Transportation committee holds proposed aerial pedestrian bridge over MLK for more public input

The Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee on an item to grant temporary, permanent and perpetual easements for an aerial pedestrian bridge across Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the Georgia Building Authority, and then held the item for further consideration.

The measure, introduced as ordinance 25-01340, would “grant temporary, permanent, and perpetual easements under, upon, above, and across a portion of the right of way of Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard … consisting of approximately 1,865 square feet for the construction, repair, replacement, maintenance, and operation of an aerial pedestrian bridge” to the Georgia Building Authority, according to the legislation read into the record.

The item drew public comment from David Mitchell, who identified himself as executive director of Atlanta preservation, and questioned why the state sought perpetual easements over a city street without broader public discussion. “I beseech you to either best table this or allow this opportunity for the public at large to have some sort of conversation about what’s gonna affect the MLK Corridor forever,” Mitchell said during public comment.

Cheryl Glenn Snooks, director of real estate for the Department of Enterprise Assets Management, told the committee the easement would allow “an aerial bridge across MLK Junior Drive” and said it is intended to “allow for safer crossing of pedestrians from the State Legislative Building … and the existing State Building.” She explained the state needed authorization because the bridge would use footings and air rights above the city-owned right of way.

Council members raised planning and urbanism concerns. Council member Dozier said he was “a thousand percent” opposed on urbanism grounds and argued elevated walkways can reduce street-level activity, citing other downtown pedestrian bridges as examples. Council member Farrokhini said she opposed the proposal and cited a long-term city goal to “make our street life match our skyline,” arguing the bridge would be “bad public policy” absent a clear exception such as patient transport.

After discussion the committee voted to hold the item in committee. The vote was recorded as 5 yays, 0 nays and the clerk announced “The item is held in committee.”

The legislation that was presented references waivers of conflicting provisions of the Atlanta City Code and cites the need for city authorization because the structure would occupy public right of way and air rights. The committee did not adopt the easement; it stopped further action to allow additional review and public engagement.

Next steps: the item remains held in committee. Committee members asked for further information and public engagement before returning the easement measure for a future vote.