Wednesday, April 10, 2002
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Wednesday, April 10, 2002 |
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City Hall falling short in addressing PTC traffic In the continuing saga of issues in Peachtree City, this week's edition is traffic, more specifically traffic problems. During last year's mayoral campaign much was made by our current mayor about who was to blame for the current and pending traffic problems. Where does that leave us today? Recently, a co-worker asked me if Wal-Mart and Home Depot were still coming to Peachtree City given the election results. When I stopped laughing, I assured him they were. Campaign promises, by then-candidate Brown, about stopping both companies from coming were either foolish naivete or outright lies. Construction continues unabated. The eventual widening of Ga. Highway 54 West is still slated for some time in the future as DOT officials are avoiding any contact with the mayor. His unfounded allegations about those very officials and claims of meetings that never occurred have alienated the men and women who are responsible for getting the highway widened. The greatest traffic relief of all could come from the extension of TDK Boulevard into Coweta County. This bridge across Line Creek would provide workers in the industrial park, who do not live in our city, another route to and from work. Additionally, this entry into Peachtree City would bring shoppers to the Braelinn Village area. Currently, our traffic situation forces shoppers away from Braelinn towards the 54-74 shopping areas, hurting many small businesses, the lifeblood of Peachtree City. The mayor opposed the TDK extension during the campaign, citing "concerns" about developers in Coweta County. If he wanted to affect growth in Coweta County, he should have run for commissioner in Coweta County, not mayor of Peachtree City. Failing to go ahead on this project will only worsen the situation on Hwy. 54. The mayor's opposition to this extension makes me wonder why he is intent on forcing more and more traffic onto Hwy. 54 West. Planterra Ridge suffers. Wynnmeade suffers. The Tennis Center suffers. Everyone who must transit the Hwy. 54-74 intersection suffers. This begs the question, which of the mayor's constituents would benefit from increased traffic on Hwy. 54? What we lack from City Hall is a comprehensive traffic improvement plan, one that acknowledges the rights and autonomy of our neighbors as well as the realities of growth around us. Stop worrying about the Northern Arc and start working on a local solution. Gary Rower Peachtree City
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