Meggison Road - how dangerous is this??

[Rainger99]

The other day, I drove from Brownwood to see the new rec center at Homestead. Meggison Road starts at Brownwood and ends at Homestead so you are on Meggison the entire way. From Brownwood down to the Southern Oaks golf course, golf carts are not allowed on Meggison. That is because there is a MMP (multi-modal path) adjacent to Meggison for that entire length. However, at Southern Oaks, for some reason, the MMP ends and golf carts are forced to drive on Meggison to get to Homestead.

Does anyone know why they have the safe MMP for the first 7 or 8 miles and then they force golf carts on to the roads with cars for the last mile? From what I have read, putting golf carts on the same roads as cars is a problem. When you go north of 466 on Morse, cars and carts are on the same road and there have been a number of golf carts involved in deadly accidents. I had thought that the developer had learned from this and that was the reason that golf carts are not allowed on the main roads (Morse south of 466, Buena Vista, and Meggison). Does anyone have an explanation? It looks like an accident waiting to happen.

[BigSteph]

I think The Developer missed a prudent opportunity when they didn't put a tunnel under Meggison at Saw Grass during construction.

When Eastport and Middleton open up, there will be two paths for everyone North to get there; Water Lily Bridge and Baxley/Bexley Bridge. To get to either, you need the Meggison MMP. To use the bridge near Saw Grass, you'll have to cross Meggison. Meggison, as I understand, will continue on to new Villages and intersect with 470. I don't see how the traffic won't be heavy as time goes on (for cars and carts).

As far as carts on Meggison, yeah, I agree it is dangerous. I know someone who crossed on a car near Citrus and got t-boned. She admitted fault, but had the Developer just continued the MMP all the way, there would be less danger.

The inevitable mass crossing at Saw Grass/Citrus Grove will be interesting to watch.



The other day, I drove from Brownwood to see the new rec center at Homestead. Meggison Road starts at Brownwood and ends at Homestead so you are on Meggison the entire way. From Brownwood down to the Southern Oaks golf course, golf carts are not allowed on Meggison. That is because there is a MMP (multi-modal path) adjacent to Meggison for that entire length. However, at Southern Oaks, for some reason, the MMP ends and golf carts are forced to drive on Meggison to get to Homestead.

Does anyone know why they have the safe MMP for the first 7 or 8 miles and then they force golf carts on to the roads with cars for the last mile? From what I have read, putting golf carts on the same roads as cars is a problem. When you go north of 466 on Morse, cars and carts are on the same road and there have been a number of golf carts involved in deadly accidents. I had thought that the developer had learned from this and that was the reason that golf carts are not allowed on the main roads (Morse south of 466, Buena Vista, and Meggison). Does anyone have an explanation? It looks like an accident waiting to happen.

[VApeople]

I agree that Meggison Road is very dangerous past Sawgrass, and Marsh Bend Trail is very dangerous north of Warm Springs Road.

With the new villages of Newell, Lake Denham, and Dabney being built along Meggison, I bet traffic along Meggison will be going pretty fast, and that it will be uncomfortable for people in golf carts.

In our case, we do not own a golf cart, so we are not worried.

[MorTech]

I suspect a lot of accidents at the MMP crossing at Sawgrass/Citrus Grove are going to be devastating..
That crossing is really stupid and there are no gates to slow down car traffic.
There will be even more MMP crossing traffic there when the new Bexley Bridge over the turnpike opens.

And if you look at where the diamond lane merges with car traffic before the MMP, there are no white hash lines forcing diamond lane traffic into car traffic to make a single lane at the MMP crossing (Northbound). Imagine getting t-boned on a golf cart by a car at 35 MPH because you did not see the car coming beside the golf cart that was turning right onto the MMP.

That crossing is really bad.

[Calisport]

I wondered the same thing especially golf carts that have to cross to go to Southern Oaks side.
My guess is they needed a pedestrian walking path and bike path that goes from Citrus grove to the Sawgrass Grove.
Golf Cart Multi-modal path I think would be too dangerous maybe with all the people walking to the Sawgrass Entertainment area.
Someone screwed up in the plans here I think. Maybe packing in few more houses were more important in Citrus Grove than golf cart and pedestrian safety paths. And yes going North where the golf car path ends and you have to enter the Multi-modal path, I've been almost rear ended by cars behind me even though I put on my left blinker. Cars will not know about golf cart merging there.

[VApeople]

I suspect a lot of accidents at the MMP crossing at Sawgrass/Citrus Grove are going to be devastating..
That crossing is really stupid and there are no gates to slow down car traffic.


Residents of St. Catherine told me that, as we speak, a gate is being built.

[VApeople]

My guess is they needed a pedestrian walking path and bike path that goes from Citrus grove to the Sawgrass Grove.


They already have one.

It now goes along the north side of Meggison from Sawgrass to Homestead and is now being extended all the way to Dabney.

[VApeople]

I've been almost rear ended by cars behind me even though I put on my left blinker.

People who ride carts along Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Moyer have learned to deal with cars overtaking them. I guess you will have to learn as well.

Personally, I am not looking forward to the day when we will need a cart to play the Exec courses. I love driving our cars.

[MorTech]

"Someone screwed up in the plans here I think"

Yes...TV is usually very good with their planning but this one crossing is a dangerous mistake. They at least need to move the gates closer to the MMP crossing. A MMP tunnel would have been a better idea.

[MorTech]

"And yes going North where the golf car path ends and you have to enter the Multi-modal path, I've been almost rear ended by cars behind me even though I put on my left blinker. Cars will not know about golf cart merging there."

I have seen it as well where car traffic tries to pass golf carts turning right onto the MMP because the golf cart did not merge to the car lane. There needs to be white hash lines with reflectors to force diamond lane traffic into one single lane at the MMP...Like at EVERY OTHER crossing in TV! I think it is the county that screwed that one up and not TV. Car traffic will see the white hash markings as well and will slow down for golf carts merging...LIKE AT EVERY OTHER CROSSING IN TV!

[Mortal1]

All of life is a challenge...if you are worried about driving a cart in a particular area then either don't or do with excessive caution.

The doomsayers and their followers on these forums can find danger in any situation. Deal with the danger using common sense as to your specific capabilities.

We had a friend killed by an SUV traveling east on 466a. They were in a cart on the MMP going to colony plaza. The SUV driver had a heart attack.

You want safe? There is no such thing and never has been. You deal with life's challenges and get on with it. Don't spread your fear....just deal with it like any mature/age tested adult.

[Rainger99]

If there is an MMP and a car swerves into it, there is not much you can do. However, the question posed was not about accidents on the MMP. It was asking why would the developer build an MMP for the first 7 miles going south on Meggison and then decide not to put an MMP south of Southern Oaks. Did they decide an MMP is required for the first 7 miles but then is not required? If so, what was the reason?

At least design decisions like this keep Morgan & Morgan in business.

[Luggage]

I used to ride bicycles on main roads as a teenager and any place that was over 25 miles an hour and not local was crazy dangerous and very scary. I don't know why you'd want to risk your life in a golf cart on a main road just because it's easier to drive than your car. You're supposed to be in your golden years and have much more common sense today than you did in your younger years

[Gunny2403]

Carts Drive the long length of Fenney without issues.

[VApeople]

Carts Drive the long length of Fenney without issues.

"WITHOUT ISSUES"?

Have there been cases where a golf cart zipping along Fenney Way has collided with a car pulling into or out of a side street?

[srswans]

The Meggison crossing in question is just inside a set of gates that have yet to be installed as noted above. This will make that crossing safer (but not as safe as a tunnel).

[TerriS]

I have been riding my bike in most of the Villages down here (Citrus Grove, St Catherine's, Branford, Hawkins and Chitty Chatty). I appears to me that INSIDE of villages they do not have GC paths they have a GC lane on the main road. Citrus Grove is the same once you pass the gate that is not in operation yet. It does feel different since Meggison will eventually run all the way to 470 but it is not really different than other villages I have seen.

[nick demis]

I could understand it if Meggison ended with Citrus Grove but not with it continuing to 470. It WILL be a dangerous road. Maybe they will put a gate after Hillside and go back to a MMP for the balance.

[JeepsterGlenn]

You can bypass the mmp merge at Sawgrass by taking St. Catherine Cir at the roundabout before getting to Sawgrass. It’s actually a half circle and ends back at Meggison near Homestead Rec area!

[Rainger99]

The Meggison crossing in question is just inside a set of gates that have yet to be installed as noted above. This will make that crossing safer (but not as safe as a tunnel).

That is true. But the question was why do they have an MMP from Brownwood to Southern Oaks - and then put the carts on Meggison with vehicular traffice. There is a walking path adjacent to Meggison that goes most of the way to Homestead. Not sure why this wasn't designated an MMP.

[Ptmckiou]

Many parts of the villages has carts on streets. Not usually a problem. Fenny seems to cope just fine. Traffic is suppose to be 20 mph and police are starting to ticket people.

As far as the crossing of Meggison to get to the new Bexley Bridge, there are gates at the crossing, but currently not being used because of all the construction traffic. Once that bridge opens, I’m sure the gates will be operational and that does slow traffic down immensely. However, a tunnel would have been more efficient, since that will be a main route to Eastport square.

[VApeople]

There is a walking path adjacent to Meggison that goes most of the way to Homestead.


Actually, it goes all the way to Homestead and will probably be continued.

Not sure why this wasn't designated an MMP.

Because The Villages wanted to give walkers and bikers a path to enjoy without the fear of being run over by golf carts.

North of Route 44, there are no walking/biking paths where golf carts are forbidden.

[Rainger99]

Because The Villages wanted to give walkers and bikers a path to enjoy without the fear of being run over by golf carts.

North of Route 44, there are no walking/biking paths where golf carts are forbidden.[/QUOTE]

If the reason is to give walkers and bikers a path to enjoy without the fear of being run over by golf carts, why aren’t carts required to use Meggison from Brownwood to Homestead?
Pedestrians would have 7 miles of hiking trails and the cars, trucks, and golf carts could share Meggison. It makes no sense to keep carts off Meggison for the first 7 miles and then force them on the highway for the last mile.

I have heard of several deadly accidents where cars and carts were sharing the road.
I have not heard of any deaths involving carts and pedestrians or bikers on the MMPs.

[VApeople]

why aren’t carts required to use Meggison from Brownwood to Homestead?

Because there a beautiful MMP from Brownwood to Sawgrass.

After that, the carts have to share Meggison with cars and trucks, just like they do along Hillsborough, Moyer, and Pinellas.

[VApeople]

I have not heard of any deaths involving carts and pedestrians or bikers on the MMPs.

Since I never venture onto an MMP (except to cross one on foot at Turtle Mound), I don't really care what happens on them, but I have read many other posts about walkers and bikers having harrowing experiences dealing with golf carts.

[Aacosner]

I have been riding my bike in most of the Villages down here (Citrus Grove, St Catherine's, Branford, Hawkins and Chitty Chatty). I appears to me that INSIDE of villages they do not have GC paths they have a GC lane on the main road. Citrus Grove is the same once you pass the gate that is not in operation yet. It does feel different since Meggison will eventually run all the way to 470 but it is not really different than other villages I have seen.

I'll speculate that the plan may be to discourage Meggison from being a sought after through road from the turnpike at 470 up to points north. Maybe they'll structure the road network south of the Bexley bridge to make it an obviously more attractive route from the turnpike exit/entrance than via Meggison. Or, maybe there's an understanding that the turnpike doesn't really cause that much traffic to/from The Villages -- maybe most of the traffic not heading for Citrus Grove village will be heading for the Bexley bridge to go down to where the bulk of the retail and amenity development will be.

[VApeople]

I'll speculate that the plan may be to discourage Meggison from being a sought after through road from the turnpike at 470 up to points north. Maybe they'll structure the road network south of the Bexley bridge to make it an obviously more attractive route from the turnpike exit/entrance than via Meggison. Or, maybe there's an understanding that the turnpike doesn't really cause that much traffic to/from The Villages -- maybe most of the traffic not heading for Citrus Grove village will be heading for the Bexley bridge to go down to where the bulk of the retail and amenity development will be.

That is a very intelligent and well thought-out post.

Do you belong in this forum?

[dewilson58]

Does anyone know why they have the safe MMP for the first 7 or 8 miles and then they force golf carts on to the roads with cars for the last mile?

Did you call the county??

(traffic flow numbers)

[PugMom]

I suspect a lot of accidents at the MMP crossing at Sawgrass/Citrus Grove are going to be devastating..
That crossing is really stupid and there are no gates to slow down car traffic.
There will be even more MMP crossing traffic there when the new Bexley Bridge over the turnpike opens.

And if you look at where the diamond lane merges with car traffic before the MMP, there are no white hash lines forcing diamond lane traffic into car traffic to make a single lane at the MMP crossing (Northbound). Imagine getting t-boned on a golf cart by a car at 35 MPH because you did not see the car coming beside the golf cart that was turning right onto the MMP.

That crossing is really bad.

which is why we need to pay attention on the road & be aware of carts the same way we do motorcycles. these posts from cart drivers let me know where to be cautious, the last thing i want to do is hit one of you :pray:

[PugMom]

Did you call the county??

(traffic flow numbers)

would be a good place to start, yes

[BigSteph]

I completely agree.

Still, so much cart traffic, just behind the Citrus Grove gate, would have benefited from a tunnel there.

With Citrus Grove and the other new Villages, there will be plenty of Car and Cart traffic.

To add to your point, I think the reduction of Meggison to 2 lanes right after Sawgrass is another attempt to de-emphasis Meggison as the preferred route to 470. I'm certain you are right in that the Southern Oaks 4-lane+ bridge will be considered the preferred road to 470 and the Turnpike.


That is a very intelligent and well thought-out post.

Do you belong in this forum?