Getting Around the Eastside Trail Extension

With the Eastside Trail extension now open to Kirkwood Avenue, we are so excited to add even more Atlanta BeltLine to your neighborhood! As many of you are already aware, everyone has a duty to maintain their own safety and the safety of others when using the trail. This may mean slowing down on a bike, staying to the right if you’re walking, or keeping your dog close by, as our etiquette campaign explains.

The Eastside Trail's new extension on Wylie Street. Photo: John Becker
The Eastside Trail’s new extension on Wylie Street. Photo: John Becker

On very few parts of the Atlanta BeltLine, people will have to interact with cars, such as the intersections of the Eastside Trail at Irwin Street and DeKalb Avenue.

DeKalb Avenue can be a challenging road to navigate. We wanted to ensure the safe crossing of the thousands of people that use the Eastside Trail every day. At this juncture, the construction of the trail also includes the implementation of a “pedestrian scramble” at Krog Street and DeKalb Avenue. Though it sounds like it could be a brunch special, it’s actually a method of traffic signalling where all motor vehicle traffic is halted at the same time to let bikes and pedestrians through. 

If you’re going north on the trail, this means you’ll stop on the east side of the Krog Tunnel at DeKalb Avenue. If you’re going south, the trail is on the west side. When the scramble is triggered, you may cross in any direction once all motor vehicles are stopped. Please, for your safety, do not cross at this intersection until the scramble is triggered.

The intersection of Krog Street & Dekalb Avenue. Once the pedestrian signals are functioning, trail users may use the diagonal crosswalk to cross the intersection. Photo: John Becker
The intersection of Krog Street & Dekalb Avenue. Once the pedestrian signals are functioning, trail users may use the diagonal crosswalk to cross the intersection. Photo: John Becker

Additionally, the Eastside Trail will have a gap between DeKalb Avenue and Edgewood Avenue until early 2019 as North American Properties builds out The Edge – an $80 million development with affordable housing. For now, trail users will need to use Krog Street and Edgewood Avenue as a detour. A ramp and stairs at Edgewood Avenue enable easy access on and off the trail at that point.

At the Irwin Street crossing, we have what we call a “speed table.” Like a speed bump, a speed table protrudes from the ground with the intent of slowing down vehicles, but with a flat surface for pedestrians to cross. It is everyone’s responsibility to be safe when crossing, especially as this particular intersection has only been a pedestrian crossing for a short time. Rapid flashing beacons have been installed that will flash yellow when you press the button. It’s very important that they are used every time someone crosses the road so that drivers learn to watch for people crossing this intersection. Drivers have the responsibility to go slow to protect their vehicle on the speed table.

The speed table at Irwin Street.
The speed table at Irwin Street.

Just like with other safety and etiquette initiatives, there is a learning curve. As you are out enjoying the Atlanta BeltLine, please make sure you are aware of other people at all times, on all sections – be they cyclists, joggers, drivers in motor vehicles, or people with strollers. It’s the safest way to be on the trail, and it’s just plain old good etiquette.

32 thoughts on this article. Join the discussion below

    1. The speed table at Irwin is not striped as a crosswalk, so please be mindful of passing traffic when you cross. The lights serve as a warning to cars that pedestrians may be crossing, but you should be overly cautious and wait until cars have come to a complete stop for you before you cross. Thanks for the question! – JR

  1. The Krog Street Tunnel sidewalk is too dark, narrow and dangerous for bicycle traffic and pedestrian traffic both. The Beltline might consider posting signs advising bike traffic to travel with car traffic, as is GA law and City of Atlanta Code. The photo of the intersection clearly illustrates bikers heading directly into the path of the sidewalk and pedestrians standing on the corner. What you can’t see is who may be walking towards Decatur Street in the tunnel.

    1. Hello Dan:

      Thanks for the comment. Lighting improvements are planned for the tunnel and should be implemented next year. In the meantime, we advise cyclists to walk their wheels on the sidewalk if they do not feel safe riding in the road. Signs advising cyclists to walk their wheels at this location will be installed with our signage and wayfinding program.

      Best,
      JR

        1. Has this happened yet? It’s been 4 years! There are still a lot of bicycles riding on the sidewalks of the tunnel… almost got run over last week.

          1. Hi Ted – the eastern side of the Krog tunnel is considered the mainline trail and open to all users.
            Thanks,
            Jenny

    1. Hi Brian,

      The Southside Trail, which goes through Grant Park and connects the Eastside and Westside Trails, is in the design phase right now. More information will be available later this year, but construction is likely still a few years off. Hope this helps!

      JR

  2. When will the BeltLine extension that will go along the new Madison Yards complex on Bill Kennedy Way be completed? Is there a link available for viewing the upcoming plans, to see a visual model?

    1. Hi Nicole,

      We are still working with the City on the design of Bill Kennedy Way. We don’t have a timeline to share yet, but hope to soon.

      Thanks,
      JR

  3. Why were stop signs not utilized at the speed table on Irwin? Stop signs are understood by motorists and provide further protection from accidents with Beltline pedestrians and cyclists.

    1. Hi Mike, Good question –

      Because of its proximity to two other stop signs (at Krog & at Auburn) the goal for this crossing was speed control, which is aided by the speed table. As the area continues to develop, we will continue to observe this intersection and make changes if needed.

      Hope that helps clarify.

      JR

  4. Please consider trimming the trees along the Wylie section of the trail. The already-narrow trail is further impinged by the tree branches that reach into the south/east bound trail lane at head/face level. Everyone has to swerve into oncoming users to avoid being hit in the face with tree branches. I feel like the Wylie section was designed too much to look pretty rather than be functional. Please keep the trees trimmed back from the trail, at least at face level.

  5. I had heard from the manager of the Enso Apartments on Bill Kennedy Way that the Beltline was going to curve around BEHIND their building. It doesn’t look like this route was in the plans that I looked at but was curious if the actual plan to to keep straight down Bill Kennedy Way until it picks up at Glenwood?

    1. Hi John,

      We are in negotiations with a contractor for that section now, which means a timeline will be announced soon, but we are expecting to be able to start it later this year. Stay tuned for more info. Thanks for the question!

      JR

  6. is there a map showing where easily accessible parking is (this applies to all of the beltline actually, but i am asking most immediately about the new extension)?

    for example, parking on irwin has always been iffy, but much more difficult since krog market and the extenstion… there’s the o4w skate park which is awesome during the week to access the eastside trail.

    so: where should i go to park and access the extension without being ticketed, charged (metered), etc.?

    and why isn’t there a map with this for the whole beltline (believe me i have done my research!)??

    1. Hi Rob,
      We indicate where parking is available on our trail map here:
      https://beltlineorg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017-Trail-Maps-Brochure-Updated.pdf

      This includes paid parking options and on-street parking around Historic Fourth Ward Park and Skatepark. We don’t generally indicate where parking is / isn’t allowed on residential streets.

      This map covers all of the sections of the Atlanta BeltLine that are open. While we have 5 trails and 7 parks, the whole 22-mile loop isn’t yet complete.

      I hope this helps!
      Thanks,
      Jenny

  7. Is there any active effort fo expand the portion of Lang Carson Park that faces Wylie Street (east of Flat Shoals)? Doing so was noted in the master plan but it’s unclear if park expansion is still a goal.

  8. Is there any active effort fo expand the portion of Lang Carson Park that faces Wylie Street (east of Flat Shoals)? Doing so was noted in the master plan but it’s unclear if park expansion is still a goal.

  9. It would be very helpful for people to know if bikes and scooters are allowed on the sidewalks within the Krog Tunnel. Is that stretch considered Beltline and therefore permitting both bikes and scooters? Or is it actual covered under City of Atlanta roadway regulations not allowing scooters and bikes on the sidewalk? As you can imagine, it can be a struggle for pedestrians to deal with people whizzing past them in the confines of the tunnel walkways.

    1. Hi Aras,
      We’re discussing this internally right now. It is definitely part of the BeltLine, so should be treated like a multi-use trail with bikes and scooters allowed, however, we might need to make this a “walk your wheels” spot due to the narrow width.
      Thanks!
      Jenny

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