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.”
