Avondale Estates Awarded $3.37 Million State Grant for Shared Streets Project

In a big boost to downtown walkability, Avondale Estates has been awarded a $3.37 million grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation to launch the city's first-ever shared streets program.

The Downtown Avondale Shared Streets project will create shared streets on the Washington Street, Franklin Street and Oak Street corridors. In all, the project includes seven blocks in the heart of the downtown district that will, once transformed into shared streets, accommodate multiple modes of transportation.

The new shared streets will be designed to improve connectivity in the downtown area, link local businesses and regional bike facilities, and support the city's ongoing efforts to promote sustainable transportation options. The project will incorporate a range of key elements, including stormwater infrastructure, green infrastructure, landscaping and lighting to improve accessibility and environmental quality.

The shared streets concept is new to Avondale Estates but was first used in European cities starting in the mid-1990s and designed to prioritize pedestrians by creating a common space shared by all types of users. As projects in Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris have demonstrated, they work well in constrained, urban environments where pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and even parking spots need to be accommodated in limited public spaces.

"This is the right solution for Avondale Estates with a nod to our historic connection to the European village concept," said Mayor Jonathan Elmore. "It's also another major step forward in our continuing efforts to make transportation as easy, enjoyable and efficient as possible through our city."

The funds come from GDOT's Transportation Alternatives grant program, which is federally funded. GDOT has partnered with the Federal Highway Administration to provide the opportunity for local governments to improve the quality of life for citizens in communities across the state by pursuing projects that might not otherwise be possible. That includes projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, pedestrian streetscape improvements, and other non-traditional transportation-related activities.

The cost of the project is $3.37 million and includes a preliminary engineering phase, set to begin next year, followed by the construction phase that is slated to start in 2027. Avondale Estates must provide local matching funds for 20% of the project, or $673,9000. The city's share can come from a variety of funding sources, including local funds, a SPLOST, a Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant, and awards from the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank.

"This grant will help Avondale Estates provide multi-modal transportation through the downtown corridors in a beautiful and functional way," said Lori Leland, the city's Planning and Development Director. "Due to the constrained nature of the right-of-way in these corridors, expanding the width of the streets wasn't a feasible option. But the shared streets concept and GDOT have given us an excellent alternative."

Map of the proposed shared streets in downtown Avondale Estates.