deal with traffic today. This is the first I’ve heard of this mess today.

Anytime I have to go downtown, which is about once a year, I take MARTA.

I only have a 17 mile commute, and it’s straight down Peachtree Industrial Blvd from Buford to Norcross. 25 minutes.

By Karen

January 25, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this

No parking at the Marta station where I normally park, but once I found a place to park across the street, it was a breeze. The train was a little crowded, but the conventioneers were much quieter than the Woodward Academy kids usually are. Now, the wait for a train Wednesday afternoon around 4 was horrible, but I digress…….

By Goldfish

January 25, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this

I just got here!

By another nightmare commute

January 25, 2007 01:00 PM | Link to this

Just remember this the next time the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and city officials boast of “successful” events bringing all these thousands of people to the city to spend money. How much are today’s events costing downtown employers who operate in this city each and every day? I know I’ll be leaving early after arriving an hour and a half late. What a debacle.

By S. Smith

January 25, 2007 01:02 PM | Link to this

There’s more than enough blame to go around - start with the engineers who designed the interstate system in the downtown area - a hairpin curve, 3 connecting interstates, and on-ramps that precede offramps, making entrance and exit literally impossible in a city of hostile drivers. As for help with traffic by the APD - count your blessings when they are a no-show. And how about that multi-million dollar traffic signal system we put in place for the Olympics - it only works if consecutive red lights were the goal.

By Noelle

January 25, 2007 01:05 PM | Link to this

I live 3.5 miles from my office — I drive from Briarcliff and Clairmont to Clifton Road, near Emory. It usually takes me 15-20 minutes, depending on when I leave. Took me 35 minutes this morning, half that time just to get past North Druid Hills. Apparently people who usually get off 85 further south jumped off at Clairmont instead. That may not sound like much, but it’s still double my usual commute time, and I go nowhere near downtown!

By Jason

January 25, 2007 01:08 PM | Link to this

Normal day:

5 minute walk to MARTA station, average 3 minute wait for train, 4 minute ride to destination station, 3 minute walk to the office

Today:

5 minute walk to MARTA station, train pulled into the station as I walked through the gate (EXCELLENT!), 4 minute ride to destination station, 3 minute walk to the office

It was a nice commute for me! Yes the train was a bit more crowded than usual but still nothing like they are after a Braves game.

By tim

January 25, 2007 01:11 PM | Link to this

Live off Moreland. Work in Five Points. 2+ hours. My wife got out and walked once we got to the intersection of I-20 and Capitol (we always take back roads instead of the interstate). She works at City Hall and beat me by over 45 minutes.

Any suggestions for picking her back up? I can leave early and avoid most of the rush, but she can’t leave until 515 at the earliest. Someone please help!

By mcraig

January 25, 2007 01:14 PM | Link to this

All I can say is “poor babies”. So glad I don’t live in my hometown (Atlanta) anymore! I’ll take the traffic in Columbia, SC anytime.

By Ticked Off

January 25, 2007 01:21 PM | Link to this

It took me 2 1/2 hours to get to work this morning. I left my house at 6:30 and usually get to work at 7:15, but nooooo at 7:30 I was getting off I-20 on the spring street exit and from there it took me 1 1/2 hours to get to my parking deck which is at Spring Street and Marietta Street which normally take like 5 minutes max to get to. And why didn’t they announce that there is going to be stupid conventions and seminars today? I would have called in sick today!

By CM

January 25, 2007 01:23 PM | Link to this

Just over an hour and a half to go six miles down Marietta Blvd / Marietta St. Usually this is a 15-20 minute ride. The real problem was the intersection in front of Phillips Arena. They were letting dozens and dozens of cars cross the intersection on Techwood and only let five cars at a time get through on Marietta. Once I got through that mess, it was clear sailing.

By john

January 25, 2007 01:25 PM | Link to this

What traffic? I went my normal route from 14th street, to Piedmont, to Chesire, to Buford Hwy in 20 min…

By David

January 25, 2007 01:27 PM | Link to this

2hrs 40 minutes from Douglasville yesterday due to a hit and run; 2 hrs 30 minutes to day due to chicken. Thanks to AJC for the wide coverage of the major conventions. NOT!!!

By P247

January 25, 2007 01:31 PM | Link to this

WHERE were the police this morning? The AJC article said that police were out all over directing traffic. I saw one, and he was near Centennial Olympic Park. Absolutely ridiculous.

By Neal

January 25, 2007 01:33 PM | Link to this

20 minutes from Windy Hill Rd to 10th St on I-75! Oh but I left home at 6am.

By happy

January 25, 2007 01:35 PM | Link to this

For once - I am glad I live in Macon….I used to drive to Atlanta for a day of shopping….now, no more….even on the best of days, Atlanta’s traffic is more than us out in the boondocks folks can now tolerate….oh, how I used to love that trip to Atlanta years ago and going to downtown Rich’s for a day!

By tim

January 25, 2007 01:35 PM | Link to this

MCraig:

It’s still South Carolina. And Columbian at that. Yuck.

(I am from Charleston).

By Ben

January 25, 2007 01:36 PM | Link to this

I live in East Cobb and commute to Emory each day—I usually take 75 to 85 to Lenox. Today I spent about 20 minutes getting from Delk to 285 (approx. 2 miles) and, not looking forward to the 1:40 it would take me to get to 85 at that rate, I jumped on 285 east to 400, which managed to save me from being irretrievably late. 400 was bad, but nowhere near as bad as 75.

By EP3

January 25, 2007 01:37 PM | Link to this

I should have known something was going on while coming from McDonough in Henry County. I-75N was an exceptionally great ride without any traffic…until I approached University Ave at 8:45, which I thought was the normal rountine. Traffic came to a stand still.

My commute normally takes a little over one hour, with traffic, to reach my office near the CNN building. I left my home at 7:50. I did not get to my office until 10:40. I spent over 2 hours on Atlanta’s surface streets,which is twice as long as I spend traveling 40 miles on 75N…IN TRAFFIC! ONE WOULD THINK THAT A WARNING WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE DAILY COMMUTERS TO ATLANTA. ITS BAD ENOUGH DEALING WITH DAILY TRAFFIC, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS!

…AND WE HAVE SUFFER THROUGH THIS AGAIN. (sigh)

By Beaux

January 25, 2007 01:39 PM | Link to this

3.5 hours from East Cobb to Courtland exit, starting at 7:30.

By John

January 25, 2007 01:40 PM | Link to this

Traffic was bad, and for all of you who are bashing APD, I saw numerous officers working wrecks on the expressway, and all around Phillips Arena there were motorcycle police directing traffic. If you left late or planned on a last minute seminar, shame on you, APD thanks for