By BILL KENT
bill.kent@gaflnews.com
ATLANTA — Governor Sonny Perdue this week unveiled plans to take much of the control for the state’s transportation and road projects from the Department of Transportation board and put it in the hands of three individuals -- the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House.
Cordelean Johnny Floyd, who represents the Second Congressional District on the DOT board said the proposed arrangement would call for all decisions about project approval and financing to be in the hands of those three individuals. The board would only be responsible for maintenance.
Floyd added, however, that the present arrangement can’t be changed without approval by the legislature.
“The people must have their say before this change can take place,” he said.
Floyd said several issues need to be addressed including funding of road construction projects. The transportation board will have a called meeting next Thursday, he said.
In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Perdue, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson announced the Transforming Transportation Investment Act. The legislation is designed to improve the way transportation projects are planned, constructed and maintained in Georgia.
“Georgians deserve a transportation network that functions as a whole – not 13 gerrymandered parts,” Perdue said. “We need to abandon the scattered approach that spreads resources too thin and instead focus investment on projects that actually move the needle on congestion, job creation and take full advantage of the investments we have made in our ports, rail lines and airports.”
The legislation, if approved, will merge the current powers of the State Road and Tollway Authority and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority into a new State Transportation Authority.
That agency will be responsible for developing a statewide strategic multi-modal transportation plan and making budget requests from that plan each year to the governor and general assembly.
The authority would ensure that both long-range and short-range plans are developed in collaboration with the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) around the state and continually updated, the governor said.
According to Perdue’s proposal, the board of the State Transportation Authority will be comprised of 11 members — five appointed by the Governor, three appointed by the Lt. Governor and three by the speaker of the House.
Appointees named by the Lt. Governor will need confirmation by the full Senate.
Appointees named by the speaker will need confirmation by the full House of Representatives.
The members’ terms would run concurrently with the terms of the person that appointed them. The Governor would then have the power to appoint the Secretary of Transportation.
"It is very clear that the current delivery of transportation in Georgia has not produced the results we need,” said Cagle.
“Our goal is simple: to create a strategic statewide method by which projects are planned, financed and implemented with true transparency and accountability.”
Under the legislation, state motor fuel funds will remain dedicated to roads and bridges as required by the state constitution.
However, all transportation funds will be deposited into the State Public Transportation Fund and appropriated annually by the General Assembly.
“Improving transportation is important to all Georgians whether that means passing a transportation funding plan or reforming the agency that carries out the state’s transportation duties,” Richardson said.
“This reform package not only creates a more accountable and responsive agency, but it will deliver transportation projects faster and more efficiently throughout the entire state.”
Local news
New transportation plan unveiled by Governor Perdue
- Local news
-
-
Business steady at inland port
Containers were being unloaded Tuesday from train cars parked at Cordele Intermodal Services on 13th Ave. E. Those containers will be transported to their destinations by truck.
-
Cordele police report a quiet Monday
City police officers logged an unusually quiet Monday, listing only two arrests on the daily press release provided news media members.
-
TV book changing to Sunday
Cordele Dispatch and Americus Times-Recorder readers will not find a TV book in their Thursday paper this week.
-
Ground broken Monday
-
Cordelean faces felony, traffic charges filed after chase
A 43-year-old local man has been charged with multiple offenses stemming from weekend incidents involving authorities in Crisp and Dooly Counties.
-
Fees set in Wilcox
Meeting in special session Thursday, Wilcox commissioners set qualifying fees for the 2012 election of constitutional officers in the county.
-
Tyson named business of the year
VIENNA — Tyson Foods of Vienna was honored as the Dooly County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year during the organization’s annual dinner and meeting Thursday night.
-
Council seeks answers
BYROMVILLE — Not only members of the general public, but city officials here are having problems getting information about the town's financial status.
-
Suspected drug distributor arrested
CORDELE — Execution of a search warrant at 620 15th Ave. E. Thursday afternoon has led to the arrest of a 57-year-old resident for drug violations.
-
Teen Maze returning
For the third time in the last four years, Teen Maze is returning to Crisp County High School this spring.
- More Local news Headlines
-







