A Villager is fighting for a golf cart crossing to access retail and restaurants across County Road 466A.
Charles Murison of the Village of Marsh Bend went before the Sumter County Commission on Tuesday night to make his plea, but hit a brick wall.
He would like the commission to grant golf carts the right to cross County Road 466A from Pinellas Plaza to Penrose Place to access the Beaumont development and Trailwinds Village, which are not part of The Villages.
Today, automobiles, golf carts which meet the low-speed vehicle requirements, motorcycles, pedestrians, bicycles, mopeds, wheelchairs, unicyclists and people on pogo sticks can cross at the intersection. Only standard golf carts cannot cross.
There are plenty of reasons for Villagers to want to cross County Road 466A, such as Target, Lowe’s, Outback Steakhouse and First Watch, to name a few.
“The county initially cited safety concerns as the reason for prohibiting golf cart crossings at this location. However, the intersection is fully signalized with traffic lights and crosswalks, allowing cars, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians and other modes of transportation to cross safely. Florida Statute 316.212 and related provisions generally permit golf cart crossings at controlled intersections when approved by the local authority, especially where traffic volume, speeds and controls support safe operation,” Murison said.
He points to a 2006 decision by the Sumter County Commission to allow golf carts to cross El Camino Real across four lanes of traffic between entrances to the Village of Santo Domingo and the Village of Alhambra.
However, Commission Chairman Don Wiley pointed out a key difference between El Camino Real and County Road 466A. El Camino Real has a speed limit of 35 mph, while County Road 466A has a 45 mph speed limit.
“It has been the policy for a long time not to allow golf carts to cross four-lane, 45 mph roads. It’s important to stay consistent with that policy,” Wiley said.
Wiley, who previously served as chairman of the Project Wide Advisory Committee, which oversees amenities south of County Road 466 in The Villages, raised another reality. He said it would open up another access point for non-Villagers.
“There is already a great outcry about non-Villages residents using amenities in The Villages. This would just open the gates,” Wiley said.
Murison conceded that he’s fighting an uphill battle.
“Anecdotally, everyone I’ve talked to has indicated they would like to cross this intersection, and they have all told me it will never happen,” he said.
Do you think it’s time to open up golf cart access across County Road 466A? Share your thoughts at [email protected]