Section Of I-16 Remains Closed

A two-mile stretch of Interstate 16 in middle Georgia remains closed this morning to westbound traffic at Dublin as repairs continue on an overpass. The state Department of Transportation says the section of I-16 West could remain closed throughout the Memorial Day weekend.

Repair crews are working on an overpass damaged Tuesday by a tractor-trailer carrying a piece of heavy equipment that was too tall to pass beneath the bridge. The impact sent chunks of concrete raining down onto the interstate.

Georgia DOT officials say holiday travelers on that route between Savannah and Macon should plan for delays and a possible detour.

First Round of Stimulus Money Approved for GA Road Projects

Governor Sonny Perdue has certified the first batch of federal stimulus money aimed at road and bridge projects in Georgia. The amount of $207 million is a portion of the total of more than $900 million the state is slated to receive.

Perdue says money is targeted for some of the most 'in need' projects in Georgia.

"This first batch of projects includes some badly needed bridge repairs, resurfacing projects on highways with some of our lowest pavement ratings and two widening projects that will improve congestion and safety and spur economic activity."

About half of the funds represented in these projects will be spent in parts of the state considered "economically distressed areas."

Perdue's office says another round of stimulus money for transportation projects in the state could be certified by the end of June.

House Committee Rejects Gov. Perdue's Transportation Plan

The House Transportation Committee today said "no" to a plan unveiled earlier this year by Governor Sonny Perdue for remaking transportation in Georgia.

When the Governor introduced Senate Bill 200, he said he wanted to dismantle the Georgia Department of Transportation, create a new state agency, realign transportation construction responsibilities and fold the DOT into the appropriations process.

The much leaner plan approved by the committee today does only the last. It ensures the DOT, like every other state agency, must face the General Assemby when budget time rolls around. But the bill, among other things, keeps the existing DOT in place as lead transportation construction agency and keeps GRTA and SERTA operating.

Republican Representative David Ralston describes the measure approved today as a balance between the two legislative bodies.

"I think what it does is allow us to reach a compromise on a bill we can get passed. And it still retains the ability for the General Assembly to appropriate funds."

In previous committee meetings, some House members expressed concern that the original bill stripped the General Assembly of its power to elect board members.

But amendments made today keep that procedure in place.

"There was some concern amongst some members about doing that, I think. And some people were a little reluctant to do that and create a new authority and create a board having that relationship," says Ralston.

The measure will make its way back to the Senate where members will likely disagree with the changes. That will force the bill into a conference committee, where lawmakers from both chambers will try to hash out their differences.

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Transportation Plan May Be In Peril

Some members of the state House of Representatives say they may refuse to sign on to a senate bill which abolishes the Georgia Department of Transportation. That is, unless a proposed amendment is added to the bill...one which goes against the wishes of the governor.

On Monday, a special state House subcommittee heard testimony from colleagues on Senate Bill 200.

The measure is also known as the Transforming Transportation Investment Act.

Governor Sonny Perdue is backing SB 200, which calls for DOT board appointments to be made five by the Governor and three each by the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor.

Currently, DOT board members are elected by a majority of a General Assembly caucus, from each of Georgia's thirteen congressional districts, for a term of five years.

However, during Monday's hearing Representative Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody)
introduced an amendment to SB 200 calling for the General Assembly to retain control over DOT board appointments.

Millar told his colleagues that without such an amendment, the House is unlikely to sign onto SB 200, which virtually guts the DOT.

Millar also told his colleagues that giving up to right to such appointments would be a "tremendous mistake."

Millar's amendment also shortens the term of DOT board members to three years.

Perdue Defends Accepting Stimulus Funds

Governor Perdue today defended his stance on accepting federal stimulus money. The governor has come under criticism for saying he may not accept all the unemployment insurance money because it would mean Georgia might have to expand benefits.

He spoke to reporters after briefing state department heads on the stimulus package:

“We’re gonna take every dollar we can. That means long term benefits... Georgians have paid their taxes in and when the Congress passes a law like this, I want Georgians to get everything to which they’re entitled.”

Governor Perdue says Georgia has already received $340 million in Medicaid funds. More stimulus money is expected in coming weeks.

As for when other state agencies might start to receive federal funds-Department of Transportation Chief Gena Evans says her agency is at the front of the line:

“We anticipate that we’ll probably be one of the first ones out of the gate. We think our money will be available sometime around March 10. And we have to have 50 percent of our funds obligated in 120 days so we’ve got a little bit different time frame than everybody else.”

Evans projects her department should get up to $900 million to help fund potentially thousands of projects.

State DOT half a billion dollars short

A preliminary report by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts shows that the state DOT had a 456 million dollar shortfall for the fiscal year which ended June 30th. The audit recommends that the DOT use money from this year's budget to plug the budget gap. DOT officials say they welcome the audit because they were lacking a "clear picture" of their financial situation. The DOT Board will meet September 26th to discuss what to cut in this years budget.

DOT wants feedback from Georgians

State transportation officials want your feedback.

A statewide "listening tour" beginning in September is aimed at drawing opinion from Georgians on the state Department of Transportation's future plans. The agency wants to fine-tune its blueprint before state lawmakers reconvene in January.

Officials on-hand for the series of public forums will include DOT commissioner Gena Abraham, department board members, and local officials to the particular area.

Ericka Davis says the forums will be one-stop shopping for residents to give their opinions:

"That’s an opportunity for them to be in one spot and the key decision-makers on the transportation plan for Georgia will be right there listening to what they have to say".

The forums begin September 22nd in Macon, with other stops including Dalton, Savannah , Columbus, Atlanta, Valdosta, and Augusta

A new website is also online for the DOT’s initiative--‘Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today’.

Public feedback can be made at www.IT3.ga.gov

A new chairman for the department of transportation

Georgia has a new chairman for the Department of Transportation.Steve Farrow of Dalton replaces Mike Evans.Evan resigned in April to pursue a relationship with DOT commissioner Gena Abraham.Farrow takes over as the DOT faces a shortfall of millions of dollars for transportation projects.

Snow, ice blanket north Georgia

Demorest: Walking Through Woods on a Snowy Morning (M.J. Kneiser)

With temperatures hovering around freezing, snow, sleet and ice fell across much of north Georgia overnight. The northeast Georgia mountains received the most snowfall, with some spots getting up to 3 inches.

The National Weather Service reports that snowfalls across the region ranged from near three inches in Lumpkin and White counties to around an inch in Gilmer, Banks and Forsyth counties. Snow also fell in Atlanta and as far south as Peachtree City.
DOT spokesman Mark McKinnon said that trucks were still spreading sand and salt on major roadways in northeast Georgia this morning and monitoring conditions across the state.

McKinnon says driving to work should not be a problem for most Georgians: “As long as they’re careful, [drivers] will be fine. Roads are wet with a possible icy patch here or there.”

Still, many school systems across north Georgia have cancelled classes today because of the potentially dangerous conditions.

Officials expect conditions to improve as temperatures climb into the upper 30s and lower 40s during the day today.

DOT to review all projects, toll roads

Georgia’s new Department of Transportation Commissioner Gena Abraham isn’t wasting any time getting her house in order. She’s taking aim at the state’s public-private toll road initiative. With her agency billions of dollars over budget and facing numerous lawsuits, state DOT commissioner says all bets are off for the agency’s pending construction projects as the agency reassesses its priorities. DOT spokesman David Spear says the agency must do a better job evaluating proposals from private groups seeking to invest in toll roads: “We’ve got to have the policy in place to address it in a comprehensive way as well as the personnel to help us do that.” The DOT plans to fully review all public-private toll road proposals, and recruit staff with the expertise needed to make more informed decisions. For now, that means multimillion dollar proposals for toll lanes on I-75, I-575 and others are on hold.

State DOT says Georgia bridges safe

In the wake of the tragic bridge collapse in Minneapolis, state DOT officials say Georgia bridges are safe.

That’s the word from David Spear, state DOT spokesman. He says drivers should feel confident traveling across one of the nearly 15-thousand structures in the state.

Spear says inspections are done every two years on every bridge in Georgia. The more complex structures get inspections every year.

However, Spear says there is a growing roster of projects that should be put on a "to-do" list.

"We’ve got roughly one-thousand plus bridges in Georgia that we need to start thinking about replacing...steel and concrete can only last so long...a price tag probably in excess of 3-billion dollars".

Georgia has over five-thousand bridges between 30-50 years old. The bridge that collapsed in Minnesota was built 40 years ago.

Rally for commuter rail service

Supporters for commuter rail between Macon and Atlanta gathered in Griffin Tuesday for a rally. It was organized by the Sierra Club and officials with Spalding County. Backers of the rail plan want the Georgia Department of Transportation to fund the project. They say that congestion on Georgia's roads could be reduced with rail service along a 26 mile area from Atlanta to Lovejoy in Clayton County. That would be a first phase of a route that eventually would go to Macon. The state DOT meets soon to consider the project.

Augusta road project gets go-ahead

The Georgia Department of Transportation Tuesday signed off on a long anticipated road construction project. The move gives the green light for improvements of a major interchange in Augusta.

The project will remake the interchange of Interstate-20 and the Bobby Jones Expressway, northwest of downtown. Georgia Department of Transportation spokesman David Spear says the massive project is needed to keep up with development in the Augusta-area:

"That intersection is very old, and growth has been exceptional there...it's a combination of needing to re-do the intersection in general--general rehabilitation--as well as trying to accommodate current and anticipated growth".

The first stages of the 192-million dollar project will begin in a few weeks with lane closures. The bulk of the work will start around Labor Day, and is expected to take three years to finish.

The Augusta work represents the third biggest project in the state.
It's part of the Governor's Fast Forward Transportation Program, which allows needed projects to get quicker funding.