Making the Case for the Downtown Athens Master Plan

Writing for the local publication Flagpole, University of Georgia College of Environment and Design Professor Jack Crowley recently published the fifth article in a series detailing a proposed Downtown Master Plan for Athens, Georgia.

The fifth, and most recent, article examines the controversial case for rail in the university town. Crowley begins by acknowledging, “any form of evolution away from big cars on big highways is always controversial,” but goes on to explain the importance of density in determining route options and point out that the dense conditions on campus at the University of Georgia provide the necessary demand for rail service.

Earlier articles break down the plan into “bite-sized” portions, including 1) an introduction to the master planning process and the context for the effort, 2) a discussion of the plan’s bike infrastructure improvements, 3) an explanation of the plan’s proposed pedestrian improvements, and 4) a description of the plan’s parks and open space components.