Intro

1. Introduction

 Overview of the previous perception of engineering projects.

 Early association of engineering with economic progress.

2. Pre-1960s Perspective

 Acceptance and celebration of engineering works by society.

 Rarity of environmental and social concerns.

 Political and professional view of complaints as minor impediments to progress.

3. Shift in Attitudes in Late 1960s

 Recognition of the broader impact of technology on society and the environment.

 Consequences of technological progress:

 Relocation of families and businesses.

 Disruption of communities.

 Harmful environmental changes.

4. Legislation and Change

 Introduction of federal laws in the 1960s.

 Purpose of these laws: ensuring consideration of social and environmental factors in

engineering projects.

5. Evolving Role of Engineers by the 1990s

 Increased sensitivity among professional engineers to societal and environmental

concerns.

 Integration of public attitudes and concerns into the engineering design process.

6. Conclusion

 The multifaceted role of engineering: beyond mere mathematical problem-solving.

 The ethical obligation of engineers to consider potential harmful effects on people and
the environment.

Background

1. Introduction

 Introduction of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the Atlanta

Regional Commission's planning by 1960.
  Objective of the planned controlled-access highways.

2. Design and Objective of the Highways

 Location of the highways: near Atlanta’s central business district.

 Purpose: to ease traffic congestion near the city center.

 North-south development details:

 Name: Interstate Route I-485.

 Relation and comparison to existing routes: I-75/85.

 East-west development details:

 Name: Stone Mountain Tollway.

 Role: major carrier for commuter traffic from the eastern suburbs.

 Reference to a map: Figure 8.1.

3. Characteristics of the Highway Design

 Alignment: straight.

 Gradient: relatively level.

 Structure: wide shoulders, two lanes in both directions, separated by a median.

 Speed limits and purpose: designed for speeds up to 70 mph and accommodation of
heavy trucks.

4. Implementation and Opposition

 Start of rights-of-way acquisition: 1961.

 Impact area: established neighborhoods.

 Public reaction: opposition from many residents.

 Level and organization of opposition: not well organized or widespread.

 Outcome for affected landowners: limited negotiation options, potential legal actions
for better compensation on a case-by-case basis.

Social and Environmental Legislation

1. Contextual Introduction

 Planning and design timeline of Route I-485 and the Stone Mountain Tollway.

 Delay in introduction of significant social and environmental legislation.

2. Landmark Federal Legislative Provisions

  Introduction of key legislations addressing social and environmental impacts of
highways:

 Department of Transportation Act of 1966.

 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

 Clean Air Act of 1963.

 Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Policies Act of

1970.

 Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1970.

3. Department of Transportation Act of 1966

 Objective: Preservation of the natural beauty of the countryside.

 Section 4(f): Limitations on projects affecting public parks, recreation areas, wildlife
refuges, and historic sites.

 Emphasis on minimizing environmental harm.

4. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

 National Policy: Establishing harmony between man and nature.

 Formation: Three-member Council on Environmental Quality.

 Key features: Environmental impact statements (EISs) requirement.

 Section 102: Directives and requirements for federal agencies, including:

 Interpretation and administration of policies.

 Integration of natural and social sciences.

 Consideration of environmental values in decision-making.

 Detailed statement requirements for actions affecting the environment.

5. Clean Air Act of 1963 and Subsequent Laws

 Objective: Encouraging local and state control of air pollution and establishing air quality
standards.

 Motor Vehicle Control Act of 1965: Introduction of pollution control devices in new
vehicles.

 Progression: Involvement of both state and federal agencies in further air pollution
control.

6. Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Policies Act of 1970
  Objective: Uniform treatment of individuals affected by public projects with federal
funding.

 Features:

 Standard policies and procedures for just compensation.

 Guidelines for negotiation with property owners and property acquisition.

 Provisions for formal condemnation proceedings.

7. Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1970

 Objective: Ensuring consideration of possible adverse effects during planning and

development of federal-aid highway projects.

 Requirement: Guidelines by the Secretary of Transportation to consider economic,

social, and environmental effects.

Significant state Legislation

1. Introduction

 Emphasis on the role of state laws in major highways' planning and construction.

 The cooperative cost-sharing arrangement between the federal government and state.

 Georgia Department of Transportation's operation under state laws.

 Georgia's laws concerning land acquisition and disposal for transportation.

2. Significant State Legislation

 Section 32-3-1 (a), (b)

 Property acquisition means and methods for transportation purposes.

 Extensive list of public road purposes.

 32-2-2 (8)

 Department's authority on property matters related to public road purposes.

 32-3-3 (a)

 Authorization for property donations, transfers, or devises for public road

purposes.

3. Abandonment of Interstate Route I-485

 1971 court decision halting I-485 due to the need for an Environmental Impact
Statement.

 Controversy surrounding the proposed Stone Mountain Tollway.

  Governor Jimmy Carter's commission's recommendation against the Stone Mountain
Tollway.

 Governor Carter's acceptance of the recommendation in 1972.

 City of Atlanta's reversal of I-485 approval in 1973.

 Atlanta Regional Commission's deletion of I-485 from plans in 1974.

 Withdrawal decisions of I-485 from the Interstate Highway System (1974-1975).

4. Post-Abandonment Developments

 Tom Moreland's Perspective

 Former Commissioner, Georgia Department of Transportation's views on the

project.

 State Transportation Board's 1977 decision to dispose I-485 properties north of St.
Charles Avenue.

 Efforts to address north-south traffic service.

 Recognition of the need for transportation improvements in the east-west corridor.

 Introduction of the Decatur Parkway and Decatur Parkway Connector.

 Reservation of rights-of-way south of St. Charles Avenue and Ponce de Leon Avenue for
future transportation needs.

Local Plan Development

1. Introduction to Local Plan Development

 Ongoing controversy regarding the use of the rights-of-way for I-485 and the Stone
Mountain Tollway.

 Development of various proposals both from public and private sectors.

 Reference to the environmental impact statement for the Presidential Parkway.

2. The Great Park Proposal (October 1975)

 Produced by a citizen ad hoc committee, consultant (Arkhora Associates, Inc.), and the
city.

 Features of the plan: mix of parkland and housing, transportation improvements.

 Criticisms and shortcomings of the plan.

3. Atlanta Great Park Planning, Inc. (AGPP)

 Creation and representation of AGPP in March 1976.

 Great Park II (1977)

  Focus on recreation, economic development, housing restoration, and
community revitalization.

 Conclusion of the need for further study.

 Great Park III—Housing Study (October 1979)

 Focus on housing within the rights-of-way.

 Adoption of previous recommendations for transportation, open space, and

economic development.

 Legal restrictions due to non-inclusion of transportation improvements.

4. GDOT's Park and Road Concept (August 1978)

 Proposal of a four-lane roadway in both east-west and north-south directions.

 Development of a park on the remaining land.

 Opposition from City of Atlanta and AGPP for being too transportation-focused.

5. Portman's Land Use Plan (1979)

 Overview of the plan which involved extensive tunneling.

 Proposal for a Presidential Library.

 Challenges and criticisms of the proposal.

6. Great Park Authority (1980)

 Creation and purpose of the Great Park Authority.

 The Great Park Plan (1981)

 Inclusion of park and housing facilities with several road alignments.

 Impacts and estimated costs of the alternatives.

 Lack of action from the General Assembly on the proposal.

7. A Decade of Diverse Proposals

 Summary of the various proposed uses for the rights-of-way over the decade.

 Challenges in reaching a consensus due to diverse needs.

 Stagnation in land use leading to the vacant status of the tract within the city.

8. Emergence of the Presidential Parkway Concept

 Background leading to the concept of the Presidential Parkway.

 Positioning of the Parkway as a potential solution to the ongoing land use impasse.
The Presidential Parkway

Background and Beginnings:

 In January 1981, former President Jimmy Carter returned to Georgia.

 His friend, Andrew Young, had been elected Mayor of Atlanta.

 Commissioner Tom Moreland, who served under Carter, was still the Commissioner of
Transportation.

 Carter was planning to establish a Presidential Library but had not finalized how to finance it.

 A significant stretch of unused highway land, originally meant for road projects, had become a
hotspot for crime and was seen as a nuisance.

 Carter played a significant role in the selection of a site for the library, more than publicly
known.

The Proposition:

 The proposed plan was to turn the unused land into the Presidential Parkway and the Jimmy
Carter Presidential Library.

 The parkway would consist of a pair of two-lane roads, one for each direction.

 This proposal aimed to utilize the vacant 219 acres of land, provide a tourist attraction, and offer
Carter a prime location for his library.

Public Opposition:

 While the proposal had many benefits, local residents strongly opposed the parkway.

 They did not want a road at all, especially not a four-lane parkway.

 Mayor Andrew Young and a team of professionals held over 70 meetings to discuss and refine
the plan with citizens.

 Despite these efforts, the project faced significant public resistance.

Legal Challenges:

 Several court cases emerged as local residents and other groups challenged the environmental
impact and other aspects of the project.

 These legal battles spanned over seven years and led to changes in the project's length, design,
and functions.

Mediation and Resolution:

 In 1991, the state and opposition groups entered mediation.

 Mediation proved effective, and after multiple meetings, the parties reached a compromise.
  The modified plan saw a parkway that was more harmonized with the neighborhoods and less
intrusive to the parks and historical areas.

 Engineers played a crucial role in devising this compromised design.

 The settlement agreement was formalized in June 1992.

Key Takeaways:

 The Presidential Parkway saga is a testament to the challenges of urban development, especially
when it involves historical and residential areas.

 While the state and developers saw the potential benefits, local residents were concerned about
the disruption and changes to their communities.

 Open dialogue, public hearings, legal processes, and eventually, mediation, played crucial roles
in finding a middle ground.

 Compromise was essential in the resolution, with both sides giving ground to achieve a result
that, while not perfect for everyone, was acceptable to most.

The Freedom Parkway

I. Introduction

 Background of the Freedom Parkway.

 Overview of the agreement reached, involving a 47-page document, resulting in the creation of
the Freedom Parkway.

II. Details of the Settlement

 A. Infrastructure & Design:

 A meandering parkway with specified intersections and terminations.

 Features intended to slow traffic.

 Exclusion of trucks with gross weights over 10,000 lb.

 Specific dimensions for travel lanes, curbs, gutters, and shoulders.

 B. Land Use & Development:

 Comprehensive disposition of rights-of-way not utilized for road purposes.

 Creation of park land.

 Linkage between the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District and the Carter Center.

 C. Legal & Jurisdictional Components:

 Agreement of DOT not to build more limited-access highways in the project area.
  GDOT would dismiss a pending condemnation action.

III. Design Features of the Freedom Parkway

 Curvilinear alignments.

 Amenities from the original Presidential Parkway, including a bicycle path, landscaping,
playgrounds, and special structural treatments.

 Visualization provided in Figures 8.7 (plan view) and 8.8 (cross-section).

IV. Congressional Approval

 U.S. Congress' action to bypass the need for a new environmental assessment.

 Construction approval of the project MEACU-9152(2) in Fulton County, Georgia.

 Deeming the execution and approval of the settlement as compliance with Federal laws.

V. Conclusion and Reflection

 A. Overview:

 The journey of the Freedom Parkway, spanning over 30 years.

 Involvement of multiple mayors, commissioners, governors, and a former U.S.

president.

 B. Impacts and Perceptions:

 Differences in the final design compared to the initial vision.

 Remnant distrust among the residents towards the GDOT.

 Overwhelming relief and satisfaction post-settlement.

 C. Broader Implications:

 Engineering projects' complexities and their interactions with public officials and
citizens.

 Importance of recognizing societal views' dynamism.

 The contrasting perceptions: some seeing benefits, others focusing on negatives.

 Necessity for engineers to collaborate with officials and citizens to achieve a balanced
solution.

VI. Visual Aids

 Figure 8.7: Plan view of Freedom Parkway.

 Figure 8.8: Typical cross-section of Freedom Parkway.

 Figure 8.9: Timeline of major events in relation to the Presidential Parkway controversy.
In this case study, the narrative effectively illustrates the journey of Atlanta’s Freedom Parkway project
from conception to its realization. It highlights the intricacies, challenges, and collaborations required in
engineering projects that have societal implications