Agency wants PTC to four-lane MacDuff

The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority has approved the proposed West Village development in Peachtree City.

The catch is that GRTA is requiring MacDuff Parkway to be expanded to four lanes to handle the proposed West Village development, which would be located north of the current end of MacDuff Parkway extending nearly to the town limits of Tyrone.

Developers John Wieland Homes and Levitt and Sons have proposed expanding MacDuff Parkway all the way to Ga. Highway 74 at the intersection of north Kedron Drive, which is another requirement contained in GRTA’s decision. Doing so will require a bridge to be built over the CSX railroad track, which the developers would pay for.

Their proposal is to build 1,574 homes on three tracts of land totaling 878 acres; one of the tracts, 88 acres in size, is already in the city limits and owned by Wieland. The remaining 790 acres is currently located in unincorporated Fayette County but will be considered for annexation into Peachtree City.

Although GRTA has the power to withhold state and federal transportation funds from Peachtree City if the required improvements aren’t built, the city can nullify the requirements with a three-quarters vote of the City Council, GRTA officials have said.

A July 2005 traffic study of the possible extension of MacDuff Parkway was conducted by the city’s consulting traffic engineering firm, Qk4. The report recommended building the MacDuff extension as a two-lane road with enough right-of-way on hand in case traffic exceeds projections.

It was not known at press time whether the city would appeal GRTA’s decision, which was filed Dec. 20.

The development as currently planned consists of 1,079 single family homes, 335 townhomes and 160 courtyard homes. Also in the mix is a 15,000 square foot retail area.

The townhomes are located on the 88-acre tract which is already in the city limits.

The development is projected to generate an additional $751,000 in local tax revenues annually, according to the Atlanta Regional Commission. That figure includes property and sales taxes.

Following is a list of the traffic improvements that will be required by GRTA:

MacDuff Parkway Extension:
• Provide a 2 lane median divided roadway within an 80 foot right of way from the existing terminus of MacDuff Parkway to Senoia Road at Kedron Drive North.
• 4 lane of Phase I extension from terminus to South Kedron Drive/Hwy. 74.
• 4 lane of Phase 2 extension from South Kedron Drive to North Kedron Drive including potential upgrades to the grade separation over the railroad.

MacDuff Parkway Extension at Senoia Road/ Kedron Drive North:
• Provide a grade-separated crossing over the CSX Railroad right-of-way.
• Construct an eastbound left-turn lane and an eastbound shared through/right turn lane along MacDuff Connector Extension.
• Construct a westbound left-turn lane and a westbound shared through/right-turn lane along Kedron Drive North.
• Construct a northbound left-turn lane along Senoia Road and convert the through lane to a shared through/right-turn lane.
• Construct a southbound left-turn lane and a southbound right-turn lane along Senoia Road.
• Signalize if warranted.

MacDuff Parkway Extension at all site driveways:
• Provide a northbound right-turn and southbound left turn lane at each access point along the MacDuff Parkway Extension.

Ga. Highway 74:
• Widen segment 1 between Hwy. 54 and Crosstown Road/ TDK Boulevard from 2 to 4 lanes, year 2008
• Widen segment 2 between Crosstown Road/ TDK Boulevard and SR 85 from 2 to 4 lanes, year 2009
• Grade separation of Hwys. 74 and 54, year 2016
• Hwy. 74 North Multi-use Tunnel, year 2009
• Corridor Study, FA-263, year 2015

Ga. Highway 54:
• Hwy. 54 West bicycle and pedestrian bridge and gateway multi-use bridge and associated path over SR 54, year 2008
• Hwy. 54/CSX Railroad bicycle and pedestrian path along Hwy. 54, Year 2007

Collinsworth Road/ Palmetto Road:
• Roadway capacity project from Interstate 85 to Hwy. 74, year 2030

Huddleston Drive at Dividend Drive
• Intersection improvements, year 2009.

Senoia Road @ Kedron Drive North/MacDuff Parkway:
• Install a traffic signal.
• Construct an eastbound left-turn lane and an eastbound shared through/right turn lane along MacDuff Connector Extension.
• Construct a westbound left-turn lane and a westbound shared through/right-turn lane along Kedron Drive North.
• Construct a northbound left-turn lane along Senoia Road and convert the through lane to a shared through/right-turn lane.
• Construct a southbound left-turn lane and a southbound right-turn lane along Senoia Road.

Hwy. 74 at Crabapple Lane:
• Construct an eastbound right-turn lane along Crabapple Lane.
• Install dual left-turn lanes with protected-only phasing on the westbound approach along Crabapple Lane.

Hwy. 74 at Kedron Drive South:
• Install a traffic signal.
• Construct an eastbound left-turn lane along Kedron Drive South.
• Construct a westbound left-turn lane along Kedron Drive South.