I was at the city council meeting last night and there are a few things that I found troubling about all of this.

1. The city engineer did not have an exact distance between stoplights. The distance he was using was estimated from an aerial photograph. This may not seem like such a big deal, but to me, it is an indication of how much effort is being put into understanding how an additional light will impact the area; which leads to my next point.

2. The city engineer presented a traffic analysis indicating level of service (LOS) for nearby intersections. In my opinion, this study was woefully inadequate and lacking in detail. It only showed LOS for people waiting to turn onto 54 from MacDuff and Planterra as well as some data for the intersection at Line Creek. It gave no clear indication how traffic that is already on 54 would be impacted. It showed no travel times from 74 to MacDuff or vice versa. It had no data for peak vs off peak hours. It had no data about LOS for people waiting at the lights at Huddleston, The Avenue, or 74.

3. Based on the information is this study. The LOS at Planterra already has a terrible rating AND it is projected to have the worst possible rating no matter what happens with this development. (light/no light/right-in, right-out) Sorry for those of you who live in Planterra!

4. One of the proposed solutions to alleviating traffic problems associated with the addition of a new light is traffic signal synchronization. It is no secret that traffic is terrible on that stretch of road during rush hour. Why aren’t the lights synchronized now?

Last night the city council was prepared to vote on whether or not to allow the mayor to sign the application to the DOT for the light and this is the information they were given. Were it not for a group of concerned citizens asking questions, I think they would have moved forward and voted, probably 3-2, to submit the application. Instead it has been tabled until the first council meeting in February. I would encourage all of you who are concerned about this light to show up and be heard.

Incidentally, I hit every red light from 74 to MacDuff on my way home from the meeting last night.

I see where the barrels have been removed on Highway 74 South and all lanes are now open which is great news. However, it seems a little absurd to me to have a 40-45 mile an hour speed limit on a six lane highway and yet it's 55 mph on two lane highways. Seems like I read somewhere that one of the factors in setting speed limits was the natural flow of traffic. The cynic in me says it was intentionally set that low so PTC's finest could set up shop and generate revenue for the city given the financial straits it is in.

This is sheer stupidity!
Every little strip center and store should not have a light.

If you ever studied one of these type of things done right, you will see that there is a way to get into the shopping area at a light and usually a way to get out---usually on the other end or in the next center!

In other words the light at Walmart should be it until one gets near the County line.

I know developers don't like that---they want one in front of each store. Also, they have to give up land for either a frontage road or a wide road in the middle of the center to traverse to the next light.

If this is required by the City it will be done---otherwise just sell them all the streets to do what they want!

Why do that? Well, it could be sales tax and property tax income or it could be a job later or hints as to where to make some money!

Some of us aren't foggy all of the time!
Some of us even buy into "Ponzi" schemes!
Some of us think we can spend money better than most others for the good of ALL!

Any lights come on in your head?

Hate to be mean, but somebody needs to point out poor planning.

And...I believe the poster who says that inside info has it that Publix has no plans for McMurrain's new development. I never believed it in the first place because this guy hasn't told the truth about anything else. Have any of the retail names that he has dropped said anything about a new store?

No matter - we don't need or want more crap at the "Corridor From Hell," anyway.

I really like the term another poster used to describe the 54/74 intersection - "Corridor From Hell." If you drive this way every day, especially about 5:30 p.m. you know what she's talking about. I've been timing. It takes me about 20 minutes to get from Fayetteville to the intersection (or often where the traffic backs up at the Wyndham) then at least another 20 minutes to get from there to MacDuff. The congestion is truly incredible and I get home irritated and worn out every day. My main thought is "this is just not what I moved to PTC for." I had less frustration driving to work from here to Roswell Road a few years ago.

I know that several have voiced their concerns at the DOT. www.dot.state.ga.us. Email and let them know what you think. That might just help. Even people who rarely travel this way are complaining about this light at holiday parties.

Agree - Haddix - come on down. I'll vote for you too.

What are we talking about here? Last paragraph is an oxymoron (look that one up!) You're gonna add 150,000 more square feet of retail in this new shopping center, increase traffic and put in a new light. Excuse me, but just where in this scenario do the words "improvements to traffic flow" belong? Duhhhh...
Oh, and we have this little gem. CCD has thrown out the "Publix" connection here? Well, well, well, seems according to everyone at Publix corporate involved with new stores know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about ANY plans to put a store there. Gee, Mr. McMurrain, please explain that to the chosen thousands of us who drive this "corridor from hell" regularly.
Me thinks the city council needs to find out who greased the GDOT folks involved to get them to agree to this "minor" change in the process going forward. Shouldn't have to look too far for the answer, though.