Moving Georgians: a look ahead

Georgians will be able to tell state officials what they want in public transportation next week. The plan's dubbed the Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today initiative (IT3).

Officials say they want to hear what Georgians want in public transportation. They say they'll use that input to set strategic policies, and create a business model for the future.

The public is invited to a week-long series of meetings starting September 22. They'll be held in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Macon, Savannah and Valdosta.

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 of the Department of Transportation 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 legislature failed to pass a transportation plan this past session. That was after a group of legislators held similar hearings around the state last year.

Lawmakers are expected to try again come January.

More information is available at http://www.it3.ga.gov.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of state transportation and infrastructure issues.

Experts: Traffic deters economic growth

Traffic is the biggest obstacle to Atlanta’ economic growth. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports that was the message today from experts during a transportation forum. Experts said other southern cities could get an edge over Atlanta because they’re improving transportation. They say companies won’t want to relocate to Atlanta – nor bring jobs with it – because of intolerable traffic.

Atlanta traffic nearly worst in nation

A national study released today ranks Atlanta’s traffic congestion second worst in the nation. The study by the Texas Transportation Institute says drivers waste nearly an entire work week each year sitting in traffic on the way to and from their jobs. The Los Angeles metro area had the worst congestion, delaying drivers an average of 72 hours a year. Rounding out the top five are Atlanta, San Francisco, Washington and Dallas.

Hartsfield Airport Expects 1.3 million

The nation's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International, is expecting 1.3 million people to pass through its door's this Labor Day weekend. That is an estimated six percent increase in traffic from last year’s Labor Day holiday.

The Transportation Security Administration has sent extra workers; every security lane in the airport is open.

Airport official, Herschel Grangent, told GPB news that the goal is for travelers to have to wait no more than 30-minutes in line, even during peak hours.

"That’s the goal: to keep everybody happy, keep everybody moving and getting to their planes on time," Grangent said.

Almost 250,000 people are expected at the airport per day. The heaviest travel is expected to be on Friday.

Georgia debuts traffic hotline

Georgians have a new way to avoid getting stuck in traffic. Just dial 511 for information on accidents, construction and other backups. Governor Sonny Perdue unveiled the system today. Drivers will also be able to contribute information, as well as get estimated travel times in metro-Atlanta. Georgia’s 511 system will eventually link to other states’ systems.

State lawmakers take lead on transportation woes

Georgia Republican leaders are asking for a sweeping audit of the state Department of Transportation. Their eye is toward using the results to craft transportation legislation next year. Initial results could be available by November, giving state lawmakers time to review them before the start of the next legislative session in January. Traffic congestion is cited constantly as a problem throughout the booming metro Atlanta area.

Report ranks Georgia roads

Georgia’s roads are 6th most cost-effective in the nation, according to a new study. University of North Carolina researchers ranked U.S. highway systems. They found that even though Georgia’s roads improved between 1984 and 2005, traffic congestion and highway fatalities increased. The study’s lead author says it shows that with cutbacks in federal funding, states need to direct transportation money to reduce traffic.

Solving the state's metro traffic woes

At the first of three town hall meetings Wednesday night, commuters met with law makers and elected officials.

Their message … do something … anything … to make it easier to get around the state’s metro areas.

Experts say around the state, traffic is backing up and tempers are flaring.

At Wednesday’s town hall meeting, one doctor spoke of treating patients, stressed from their daily commute.

But doing something about all that traffic isn't quite so easy, says former state representative Matt Towery.

Towery's group ... Insider Advantage ... polled voters and lawmakers.

Turns out, traffic isn't all that sexy to either group.

“When politicians see the polls as to what the most important issues are, traffic doesn't normally come up as the number one issue. That has a real effect on the degree of time and effort they want to put into dealing with that issue.”

One other idea that's gotten a lot of buzz is a statewide SPLOST to fund transit and traffic improvements.

Towery says the idea is a good one, but says counties without the congestion of Georgia’s metro areas aren’t likely to chip in for something they can't use.

The next town hall meeting will be held Wednesday, March 28 at Clayton State University.