South Peachtree Creek PATH trail update: Emory connector now complete

PATH has published an update on how the South Peachtree Creek Trail is coming closer to connecting to the Emory campus: https://pathfoundation.org/atlanta-regional-trails/south-peachtree-creek-trail-connections/

Emory University will celebrate the opening of campus-side portion of the trail on April 20. There is now a paved PATH section to safely convey  cyclists and pedestrians under Clairmont Road, and a widened sidewalk connecting to the Emory campus.

New path under Clairmont Road and expanded sidewalk along the Emory campus on Clairmont Rd.

A visual recap: green marks the existing South Peachtree Creek PATH that connects Medlock Park to Mason Mill Park and on to North Druid Hills Road. Purple marks the new Emory PATH connector.

Finally, to connect the dots, PATH says that

"The final portion of the trail will connect Old Clairmont Road to Clairmont Place, following South Peachtree Creek along Clairmont Lake before turning along the railroad tracks to follow Burnt Fork Creek as it flows through the Ira B. Melton Park. By the end of this year, Medlock Park, Mason Mill Park and North Druid Hills Road will be connected by trail to both Emory University's main campus and its Clairmont campus."

Grand opening: new section of South Peachtree Creek Trail [June 24]

A new section of the South Peachtree Creek PATH opens this week. For several years now, we have been enjoying the PATH that connects Medlock Park to Mason Mill Park. This new section creates a connection to North Druid Hills Rd. 

The AJC reported on this extension here (bonus: short video of the trail as experienced on a bike).

UPDATE: PATH's updated trail map appears below. The new trail section starts next to the tennis courts at Mason Mill park and ends at  North Druid Hills across from Spring Creek Rd.

from https://pathfoundation.org/trails/south-peachtree-creek-trail/

As noted by PATH last March, the "PATH design team has initiated design between Mason Mill Park and Clairmont Road near the VA Hospital. There are easements to be obtained and funding to be identified, but it seems promising we will have a trail from Mason Mill Park to the Emory campus during 2018."

Same map as above, on a wider perspective. The pink arrow highlights a short leg of the trail that now connects to the Claremont Place senior/retirement community. 

Per the PATH website, "Future phases of this trail will continue to Emory University and north to North Druid Hills Rd. When completed the trail will allow bike/ped access from scores of neighborhoods directly to the Emory campus."

PATH updates

DeKalb County and federal funds are helping the PATH foundation make great progress on the trail that will connect Mason Mill Park to North Druid Hills Road. The expected completion date is June 2018.

PATH also says that the design phase has begun for the trail section that will connect the South Peachtree Creek trail to the Emory campus, crossing Clairmont Road near the VA Hospital. Fingers crossed, that path will be available in 2018.

To read their press release, go here.

PATH: connecting Medlock and Leafmore neighborhoods

Image from PATH website.

PATH's recent press release notes that the South Peachtree Creek Trail is being extended across North Druid Hills Rd. This new construction is marked as "A" in the map to the left. Additional details about the South Peachtree Creek PATH extension are available here.

When complete, this "extension will connect with the South Peachtree Creek Trail at the Mason Mill Tennis Center parking lot thereby providing seamless walks and rides between Leafmore and Medlock Park."

Beltline, here we come: South Peachtree Creek expansion to Leafmore Creek Park and Emory University

"The PATH trail that meanders through Medlock Park, following South Peachtree Creek to the Mason Mill Tennis Center will soon double in length...." Read all about it here. It includes some mock-ups of how improvements will look.

Some highlights:

• Expansion from Mason Mill Tennis Ctr. to North Druid Hills Rd. at Spring Hill Creek Road, linking to the Leafmore Creek neighborhood
• Southerly expansion to the Clairmont Place retirement Complex. Later, that trail will connect to Clairmont Road near the VA Hospital.
• "PATH and Emory University are teaming up to connect the Emory Transportation Center on Starvine Way to the South Peachtree Creek Bridge where the trail will pass under Clairmont Road to connect with the future phase described above (D on map). Construction on this phase could begin in early 2017. Emory University plans to make improvements for walking and biking through their campus between the Clairmont Road entrance to the campus and Emory Village. When all extensions are completed, residents of Leafmore, Medlock Park and Emory will be connected by PATH to the Freedom Park Trail and the Atlanta BeltLine."

via https://pathfoundation.org/2016/09/south-peachtree-creek-trail-to-be-extended
View this and other images at the PATH's website: open each image in a new tab then zoom in for details.

Update on DeKalb Transportation Plan

Big thank you to Mary Shellman who attended several meeting and brings these updates about DeKalb County's Transportation Plan 2014. Mary writes:

"The Medlock Road project is part of the Multimodal projects (#5092).  It is also on the Bicycle/Pedestrian projects (#0308).  Sidewalks along Scott Blvd are also on there (#0276) but they seem to be unaware of the sidewalk work that Decatur has already completed.  There are many other projects on the list including several in Emory.  The Clairmont/N Decatur Road intersection is on the intersection projects.  I was told that the Scott / Medlock / N. Decatur Rd intersection would be part of the Medlock Road Multimodal project.   

You are now able to fill out the online survey and list your preferences for projects.  They said the online survey will only be up for a couple weeks..."

Also note that project #0499 appears to highlight the development of easement space for bicycle and pedestrian use. It appears to connect Medlock Park to the area between the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve and North DeKalb Mall.

These are in/near Medlock projects:

BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN: these projects are in Medlock or very adjacent, or will add to a network that will make Medlock more ped/bike-connected to other areas of interest in the County 

# 0276. Scott Blvd. From W Ponce de Leon Ave  to Church St. Widen the sidewalk on the northwest side of Scott Boulevard in sections designated as Safe Routes to School by acquiring easements from adjacent property owners. Fill in gaps in a few areas where sidewalks don't exist.   

# 0308: N Decatur Rd. From Briarcliff Rd to N Indian Creek Dr. Provide access for cyclists along this corridor. A detailed corridor study will be needed to determine the best design for this project 

# 0485: Farmers Market Trail. From South Peachtree Creek Trail to Stone Mountain Trail in Avondale Estates. Expansion of the PATH Foundation trail system (Farmers' Market Trail) 

# 0499: South Peachtree Creek Trail. From Atlanta at Lenox Rd, the North
DeKalb Shopping Center to Farmers Market Trail and Zonolite Park. Expansion of the PATH Foundation trail system (South Peachtree Creek Trail) 

MULTIMODAL 

#5092. N Decatur Rd. From Clifton Rd. to East Ponce de Leon Ave. Four lane section to include a median as well as bike and pedestrian improvements. --> this one includes our dearly demented Scott / N Decatur Rd / Medlock intersection

Transportation Plan 2014 Documents page  ||    List of all projects  ||    Survey Link 

The survey is anonymous and you can complete some or all answers. Actual questions are listed below, for your convenience :)  Your feedback will help improve County-wide transportation. If nothing else, open the survey link and offer your feedback or support for in or near Medlock-projects, whose numbers are listed next to the project map links below.

__________________________Transportation Survey Questions__________________________

Part I: Fill in the blanks to name up to 5 of your most and least supported projects for each project category.  M = Medlock interest project

Roadway Corridor Project Map

Roadway Intersections Project Map --> # 690 (Clairmont Rd / N Decatur Rd intersection: Operations; Intersection Improvement, incl turn lanes)

M Bicycle / Pedestrian Project Map: projects #0276 (Scott Blvd), #0308 (N Decatur Rd), #0485 (Farmers Market Trail), #0499 (South Peachtree Creek Trail)

M  Multimodal Project Map: project #5092  (N Decatur Rd)            

Part II.  Multiple choice answers

Transportation Policy Preferences (10 multiple choice question)

Clifton Corridor  and I-20 Corridor (1 question) : support one, both, neither?

Priorities: maintain and repair or expand and improve system & how to secure said funds? (6 questions)

Comments

__________________________________________________

Pedestrian and cyclist improvements. Purple means bike/pedestrian projects, blue highlights pedestrian projects and red indicates bicycle projects. Dashed green indicates existing PATH foundation corridors.

Multimodal Recommendations Map: Green highlights operations and safety, blue suggests road diets, burgundy indicates "new connections" and dashed green lines highlight existing PATH Foundation corridors.

Highlight of megaproject map. Yellow line represents the planned Clifton Light Rail; orange highlights the existing
MARTA heavy rail.

Per page 20 in the County's transportation plan slide presentation, "Mega projects are larger interstate or transit expansion projects (such as the I-20 and CliftonCorridor projects) for which DeKalb will advocate but not be required to provide funding.

Want A Bicycle Bridge Over I-285 on the PATH Stone Mtn Trail?

Approximation of area being considered for a multi-use trail,
between Glendale Rd. (Marker "A") and Erskine Rd. (Marker "B"),
per information below

from Bicycle South

Next Tuesday October 8th at 10AM the DeKalb County Commission will consider a proposal to condemn approx 10’ (average) off the Church St edge of the CSX railroad right of way from Glendale to Erskine for the purpose of building a trail bridge over I-285 and a continuous multi-use trail along the route. If you've ever ridden the trail, you know this is the worst & most dangerous section between Decatur and Stone Mountain! PATH and the County have the funds, GDOT has approved the bridge, the permit is in place and the Clarkston City Council is in support and now is the opportunity to make this happen.

However, the DeKalb Commission has postponed this vote once before because the Commissioner for the district, Sharon Barnes-Sutton, has expressed some doubt about the need for a bridge. If you live in DeKalb and want a safe way to ride or walk this trail, then now is the time to contact her & the other Commissioners: Jeff Rader, Larry Johnson, Elaine Boyer, Stan Watson & Kathy Gannon. [Link to DeKalb County Commissioners' email addresses and phone numbers.] 

Map outlining "The Stone Mountain Bike Ride" that starts and ends at Bicycle South
map via http://www.sadlebred.com/maps/decaturstonemtn.gif

PATH update

Update: Oct. 24, from the Path Foundation website:

The last section of trail between Mason Mill Tennis Center and Medlock Park is installed. PATH crews are finishing up grading, landscaping and site amenities. You can use the trail on weekends and afer hours; be careful in areas where work is still in progress.
DeKalb County is planning a grand opening later this fall. Watch this post for details.

We are almost there: today (Oct. 21), the work crew is pouring the last segment of the path connecting to the Mason Mill park. Walker, joggers and cyclists be advised that in order to go that way, you will need to go all-terrain, along the just-poured sections, and it's pretty muddy and uneven.

PATH update

Tim at CHCA alerts us that

The cement sections are finished from the old stone bridge to the dirt road at the end of McConnell Drive.

Check the CHCA site for recent photos!

PATH: a little safer now

PATH's progress continues.

Safety rails have been added to the Mason Mill side right off the bridge.

No more Evil-Knievel-flying-off-the-ramp airborne action... sorry, kids!

A safety fence has also been added to the retention tank that catches overflow from the retention pond. [Corrections welcome, if that's not how this works!]

Now fenced-in tank. Pond visible to the left.
A significant portion of the ground near the pool and trail has been covered in straw (and one assumes, re-seeded). 

For many more, higher-quality photos, visit the CHCA website.

PATH update

Work continues!

Some more rails will be added to the Medlock side of the bridge...

...and the same is in store for the Mason Mill side.

Near the retention pond, it really looks a bit like an archeological dig.

Quasi-panoramic view--retention pond side

Rainwater flows under the boardwalk then tumbles to the retention pond.

It's fun to see more structures appear as the underbrush is cleared.

Old stairs lead to an even older chimney.

Old Decatur Waterworks fountain... will it splash again?

We can't know what the Decatur Waterworks looked like in its full glory, but it's exciting to see the area cleared and improved for everyone's enjoyment.

PATH update

The PATH bridge over the railroad tracks is now open. Crews are now working on pouring the sidewalk sections that lead to the bridge. Although there is no continuous sidewalk yet, it's open, it's walkable, and lots of runners, walkers, strollers and doggies were in evidence this morning.

New sidewalk: Medlock side

New sidewalk: Mason Mill side

Railroad tracks, from the bridge. 

South Peachtree Creek Trail -- Phase II construction

As you know, PATH and Dekalb County have been developing a combination of paths and boardwalks to connect Medlock Park to Mason Mill Park. Per a trail alert in PATH's website :

PATH crews are building the trail connection between the existing trail and the new bridge over CSX. Meanwhile DeKalb County’s contractor hired to restore the water works site has begun work adjacent to the new trail. Their work will continue for 6-8 months which may delay construction of the trail from the bridge to the tennis center parking area. Use EXTREME CAUTION traversing the dual construction sites. The new trail extension  is NOT open at this time. 

Tim (CHCA) has an even better update (yes, with photos).

And here's a view of the Medlock Community Garden, from the PATH at the corner of Willivee and Scott.

Mason Mill Park & Decatur Waterworks updates

The CHCA website has, again, awesome updates and photos of progress being made on the South Peachtree Creek trail and on the Mason Mill waterworks.

Our neighborhood has enviable access to walking trails and parks. Below is a map that highlights MANA-accessible greenspace. I added the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve since it didn't show on GoogleMaps.

Highlighted in reddish/maroon is the actual trail that is now very close to connecting Medlock and Mason Mill parks. The W marks the location of the Mason Mill waterworks.