The idea of a regional airport in northeast Georgia is gaining steam, with the re-activation of a dormant transportation commission.
After 15 years, government and business leaders think now is the time for the Northeast Georgia Surface and Air Transportation Commission to meet again. The need for a regional airport is growing once more since Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is expected to reach capacity in the next decade. Expansion of Chattanooga's airport is also an idea on the table.
According to the Athens Banner-Herald, the Northeast Georgia group abandoned work on bringing-in a regional airport in 1992 because of strong opposition from area counties. However, the Barrow County Commission has now expressed interest in expanding the Winder-Barrow Airport into a regional service hub. The airport is currently extending one runway and has plenty of surrounding property for continued construction.
The Northeast Georgia Transportation Commission will begin its reorganization plans at a meeting on August 23rd.
In a related story, state transport officials and experts are meeting in Columbus to discuss funding and future transport-infrastructure planning.
Monday and Tuesday's sessions of the State Senate and House Transportation Funding Study Committee are the third of six such statewide meetings.
After 15 years, government and business leaders think now is the time for the Northeast Georgia Surface and Air Transportation Commission to meet again. The need for a regional airport is growing once more since Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is expected to reach capacity in the next decade. Expansion of Chattanooga's airport is also an idea on the table.
According to the Athens Banner-Herald, the Northeast Georgia group abandoned work on bringing-in a regional airport in 1992 because of strong opposition from area counties. However, the Barrow County Commission has now expressed interest in expanding the Winder-Barrow Airport into a regional service hub. The airport is currently extending one runway and has plenty of surrounding property for continued construction.
The Northeast Georgia Transportation Commission will begin its reorganization plans at a meeting on August 23rd.
In a related story, state transport officials and experts are meeting in Columbus to discuss funding and future transport-infrastructure planning.
Monday and Tuesday's sessions of the State Senate and House Transportation Funding Study Committee are the third of six such statewide meetings.
