State transportation leaders meeting in Savannah say, Georgia can’t keep up with its growing list of transportation needs… and some change in funding is needed.
Roads are gridlocked. Bridges are unsound. And state Department of Transportation has a 7-billion-dollar shortfall in funds to fix the situation.
That’s why a joint House-Senate Transportation Funding Study Committee met this week in Savannah and will meet next month in Columbus. House Transportation Committee Chair Vance Smith of Pine Mountain says, this year lawmakers considered bills imposing a new state-wide sales tax or allowing regional sales taxes to boost transportation funding.
“Those 2-bills were introduced, but no action taken because we wanted to have this study committee, listen to the people of Georgia to see what their needs were and come up with some recommendations,” he said.
Meeting participants included representatives from various transportation modes, including road, rail, bus and air. Committee members also toured the Georgia Ports Authority, where officials noted 3-projects critical to keeping up with growth.
Roads are gridlocked. Bridges are unsound. And state Department of Transportation has a 7-billion-dollar shortfall in funds to fix the situation.
That’s why a joint House-Senate Transportation Funding Study Committee met this week in Savannah and will meet next month in Columbus. House Transportation Committee Chair Vance Smith of Pine Mountain says, this year lawmakers considered bills imposing a new state-wide sales tax or allowing regional sales taxes to boost transportation funding.
“Those 2-bills were introduced, but no action taken because we wanted to have this study committee, listen to the people of Georgia to see what their needs were and come up with some recommendations,” he said.
Meeting participants included representatives from various transportation modes, including road, rail, bus and air. Committee members also toured the Georgia Ports Authority, where officials noted 3-projects critical to keeping up with growth.
