The Peachtree City Council took a detour on its roundabout discussion Thursday night.

Instead, the group focused on golf cart safety as it currently exists at the intersection of Peachtree Parkway and Walt Banks Road ... and as contemplated in the roundabout design.

The roundabout is designed to keep traffic moving, and that’s part of the problem for golf carts, noted Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett. As auto drivers become accustomed to not stopping on the parkway, they may fail to stop at the golf cart crossing.
The issue is significant because of the large number of golf carts in use by students of McIntosh High School who depend on crossing the parkway safely.

The design of the roundabout includes a safety island in-between the northbound and southbound lanes of the parkway. A golf cart could take refuge there if necessary, said traffic consultant Matt Hauser of Ok4, which designed the intersection.

Hauser also noted that the crossing was moved a little further south on the parkway from its current location.

But council wasn’t so convinced. Staff was asked to compile more safety information on the golf cart crossing for the next council meeting.