Atlanta City Council directs funds to Cascade Road business owners

Following complaints from business owners on Cascade Road of economic disruption caused by an ongoing road closure and construction the Atlanta City Council has approved an ordinance directing Invest Atlanta to use funds remaining in the Atlanta Recovery Fund to promotion businesses along the corridor During the Sept meeting the council unanimously approved an ordinance redirecting funds initially allocated to backing the small businesses impacted by the water main breaks in spring Last month entrepreneurs on Cascade Road spoke to the council about the economic disruption caused to their businesses by the ongoing construction for the Cascade Road Complete Street project urging the council to provide an updated timeline to the construction and provide financial patronage Following general comments made by owners of businesses like MoreLyfe Juice J R Crickets and Natalie Bianca the Atlanta Department of Transportation implemented an around-the-clock construction schedule on Cascade Road and the road reopened on Aug More pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements are also underway according to ATLDOT The council also unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday requesting MARTA to appear before the transportation committee to provide a comprehensive update on safety protocols and infrastructure accountability This resolution comes after an escalator malfunction at the Vine City MARTA station on July following a Beyonce concert at Mercedes-Benz Stadium left at least people injured According to a state inspection the escalator oversped before abruptly coming to a stop because of a high volume of passengers Less than a month later two MARTA police officers were shot at the Five Points MARTA station after attempting to arrest a suspect for general indecency According to the resolution MARTA s safety update will cover escalator inspection and maintenance history the cause of the malfunction crowd safety and control measures system-wide hazard analysis and citizens safety Other regulation passed at Tuesday s meeting included a resolution issuing a million contract for the construction of Fire Station -EMS an ordinance authorizing an application for a examination grant and committing in matching funds to identify recommended rider rail locations that can be served by existing and future intercity visitor rail operation ordinances donating to the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and to the Grove Park Foundation and a resolution to remove all parking meters in the Atkins Park Commercial Zone of Virginia-Highland Related stories Beltline purchases more property in Buckhead for Northwest Trail Fulton County approves billion plan for new jail facility and renovations The post Atlanta City Council directs funds to Cascade Road business owners appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta