Governor Brian Kemp and the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) have announced the next round of Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) loans and grants that will help to fund 13 transportation projects across the state. The $26.5 million is a record for the program, thanks to a boost of $46 million for the program in the FY 2025 budget.
“Thanks to conservative budgeting and strategic funding of our priorities, Georgia is not only the No. 1 state for business we’re also the best state for reliable infrastructure,” said Governor Brian Kemp, Chairman of the SRTA Board. “With this year’s historic rural investment, we’re preserving our competitive edge and reaffirming our commitment to creating opportunity in all parts of our state, especially rural Georgia. I want to thank the General Assembly and the SRTA team for making these awards possible and I look forward to the generational impact they will have on our communities.”
Eight of the 13 loans or grants are for $1 million or more. The largest single loan is $4.8 million for the Cumberland CID. The project will built the first section of the Cumberland Sweet project, increasing multi-modal travel around one metro Atlanta’s largest commercial centers. The funding will go towards a shared use path along Galleria Drive from Akers Mill Road to the bike and pedestrian bridge over I-285. Pedestrian lighting will be included on the path, along with an improved traffic signal at Galleria Drive and Galleria Parkway. The project is funded in partnership with the Cumberland CID, Georgia’s first CID that laid the foundation for many public-private partnerships in the metro Atlanta area over the last 30 years. More than 190 commercial property owners help to fund infrastructure projects throughout the Cumberland CID.
Down south, nearly to Florida, Colquitt County will receive the second highest amount of funding, receiving more than $2.5 million in loans and another $2 million in grants. The funding will go towards resurfacing 11 miles of roads across the county, including reclamation and replacement of existing culverts where necessary. The investment will help to shorten the project timeline by more than 3 years.
Other projects receiving more than $1 million are Athens-Clarke will receive $1.7 million for roadway reconfiguration, Barrow County will receiver $2.4 million in loans and another $1 million in grants for a roundabout and realignment on State Route 53, Cherokee County will receive $2 million for an airport road spur, LaGrange will receiver $1 million for a new two-lane road, Mount Vernon will receive $1.4 million for road paving and other infrastructure repairs, and Dodge County will also work on road improvements with more than $4 million in funding.
“SRTA is honored and excited to continue investing in Georgia’s transportation network, this year by infusing more state funds than ever into local projects,” said Jannine Miller, Executive Director of the State Road and Tollway Authority. “Rural communities made up 38% of GTIB applications this year, indicating transportation is important in every corner of our state. With the support of Governor Kemp and the General Assembly, GTIB is helping local governments accelerate project delivery and lower long-term costs for Georgia taxpayers.”
