Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Getting Around
The Atlanta Braves are trying to convince people that it will be easy to get to SunTrust Park. But with about 81 days until Opening Day, it’s fair to suggest that concerns still exist.
Admittedly, being an out-of-towner with some challenges to walking long distances, I will be waiting for a while before trying SunTrust Park for my next Atlanta Braves game.
Beyond that, though, there are the locals – whom this park is intended to serve – that may face their own challenges. That’s the main topic of the Chop today…
Braves, Cobb spar over transportation projects at SunTrust Park
DAN KLEPAL, MERIS LUTZ – AJC.COM
“Three months before the first pitch at SunTrust Park, the Atlanta Braves’ front office is claiming Cobb County taxpayers owe $14 million for roads, walkways and other pedestrian improvements at the team’s new stadium.
“The Braves have already paid most of those expenses, and team officials say the county is contractually obligated to reimburse them. The county says it has already paid that — and much more.
“The dispute has been on-going since December, with origins that date to the earliest agreements forged by the county and team in 2013 and 2014. Those contracts require that $14 million in public funds be spent on transportation improvements, and are vague as to the exact projects covered by the money.
“Cobb transportation director Jim Wilgus wrote in a Dec. 2 memo to County Manager David Hankerson that taxpayers have already spent $69.5 million on nine road projects for the stadium and privately owned, mixed-use development.
…
“The Braves’ list includes $5.8 million for public roads inside the mixed-use development; $5.7 million for elevated walkways over two outside roads; and $2.2 million for pedestrian improvements between the ballpark and satellite parking lots.”
Much more at the link above
[ Ed. note: it appears that the Braves have at least realized that waiting on the County to get these projects done would be a disaster, as they are desperately needed as part of the overall plan to help get people in and off site.
Yet even a cursory look at the jobsite this morning shows that crews will be scrambling to finish key elements by the time the first game is played at the end of March (an exhibition against the Yankees to complete the Grapefruit League schedule).
The article above goes on to cite a state-mandated traffic study concluding that sold-out games will put 20,000 extra cars into the immediate neighborhood around SunTrust.
However, the Braves will have only 10,000 parking spaces close by on Opening Day… though promising “thousands of additional spaces within walking distance.”
Oh, and did we mention that Cobb County banned the common practice of local neighbors selling space in their front yards for extra parking? There is a move to reverse that ban, but at last word, no vote had been taken on the matter. ]