McDonough bans on-street parking in Avalon area

Photo of South Point Blvd, August 2018 (staff photo)

The McDonough city council passed a measure during its April 19 meeting to ban on-street parking on three streets. The three roads are Avalon Parkway, Industrial Parkway and South Point Blvd. The measure is effective starting June 1, 2021.

The council approved the item within their consent agenda. Before voting on the item, council woman Kam Varner thanked city staff for their work to bring the measure forward. The streets are located within the district she represents.

The council adopted an ordinance in March allowing the police department to regulate on-street parking. The ordinance states the following:

  • The police department shall regulate the stopping, standing and parking of vehicles on city streets. They can install signage or yellow painting to advise motorists as such.
  • No vehicle shall remain parked on any city street for longer than twelve (12) hours.

Avalon Park

Similarly, the McDonough Police Department recently shared notice on their Facebook page about no truck parking at Avalon Park. The city partnered with Swanson Towing & Recovery in Stockbridge to tow away “illegally and / or improperly parked vehicles.” The action took effect on May 1.

Truck Parking Shortage

The increase in illegal truck parking is caused by insufficient safe parking areas in metro Atlanta. The Atlanta Regional Commission conducted an in-depth look into the issue during 2017–18.

The study found Henry County has 40 truck parking spaces. By comparison, Butts County has 450 spaces concentrated at I-75 and state route 36. Many other surrounding counties have zero spaces, such as Fayette, Newton, Rockdale and Spalding Counties.

By 2045, ARC estimates the I-75 South corridor will need an additional 223 truck parking spaces. In addition, the I-675 corridor requires 106 spaces. The study considered the I-75 South corridor between I-285 / Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and Butts County. Other needs may exist further south outside of metro Atlanta.

Freight parking was also an issue discussed by the general assembly’s two-year commission on freight & logistics. The study group met in 2019–20. This year, lawmakers agreed to create the commission on e-commerce and freight infrastructure funding. The group will continue to evaluate freight issues within Georgia.

About Clayton 1738 Articles
Clayton Carte is the founder and owner of The Henry Reporter. He founded the site in 2017 to highlight transportation projects. Over time, he began covering other topics like new development so residents can best know what’s happening in our community.

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