ATLANTA — Atlanta leaders on Wednesday morning will consider a proposal to ban turning right on red lights in some of Atlanta's busiest pedestrian zones.
Atlanta City Councilmen Jason Dozier and Amir Farokhi introduced the proposed legislation earlier this month.
The ban on right turns at red lights would apply to Downtown, Midtown and the Castleberry Hill neighborhood near Downtown. The legislation is due up for consideration in a City Council Transportation Committee meeting set for 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning. If eventually approved the committee, it could reach a full Council vote.
Councilman Dozier spoke to 11Alive's Rarione Maniece ahead of the meeting, citing data including 38 pedestrian deaths in collisions with cars in 2022, amid a broader 50% rise in pedestrian deaths since 2020, as reasons for the legislation.
"I like to come Downtown a lot with my daughter, we go to Atlanta United matches, and we see all those folks that are coming down to Mercedes-Benz Stadium," Dozier said. "Too often cars, Ubers, Lyfts or whatever are just trying to get in and out and not really paying attention to the people around them."
He said the proposal was about enhancing the pedestrian experience in some of Atlanta's most walkable areas.
"It is the heart of our city and we want to make sure that people feel safe crossing the street," he said. "We want to make sure that pedestrians have a fighting chance when it comes to just trying to live their lives."
Other cities that have already taken the step include Raleigh, North Carolina - which also limited the ban to its downtown area - and Washington, D.C.