Politics & Government
Paul: "Optimistic" About Cobb, Sandy Springs Negotiations On Traffic
Mayor Rusty Paul's comments follow news that the Atlanta Braves will shift all home games to start 30 minutes later.
SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul continues to put a positive spin on how the city and Cobb County will come to an agreement to mitigate traffic going to and from the new Atlanta Braves stadium.
"Our staff and Cobb County staff are continuing to meet, and I'm optimistic that we'll make progress on the other issues that were contained in my letter," the mayor said.
Paul is referencing an August 2014 letter he drafted to the Major League Baseball team outlining concerns connected to the construction of SunTrust Park and its impact to Sandy Springs.
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The mayor's sentiments come on the heels of the Atlanta Braves announcing that it will start all home games at 7:30 p.m. instead of 7:05 p.m.
"We did not talk to the Braves directly about the start time, but they were aware of our concerns, and I believe they made the start time change to help deal with some of the issues I raised in my August 2014 letter," Paul stated.
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For its part, Cobb County has also agreed to help the Georgia Department of Transportation in getting a slip ramp -- an exit-only ramp from I-285 west to Interstate North parkway -- installed, but "we have much more work to do on the other issues I raised in that letter," the mayor continued.
According to a statement on the sports team's website, "There’s no doubt that traffic can be challenging anywhere in the metro Atlanta area, and that’s why the Braves are moving the start time of home games back 30 minutes to 7:30 p.m.
"Moving the start time back enables the bulk of traffic associated with the afternoon rush hour to clear out," the statement continued. "When comparing the 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. time window to 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m, the result is a 12-percent decrease in the number of cars on the road. When peak rush hour (5:45 p.m. to 6 p.m.) is compared to the 7 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. time window, the reduction is even more dramatic at 30 percent."
Patch editor Tim Darnell contributed to this story.
Image via Atlanta Braves
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