Council gets a look at traffic flow improvements in busy corridor; pickleball partisans disappointed —
The Peachtree City Council got an overview recently of planned improvements to the busy Ga. Highway 74 corridor.
The Pond and Company’s Richard Fangman presented the comprehensive corridor study for the area just north of the Hwy.74/54 intersection all the way to U.S. 29 in Fairburn.
Fangman said the study was looking to increase continuity and mobility on the corridor.
“People really like the aesthetic look of it now,” he said.
According to the presentation and information on the city’s website, a major component of the plan includes improvements at non-signalized intersections on Highway 74 North to maximize efficiency in the corridor and reduce the need to widen the highway. Intersection options include the Green T (currently in use at Ga. Highway 54 West at The Overlook), the Displaced Left Turn planned at the Highway 54/74 intersection, and RCUT intersections, which will be used at Kedron Drive South and Lexington Pass/Senoia Road.
The new RCUTs will require all side street traffic to turn right. Motorists may then U-turn as desired to get to their destination.
Fangman said studies have shown a significant reduction in the number of collisions and injury crashes that use RCUTs.
Using the RCUTS and other superstreet intersections and crossovers would cost $18 million, compared to widening the road to six lanes at a cost of $36 million. (For a video of how RCUTS work, visit https://www.peachtree-city.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1179.)
But Mark Gelhardt, who represents the homeowners on Lexington Pass said his homeowners association was against the proposal and would gladly provide a petition against it.
The presentation will make the rounds of the other affected governments, with a final report anticipated by the end of the year.
In other news, the City Council:
• Approved a streamlined process for public comments and public hearings. Each side during a public hearing will have a maximum of 10 minutes to present their side. The chairperson of the meeting would have the option of increasing the time after the initial 10 minutes is expired. The ordinance also lowers the time from three minutes to two minutes for public comment on an agenda item.
• Heard a spirited presentation from the PTC-Fayette Pickleball Club. Members told the City Council that the sport is one of the fastest growing in the country, and can be enjoyed by all age groups. The group would like to see dedicated courts in Peachtree City, instead of using modified tennis courts.
City Manager Jon Rorie said he could not support dedicated courts at this time because of budget impacts, but would be willing to stripe all 35 tennis courts to offer the group more courts to use.
