A recent article in the AJC, based upon a 2016 audit and its follow-up, puts forth a conclusion that the Georgia Department of Transportation does not do enough to justify transportation projects.
I am very familiar with the thorough and highly coordinated effort required to plan transportation projects spanning from my career at the North Fulton Chamber and CID to my previous service on the GDOT Board and current service as the chairman of the Georgia Senate Transportation Committee. I have no doubt that GDOT performs its due diligence to ensure they advance the best projects possible under the existing federally mandated planning process.
My concern is that the article and the audit lose sight of just how much of the transportation planning process is dictated by federal law and even to a certain degree by state law. While I have and will continue to champion reducing federal red tape and empowering states to make more decisions, GDOT must abide by the laws as they currently exist. For example, all federal transportation funds come to the state in different “buckets.” Each “bucket” has specific criteria for how those funds can be spent from the project type to even very detailed geographic requirements. Layer on top of that the annual budget passed by the General Assembly that puts state transportation funds into specific programs plus a state law that requires transportation funds be balanced among the state’s 14 congressional districts.
However well-intentioned when enacted, all these legal requirements have a real impact on driving decisions and project selection. The planning process itself is further reviewed and approved by the Federal Highway Administration through a required document called the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The STIP is developed through a public process which includes elected officials and citizens through multiple meetings across the state. The state Transportation Board approves the plan and sends to the governor for final approval.
As an additional requirement of federal law in the more populated areas, there are 16 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) throughout the state. Each of these MPOs has jurisdiction and a role in project prioritization in their federal transportation program plan (TIP). In metro Atlanta, projects are selected by the members of the Atlanta Regional Commission made up of the county chairpersons and mayors. Some of the criticism assigned to GDOT in the article and the audit relates to the requirements in law. I agree that at the federal and state level, we can do more to streamline requirements to ensure that GDOT has the flexibility to choose not only good projects under federal and state restrictions but the best projects that move the needle. And I think many would agree (myself included) that GDOT has many projects underway that will move the needle on mobility in metro Atlanta by addressing freight bottlenecks and providing a system of express lanes.
The great results of the I-75/I-575 Express Lanes have been amazing. Traffic is much improved along that corridor—not just in the express lanes but even also for those not using the express lanes where speeds have improved by 10-15 mph and one hour less of congestion every day. I feel that GDOT is truly multimodal working on many fronts.
I can attest that today there is the best working relationship that I’ve ever seen among all the transportation groups, like the ATL, MARTA, ARC, and GDOT. They are actively engaged with each other and are working together to advance all forms of transportation for metro Atlanta.
Freight movement is a key issue for Georgia. GDOT and the Georgia Ports Authority have worked closely together for years. Later this summer the Senate and House Transportation Committees will begin a Freight Commission to study freight infrastructure needs and we will hear from GDOT’s Statewide Freight plan they developed in our first meeting. I have spoken with the department, and I have no doubt that it takes the 2016 recommendations seriously and are committed to ensuring transparency. GDOT has proven its commitment and willingness to continue working for the best possible projects for the entirety of the state. The advancement we have already seen makes me excited for the future and the continuation of infrastructure projects that will keep Georgia and its economy moving forward.
Sen. Brandon Beach is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and a candidate for the U.S. Congress from the 6th Congressional District.
