DeKalb County

Dunwoody working to make its streets safer for drivers, bikers, walkers

DUNWOODY, Ga — Dunwoody is working on an action plan to make its streets safer for all users, not just for those behind the wheel.

The city council unanimously voted to approve a $166,864 contract to develop a plan to improve safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

“This plan will provide a path forward to improve street safety with a special focus on vulnerable road users like pedestrians and bicyclists,” said Dunwoody City Manager Eric Linton in a statement.

The city reserved $1.2 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act for street safety improvements over the next three years. That money pays for the contract with Toole Design and the hiring of a Safe Streets Program Manager.

“We’ll be doing a lot of public involvement with the neighborhoods, the schools, the EMS, police – everybody – to try and figure out where some of these priority areas are,” said Jonathan Digioia, the Safe Streets Program Manager.

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Many improvements will not require big construction projects, Digioia said, but rather quick, inexpensive fixes. Those could include adding crosswalks, erecting signs, or building a concrete island in the middle of a street. City officials say crash data and public response will guide the city to identify trouble spots that need fixing.

“Just as Dunwoody has adopted plans to guide real estate developments and improvements in parks and transportation, this road safety plan will identify the highest risk locations in the city,” said Dunwoody Public Works Director Michael Smith in a statement.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, with $5 billion in funds available over the next five years. Communities must have a Road Safety Action Plan to apply for this money to pay for safety improvements.

On Monday, Channel 2′s Bryan Mims spoke with residents to see how they were feeling about this plan.

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Claudia Harry, a Dunwoody resident, said any safety plan that keeps pedestrians uppermost in mind should get the green light.

“I think we’re becoming such a pedestrian city, which is so exciting, that I’d love to see more accessibility for bikers,” she said. “Maybe wider walkways to be able to walk on so we can fit more people.”

Chris Kosobud, who walks his dog on Dunwoody streets daily, said he welcomes any improvement to the safety of pedestrians.

“They’ve done a great job over the past couple of years,” he said. “The more sidewalks is obviously the better. When we first moved here 20 years ago, there really weren’t as many sidewalks.”

But he said in a Metro Atlanta suburb like Dunwoody, dealing with heavy traffic is a fact of life. “I think it’s safe,” he said of walking in Dunwoody. It’s busy, no doubt about it. You kind of have to keep your eyes open.”

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