SunTrust Park's Transportation Conundrum

Georgia Rate of Temperature Change (Fo /yr)

Mean Temp Change in F/yr

<0

0.01 - 0.03

0.01

0.03 - 0.05

These two maps show the state of

Georgia and the climate change
effects by transportation. The left
indicates the rate of temperature
change measured in Fahrenheit
per Year. This was calculated from
1951-2006 using the High A2
scenario and an average of all 12
months. The counties that make up
Atlanta have not heated up
drastically, but their emissions from
transportation could be a reasoning
for red areas in Fannin and Hall
County in Northwest Georgia. The
right map highlights the CO2
emissions from on-road vehicles by
county. The counties that comprise
the Atlanta Metropolitan Area are
the most prominent. The emissions
are measured by grams per
kilometer, and the two counties
mentioned
earlier
have
no
significant emission levels.

CO2 in g/km

< 150

151 - 300

Author: Matthew Whittle

mw0038@uah.edu
Date: 11/29/2015

Coordinate System: North American Lambert Conformal Conic

Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic

Tennessee

On-Road Emissions by County (g/km)

0

80 Miles

South Carolina

Alabama

301 - 500

500 - 1,000

Florida

The city of Atlanta has been notoriously identified as a city with severe traffic problems. As those issues escalate, onroad CO2 emissions will continue to intensify in and around the surrounding counties. With SunTrust Park opening in
2017 for the Atlanta Braves, traffic is predicted to be even more congested at the intersection of I-285/I-75. An increase
in traffic congestion around the ballpark will upset the Cobb County taxpayers to an even greater level, as they are
already upset with their tax money going to a stadium that a majority does not want. Add that frustration with increased
temperatures from higher CO2 levels, and the mayor will have a complex environmental issue to go along with his
already infuriated population. The matter does not stop there. Those increased CO 2 emissions will effect the
surrounding counties (DeKalb, Forsyth, Gwinnett, and Rockdale) on the other side of Atlanta. The Atlanta Braves and
Liberty Media decided to move the team to the suburbs of Cobb County after fighting with the city of Atlanta for 20+
years. The area around Turner Field is a desolate wasteland of concrete that provides fans with no entertainment after
games or during the offseason. The main reasons for relocating are tied to economic issues (TV deal, corporate
owner) and they have now turned into possible environmental issues. The Atlanta DOT is stalling construction plans for
the highways around the new stadium, which will lead to increased traffic congestion and longer periods of driving for
commuters when it opens in 2017. Cobb County and the city of Atlanta must reach a swift agreement to improve the
highways around SunTrust Park if they hope to avoid increased CO 2 emissions and irate commuters.

Datum: North American 1983

Sources: Casey Calamaio, Atlanta Braves, NACP, The Nature Conservancy, Esri, HERE, DeLorne, MapmyIndia, GIS Community.