A plan for

managing congested traffic and expanding the cart path system in the West

Village area is nearing completion.

The latest

design includes a possible location for a small rail station tucked south

of The Avenue at Peachtree City off Clover Reach, and a cart path bridge

over Ga. Highway 54 West, to serve as the "gateway" entrance

to Peachtree City. The design was put together through input from a citizens'

committee studying the development of the area. That plan will be presented

to the Atlanta Regional Commission for possible funding of projects designed

to encourage alternate transportation.

The new location

for the rail station could prevent it from having a "regional"

draw yet allow for access to be built on both sides of the railroad, said

Jerry Peterson of Pathway Communities, a committee member who drew up

the group's ideas.

The rail station

location won't likely be a project funding is sought for in the near future.

City officials consider the cart path system infrastructure key to the

area, and getting across hwys. 54 and 74 will be crucial to connecting

the West Village area to the rest of town.

The committee

has focused on the cart path system connections and an alternate local

road system for the area. The latest drawings call for access roads built

north and south of Hwy. 54 so local residents can avoid clogged highway

traffic to get around town.

The access

roads would be located behind commercial developments to allow access

to Huddleston Drive from MacDuff Parkway, which will host most of the

area's residential traffic. The north access road would connect to MacDuff

Parkway and continue behind planned commercial units before hooking up

directly to Huddleston Drive. The southern access road would divert local

traffic off the highway at MacDuff, travelling south of the tennis center

to connect at Huddleston Drive.

Committee member

Steve Brown, who lives in the nearby Planterra Ridge subdivision, said

the homeowners association is considering moving the subdivision entrance

further south so it's not off Hwy. 54.

The committee

is also studying the implementation of commercial projects in the area

along Hwy. 54 West which could have a significant impact.

Another key

project for the cart path system would be a possible cart path tunnel

under Hwy. 74 just north of Hwy. 54 to link the Marketplace retail center

to the Westpark office/retail area. Paths could also cross the highway

at the road level at two points on Hwy. 54 according to the committee's

plan.

Peterson predicted

that several areas on the south side of Hwy. 54 West would eventually

feature redeveloped commercial properties.

Several committee

members thanked Peterson for his detailed work on the drawings at Monday's

meeting of the group. He agreed to add the group's comments from the meeting

so it could be presented to the ARC for its preliminary review late Thursday

afternoon.

After that

review, the committee and city officials will have time to tidy up the

plan before officially submitting it.

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