What's Best Traffic Options For 315 West Ponce?

Within about a week, construction could commence on the $40-million 315 West Ponce mixed-use project that will create 235 apartments and 10,000 square feet of retail space near downtown Decatur. 

Fencing has already gone up around the property that when completed will feature a seven-story parking garage on what is the asphalt parking lot behind the office tower at West Ponce and Ponce de Leon Place.

Among the biggest concerns of the residents of the Ponce Terrace neighborhood about the project is traffic. For that reason, the City of Decatur’s planning director has asked Ponce Terrace homeowners to fill out a traffic calming survey by Saturday.

From the Traffic Calming Survey:

Proposed Traffic Calming Goals

1. Identify and Implement changes that will help define Ponce Terrace as a residential neighborhood to be treated with reverence by drivers

2. Slow vehicular traffic that is driving in the neighborhood

Are there any other traffic calming goals that you would like to add?

Proposed Traffic Calming Ideas to support the goals

These ideas will be researched in detail to determine if they are feasible, the impact they would have on the city’s transportation system, ability to deliver emergency services and what they would cost to implement. Before we research a particular idea we would like to determine the level of neighborhood interest in the idea.

Please circle the ideas you support. Cross through the ideas you do NOT support. Add any other ideas that you have.

Prevent left turns from 315 Ponce onto Ponce de Leon Place

Restrict streets in the neighborhood to resident only parking

Install new turn signals at West Ponce and Ponce Place

Allow entrance and exit from the 315 site onto West Ponce de Leon 

Allow parking on both sides of the street on Montgomery Street 

Create a traffic enforcement plan

Consider neighborhood signage

Look at adding turn lanes on West Ponce and Ponce de Leon Place

See here for more on the survey, which can be dropped off at City Hall, or emailed to Planning Director Amanda Thompson at amanda.thompson@decaturga.com.

What do you think are the best measures for city officials and residents to take to insure traffic accompanying the development project will have the least amount of impact on the quality of life for nearby residents?