Community Info

Click here to see the Course Map

Click here to see the Street List, which includes street closures and traffic lanes

Community Information

The following information is provided to help people who live, work, and worship near the Atlanta 13.1 Marathon® course plan their drive during 7am-10:45am on Sunday, October 7, 2012. With this information, you’ll be able to see which roads will be impacted by the race and plan an alternate driving route to your destination to minimize traffic delays. Check out the following topics for detailed information about the race course, each street on the course, suggested driving directions to various sections of the course, and other logistics information.

The Atlanta 13.1 Marathon® Course, Date, and Time

The Atlanta 13.1 Marathon® on Sunday, October 7, 2012, includes a half marathon (13.1 mile) and 5K (3.1 mile) race that start and end at Town Brookhaven. Start time is 7:00am and the finish line closes at 10:45am. After exiting Town Brookhaven, participants in both races run together for the first 2+ miles, then the 5K participants return via Hermance Dr to the finish line and post-race activities at Town Brookhaven. The half marathon participants continue their 6-mile loop south of the campus, then a 7-mile loop north of the campus, then return to Town Brookhaven for the finish line and post-race festivities.

The Atlanta 13.1 Marathon® Street List

Click here to download a printable Street List, which shows the runners’ lanes and the traffic lanes during the race. The Street List provides detailed information for each street on the course including:

The number of lanes and side of street reserved for race participants (closed to vehicle traffic).
The lanes that are open to traffic during the race.
Landmarks like Silver Lake, Keswick Park, and Blackburn Park.
The approximate time of the first and last runners at each mile point, after which the runners’ lanes reopen to vehicular traffic.

Traffic Information

Police Officers. Police officers at each traffic intersection control traffic and maintain public safety.

Right of way. During the race, participants in the designated runners’ lanes have the right of way. Police stop race participants only for an emergency vehicle to pass. Police make non-emergency vehicles wait to cross the course until there is a gap in the runners. There will be extended periods when there are no gaps in the runners, during which non-emergency vehicles will be required to wait or turn back.

Travel Strategies for Race Day, Sunday, October 7, 2012

Plan Your Itinerary before Race Day – If you expect to drive near the race on Sunday, October 7, 2012, look at the Course Map and determine if your usual itinerary will encounter the race course during the street closure times on the Street List. If so, plan a different itinerary for race day, using the Traffic Information and these suggestions to reduce delays.

Avoid Crossing the Course - Because runners have the right of way, drivers are advised to plan your drive to avoid crossing the course until the runners’ lane reopens to traffic. Generally, you will make better time by driving a longer distance that goes around the course, if possible, or by driving before or after the applicable street is closed to cross traffic.

If You Reside on a Street on the Course – The evening before the race, position your car in your driveway to face the street so you can drive forward into the street rather than back out. This will enable you to watch for gaps in the runners, watch the Police or race officials for directions, and exit your driveway more quickly when there is a gap. Drive in the traffic lane in the normal direction of traffic.

Consider MARTA Rail – If MARTA rail is convenient to the start point or end point of your race day travel, taking MARTA may be your fastest option. Park at any of the 23 MARTA rail stations that offer free daily parking (up to 24 hours) and ride MARTA to your destination. Note that MARTA bus routes may have temporary detours on race day due to the street closures.

Walk Rather than Drive Across the Course– It can be quicker and easier to walk across the course when there is a gap in the runners than to drive across the gap, particularly if only 1 lane of the street is closed to traffic. If the start point or end point of your race day travel is near the course, consider parking your car and crossing the course on foot when there is a gap in the runners.

Practice Driving Any Unfamiliar Itineraries before Race Day– If you plan to take a different or unfamiliar itinerary on race day, practice the new route before race day, ideally at the same time of day. This will help familiarize you with the itinerary and drive time, so you can allow sufficient time on race day to reach your destination.

On Race Day, Start Early and Allow Extra Time for Your Travel - If you must arrive at your destination by a specific time, start early and allow additional travel time. Consider driving before the applicable roads close, even if that means you may arrive early at your destination.

No Parking Zones during Sunday, October 7, 2012, 4am-11am

Some streets will have Emergency No Parking signs in force during 4am-11am on Sunday, October 7, 2012. The Emergency No Parking signs will be posted on these streets at least 72 hours before the effective period. Cars parked in posted areas after 4am on October 7 are subject to ticketing and towing, at the owner’s expense. Once the last runner passes and the street re-opens to traffic, the Emergency No Parking signs will be removed.

Emergency No Parking zones are posted for various reasons, including:

1. Both lanes are needed to maintain separation between the runners and traffic. Example – Some 2-lane roads with 1 lane reserved for runners are too narrow to allow on-street parking during the race. A parked car in the runners’ lane would cause runners to swerve into the traffic lane. A parked car in the traffic lane would cause cars to swerve into the runners’ lane.

2. The entire street is needed for the race. Example – Since Inman Drive is in the first miles of the race and is narrow and winding, both lanes of Inman Dr will be required for the runners. Inman Dr will be closed to traffic during approximately 6:50am-7:39am, after which the street will be re-opened and the Emergency No Parking signs removed.

Planned Emergency No Parking zones include:

Street	Side of Street
Saybrook Ave from Windsor Pkwy to Inman Dr	Both sides
Keswick Dr between Johnson Ferry and Cold Spring Lane	Both sides
Cold Spring Lane between Keswick Dr and Carmel Rd	Both sides
Carmel Rd between Cold Spring Lane and Donaldson	Both sides
Donaldson between Carmel Rd and Bubbling Creek	Both sides
Bubbling Creek between Donaldson and Harts Mill	Both sides
Harts Mill between Bubbling Creek and Ashford Dunwoody	Both sides

Other streets may be added to the Emergency No Parking zones as needed to facilitate traffic flow. Signs will be posted at least 72 hours before the Emergency No Parking period.

Frequently Asked Questions – Community Information: Event Date: Sunday, October 7, 2012

Q – Where can I get Community information about the race?

A – Detailed information for people who live, work and worship near the course is available in the Community section of the event website. Go to www.131Atlanta.com , hover on 13.1 Info at the top of the page, and click on Community Info. In addition, you can email questions to run@131Atlanta.com. or call our office at 404-832-0786.

Q – How is information about the race communicated to Metro Atlanta?

A – Information about the race is communicated to Metro Atlanta in various ways:

Community Update emails to contacts for neighborhood associations, churches, businesses, schools, event venues, and other interested parties along and near the course. Please email us at run@131Atlanta.com to receive this newsletter which goes out 2-3 times per year.
Approximately 3 weeks before the race, approximately 6,500 postcards are mailed to every residential and business address along the course advising recipients about the race date, traffic delays, the Community section at www.131Atlanta.com our email address run@131Atlanta.com, and our phone number 404-832-0786.
Emails and traffic advisories to the race participants and volunteers.

Q – How does the Atlanta 13.1 Marathon® event benefit Metro Atlanta?

A – As a health and fitness event for runners and walkers from Georgia, the Southeast, and across the U.S., Atlanta 13.1 Marathon® drives tourism, hotel, MARTA, and restaurant business throughout the 3-day race weekend. Packet Pickup is at Town Brookhaven on Friday and Saturday of race weekend. The race showcases Town Brookhaven to over 3,500 participants and 500 volunteers.

All race weekend events are accessible by MARTA, and the race informs and encourages participants, volunteers, and spectators to ride MARTA to all race events.

The Atlanta 13.1 Marathon® event recycles plastic and cardboard from the food and water stations, and at the 2009 race over 2,590 pounds of food items like bagels, bananas, and water were donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Q – Why is the Race on Sunday rather than Saturday?

A – Most long distance races are held on Sunday for public safety reasons, since traffic volume is consistently lowest on Sunday. The Atlanta 13.1 Marathon® event works to minimize the impact on local traffic by having Police officers at each intersection, publicizing the race course, street closures, traffic advisories, and suggested traffic directions, and encouraging MARTA for participants, volunteers, spectators, and the public. Click here to view a document that, although it is specific to the Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, provides detailed Atlanta traffic information and lists dozens of U.S. marathons that are held on Sunday.

Questions? Please contact us at run@131Atlanta.com or at 404-832-0786.