Friday, October 13, 2000
Friday, October 13, 2000 |
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Planning firms sought for PTC transportation study By JOHN
MUNFORD Peachtree City is looking for planning firms to take on its ARC-funded study of transportation issues in the northwestern area of the city. The study, which will focus on the commercial and residential development in the area, will be funded by a $17,000 grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission and over $4,000 in city funds. The information gathered will be used to prepare a plan "to tie all that together," city planner David Rast said at Monday's meeting of the Planning Commission. The Livable Centers Initiative study will look at the use of sidewalks, multi-use paths, landscaping and other ways to encourage people not to use their cars to get around in the area, Rast said. The LCI study has been delayed until recently because of the West Village annexation issue, which could have dramatically altered the development of the area, Rast said. Now the process is at full speed with hopes the study can be completed by Dec. 31, he added. The idea is for the resulting plan to be considered for federal funding, Rast said, especially since needed improvements to hook up the multi-use path to the area are expensive. "You're looking at two tunnels underneath Highway 54 that will cost between $600,000 and $800,000," Rast said. "And a bridge over the railroad tracks will cost several hundred thousand dollars, although we have applied for funds for that." New Planning Commission member Dennis Payton expressed concern that the federal government could use those funds to tell Peachtree City how to make those improvements. But Rast said the grant is aimed at having local communities come up with their own ideas to solve transportation problems. Jim Williams, the city's director of developmental services, said the potential location of a commuter rail station in Peachtree City should be included in the plan developed in the study. The location of such a project in Peachtree City is not definite, Williams said, although a priority of the state is to develop a line between Senoia and Atlanta. "I don't think that decision has been made yet," Williams said. The study also will involve compiling a group of citizens to assist with the plan being prepared.
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