Chitty Chatty exit onto Kristine Way
 

Kristine Way currently is a nice 2 lane street leading from Morse Blvd. to the Rohan Rec Center and beyond to Lake Deaton Plaza. Most sections of the road are wide enough to allow for a 'turn lane' in the center of the roadway which is defined by yellow paint.

We travel this street often, as this is where we bank and grocery shop.

The original design for the plaza included a separate path for carts which is considerably off to the side. Carts currently are not allowed on the road. All that will change once the Chitty Chatty bridge is open to traffic. Carts exiting/entering the bridge will now share the same lane with all vehicles, as they do in Colony.

The northern exit ramp off the new bridge is steep, rather short and ends close to the road. It is surprising that no provision was made in the overall bridge project design to widen the roadway to allow for the safest possible exit/entry of carts onto Kristine Way...or to construct a cart crossing with stop lights (like there is in Colony) that would enable carts to continue on to use the existing cart path.

A left hand turn lane (strictly for carts), bounded with a cement berm has been constructed in the middle of Kristine Way adjacent to the entry/exit to the Chitty Chatty bridge for use by carts seeking to travel south over the bridge. My first impression upon seeing this was "whoa, this is going to be tight and dangerous, especially if you're in a cart".

There was ample uncommitted land available to widen that area of roadway or create a path across Kristine Way connecting to the existing cart path when the initial bridge design was brought forth...it's been vacant forever. Now the land has been committed to the development of medical offices. Apparently keeping the salable commercial land tact intact was more important than creating the safest possible traffic intersection for residents.

Good thing that there'll be medical professionals nearby, as there's bound to be traffic accidents at this intersection.

I'm wondering if a traffic engineer was even consulted.

To say that I'm disappointed that this design was approved is an understatement.

I noticed that also. It is a steep incline and it ends right at Kristine Way. It's possible that there will be a change to Kristine Way to address the problem. Cart drivers are going to have to be extra careful and vigilant. I've seen too many cart drivers that are totally oblivious to what is happening around them.

If it's like any other roadway setup, there will have to be so many accidents and/or injuries/deaths before they make adjustments or fix things to be safer and more logical. Where is the common sense and why can't these developers see beyond the ends of their noses on this stuff?? It's not like they're "new!!"

I think they've done pretty well so far. Curious, just how many injuries / deaths from golf carts in this area of 120,000 residents have you seen?

yup...this one is going to be tricky. Both cars and carts will have to be on full alert.

Some how 'some' (not all) cart drivers think that they have the right of way...come on, drive defensively, you have little protection in an accident with a car or truck...

I learned to drive defensively when I first bought a motorcycle back in the late 60's...cart drivers need to do the same.... just because you think you might be right isn't going to matter much if you land in the hospital and then in rehab for months

isn't one that could have been avoided too many?

I would prefer to wait until everything is completed before jumping to conclusions. Getting out of Chitty Chatty in a car and turning left on to Morse/Warm Springs is a completed intersection and there will be accidents there but the fire station is nearby.

ya so would I...and I don't 'jump to conclusions'...however this design is an accident just waiting to happen

BTW, no one is getting out of a car after coming across Chitty Chatty...it's golf carts only, and the fire station that you refer to is quite a ways away, as is the intersection that you refer too...and it really doesn't look like the golf carts will be able to make a left hand turn anyway

but what do I know....

Are you sure about that? I have often seen carts driving on Christine Way.

Don't they have to drive on Christine Way to get to the gas station?

yes they are driving there because some folks do go to the gas station with their carts (not many options that far south to fill up)...not sure that I've ever seen any 'share the road' signage along the street...but I may have missed it. There is a 'no carts beyond this point' as you approach the round about

So many people on here have vision that extends beyond their nose right? Wait till it's completed and in use then see if there is an issue before you make judgement please.

It looks to me that the road system in question will need to be changed and I am sure it will before golf cart traffic is using that bridge.

You need to go there yourself and check it out, you will see that there isn't much that can be done. If there is a lot of cart traffic carts are going to have to stop on the ramp while the intersection clears.

Now that’s funny right there, I don’t care who you are. Perhaps they could restrict Kristine way to golf cart traffic only. Cars could come and go using the 44 entrance. Then safety would be perfect.:ho:

Only kidding folks. I have lived all over the world and The Villages is the safest community I have ever lived in. I am amazed at how many complainers there are here, YET LIVE HERE. Complaining is a side effect of getting older, but if you work on it, you can keep it too yourself. :ohdear:

Unless I'm missing something, carts using Kristine Way to get to Publix is no different than the current setup at Colony Plaza.

Yea , blame the developers for the golf cart drivers mistakes , you know you are responsible for your actions, even in a golf cart don’t you?

This is typical Villages lack of leadership because the only thing they know or do is to insert family members into positions that have no clue as to what they are doing and have no first hand knowledge or experience in planning. Wouldn't you think that with all the retired engineers, land planners, urban designers, etc. that are in The Villages they might possibly have open forums where plans would be brought forward? No, not The Villages or Morse Family. They do nothing wrong.

You are correct

When you leave Brownwood going west, you share the road with cars. Then you move left into a golf cart only turn lane, wait for oncoming traffic to clear, and cross over the road onto the multi-modal path. Sounds like the same setup, and I have never heard of any accidents there.

Do some believe that a member of the Morse family designs roadways? And then builds them without county review and approval?

Carts are allowed on Kristine Way, they have an enter and exit just before the roundabout on Morse across from Rohan

I love that response!

Check with Sumter county.they are responsible for all roadways,not the villages.

Hear, Hear!

No worries. Enjoy your day

i'm going to wait to pass judgement as well, but i thank the cart drivers for bringing it to everyone's attention. i travel that way frequently, by car, & will be watching out for you. :)

In 2015 according to Forbes List.

$1.5 billion
The Morse family has come in at No. 163 in the annual Forbes list of America's Richest Families. According to Forbes, the family that is synonymous with The Villages has $1.5 billion in net worth from real estate development.4 Jul 2015

I would imagine they are now worth a few dollars more.
Someone in the family must know what they are doing, and, believe it or not, without your advice!!:icon_wink:

Chitty Chatty Exit onto Kristine Way
 

Kristine Way is the same as Colony Blvd. and Burnsed Blvd. Both cars and carts use the roadway. You don't hear of a lot of accidents on those two roads.

typical for the villages -- just build -- think later

I have been there. It will all depend on the amount of traffic. Initially, northbound will be busy until Magnolia Publix is open. When it settles down they will make changes if needed but I am assuming they took that into consideration when it was designed. Remember Colony, stop sign then a community watch person directing traffic then the light? I also suspect the design is to have no left turn off the bridge or u-turns. There is a MMP that terminates at the Plaza and traffic should use that. I expect the impatient will ignore any rules which will make it difficult for everyone.

Eventually there could be a light installed but my point about this intersection is that if cart traffic gets backed up by carts trying to turn left it's possible 6 or 7 carts would be stopped on the ramp. The incline is pretty steep and due to the poor driving skills of some of our neighbors they may or may not correctly judge their speed, the breaking ability of their cart, or have weak brakes and create a chain of rear impacts.

The biggest villages blunder was starting building at Fenney and progressing north to 44.

Looking at the road coming off the bridge, I don't think the carts will be allowed to turn left onto Kristine Way.

VApeople, you are correct. If you look at the curbing at the bridge exit, golf carts will be required to turn right. They can then proceed to the next intersection, turn left toward Piesano"s and connect to the existing MM path.

Why would that be a blunder. I've lived in Fenney since it's inception and enjoyed all 3 plus years of living here. Fenney is a quite village, we have a lot of amenities but they are mostly used by those living here. Some of the villages that are closer to 44 are very busy and loud, who knows what they will be like after the plaza and bridges are open, probably will be extremely busy.