DALTON, Ga. — Automobiles and motorcycles won’t be the only vehicles allowed on downtown Dalton streets if a proposed new ordinance passes. The City Council held the first reading on Monday of a law that would allow personal transportation vehicle (PTV) shuttle services in the central business district. PTVs are already allowed on some residential streets.

The central business district basically stretches from Waugh Street on the north to Morris Street on the south and from the railroad tracks on the east to Thornton Avenue on the west. The proposed ordinance would allow PTVs on any street in the district that has a speed limit of no more than 25 mph.

“That would basically be the streets in the interior of the business district,” said City Administrator Jason Parker.

Morris, Thornton and Waugh have higher speed limits, so PTVs could not be driven on them.

PTVs are essentially golf carts but by law must have a number of safety features — seatbelts, headlights, turn signals, etc. — that aren’t necessarily found on golf carts used on golf courses. They can only be driven on city streets by licensed drivers.

The state legislature changed the law a couple of years ago to allow PTVs to be operated on city streets if a city OKs them, subject to certain limitations. PTVs can’t be operated on federal highways, state roads or heavily-trafficked cross streets. They can only be operated on streets with speed limits of no more than 25 mph.

Council members approved a law in December 2018 allowing residents of neighborhoods to request PTVs be allowed on their streets. In February, council members approved Windemere for PTV use. It remains the only subdivision where they can be used.

In October, officials with Rock Bridge Community Church asked the city to be allowed to use PTVs downtown on Sunday mornings to ferry people attending the church from their cars to the church and back.

“We use (PTVs) in some of our other locations to help transport people from where they park to the entrances of our building. This is especially helpful for those with physical limitations and during inclement weather,” said lead pastor Matt Evans at the time. “Our hope is to do the same in our Dalton campus with the only difference being we would use the downtown city streets instead of a parking lot as in other campuses.”

Council member Annalee Harlan said she has “some apprehensions” about the use of PTVs on city streets.

“I can understand in subdivisions where there are central amenities there may be a need for that transportation,” she said. “But I worry it will create a circumstance for younger people who shouldn’t be driving to be out there operating these PTVs.”

She said she sees Rock Bridge’s need to help bring people to church on Sundays.

“But I do worry about what we are opening ourselves up to. Golf carts are shorter than cars. They have a lower profile,” she said.

The law would allow anyone owning a business or property in the downtown business district to operate a free PTV shuttle service. It would allow the police chief and the public works director jointly to set the days and hours any shuttle service could be operated.

Council members are expected to vote on the ordinance when they meet on Monday, Dec. 2.

“I think Annalee is right,” said council member Gary Crews. “We have to make sure that we are confident that any safety concerns have been addressed.”