Another deficiency of the transportation impact analysis is that it only considers the impact of infrastructure changes on the ease of travel for automobiles. Unlike this more common impact analysis, a multimodal level-of-service analysis simultaneously considers the needs of all users of a street: automobile, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian. This allows transportation officials to understand how a decrease in automobile level-ofservice might correspond to an increase in pedestrian level-of-service. Through this more well-rounded understanding of the interaction of all modes, roadway designers are better able to create a “complete street”. An important alternative to evaluate in the process of a multimodal level-of-service analysis is the possible extension of the Auburn-Edgewood streetcar line along MLK and towards the Atlanta University. Ethan Davidson, Director of Communications at the Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., told SaportaReport that a streetcar extension to the Atlanta University Center was a top priority. While there has been many suggestions on what route potential extensions should take and the cost of any such extension is not a small matter, any design for a newly aligned MLK must take into consideration the potential routing of the streetcar from the proposed MultiModal Passenger Terminal site across MLK and down to the Atlanta University Center. Finally, any outcome of a DRI, multimodal level-of-service analysis, or streetcar extension must consider the land use implications. Take for example the space between MLK and Mitchell Street indicated in Figure 3.1.2. This “leftover” space between Mitchell Street and a bending MLK creates an opportunity to incorporate the corridor’s geometric design into the land use decisions and the street level design of the new stadium. Potential options for this area include park space to serve as a meeting point between the stadium and potential more intensive land use south of Mitchell Street, a streetcar station if an extension across MLK is approved and funded, pop-up storefront space for game day vendors or small business incubators, or a food truck rodeo turnaround.
Figure 3.1.2. Potential Realignment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, maintaining the continuity of MLK and connecting the neighborhoods to Downtown
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