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DEL.ICIO.USPerdue has transportation problems on his mind
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue spoke of the need to have an “action plan” for transportation improvements at a luncheon speech today at the Atlanta Rotary Club.
In fact, he unveiled a catchy name for his yet-to-be-released transportation initiative — I.T. 3 (to the third degree). That stands for “Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today.”
Perdue said he would be meeting with members of the Georgia Board of Transportation later this week to talk about a “new partnership” between the various agencies and “what we can accomplish together.”
But the governor did not unveil any details of what that transportation plan might be.
Perdue, however, did say he was optimistic about Georgia’s future as an international hub. He said traffic through Georgia’s ports is experiencing dramatic increases, which calls for better transportation in and out of Savannah and Brunswick.
“We don’t have any choice of developing a strong transportation infrastructure in the future,” Perdue said.
Later Perdue told me that the state is conducting a freight and logistics study. “Both rail and roads are becoming congested,” the governor said.
During the question-and-answer period, one Rotarian asked Perdue specifically about metro Atlanta’s transportation needs.
Perdue said he had passed the Fast Forward transportation program that doubled transportation spending, but that “our delivery method was ineffective in delivering that.”
He said that’s why the new governance at GDOT with Commissioner Gena Abraham at the helm has been so important in restructuring the funding and implementation of projects.
“We are not done with the bad news over there,” Perdue said of GDOT.
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Comments
By Taxpayer
June 9, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Here we go again. We’re in the midst of an increasingly dire energy and transportation crisis, and all Sonny can suggest is more meetings, joint committees, planning initiatives, and action plans.
More of the same, over and over again. He’s stalling for time. Attempting to make the appearance that he’s taking action, when all it comes down to is more meetings, committees, sub-committees, and “action plans” that are big on plans but devoid of all action.
Maybe ol’ Sonny will surprise us. Maybe our state will finally throw its support behind a comprehensive solution to our transportation problem that promises more than just fast-tracking the road-building process. Roads, roads, roads… Roads on top of roads. Widening 4-lane roads into 16-lane roads. Toll roads where the owners will be private corporations.
We demand more options, not more roads, Sonny. Got it??
By Road Hazard
June 9, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
“roads are becoming congested” — This should read “roads became congested long ago.” Has Sonny ever driven in Atlanta?? This is a problem that should have been addressed 20 years ago. Anything done now will already be obsolete by the time it is finished. We do not need a bunch of meetings, we need a Manhattan project led by some people that can get things done, not produce more bureaucracy and prolong the inevitable. BTW- we need the same Manhattan project for better fuel economy and alternative energy, not the Congress brow beating the oil execs in order to look like they are doing something to help the problem.
By Repub
June 9, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this
This guy just kills me. At this stage of the game, with all of the factors supporting the need for alternatives to sitting in traffic, Perdue is still playing coy with Atlanta’s traffic issue.
He didn’t give any specifics because it will likely include a little token towards transit but will once again and I would be blown away if its not largely focused on roads.
Can we please get somebody under the gold dome that’s is a part of this century
By David Speno
June 9, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this
Dear Sonny,
The train pulled out of the station about 5 years ago. You and your Republican bobble heads were not on it. The future belongs to Charlotte, Denver, Seattle, etc. because their leaders recognized many years ago that heavy rail, light rail, more buses, congestion pricing, etc. has to be an integral part of a regions transportation structure. Sonny, more meetings and committees is so 19th and 20th century thinking.
By Leo
June 9, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
Just like any other problem facing Georgia, Sonny has done a sorry job of leadership and no vision in dealing with transportation problems facing Georgia. My advice to Sonny, resign and go back to farming.
By Road Scholar
June 10, 2008 7:59 AM | Link to this
I agree with all the above posters. GDOT has studided the state”s present interstates, freight movements and growth, congestion, arterial operations, and solutions on I 285 and now the radial freeway system in Atlanta. They have looked out 25 years to identify the needs based on higher truck axle loads (pavements deteriorate faster) traffic increases (congestion), and the deterioration of the old system built in the 70’s and 80’s with a design life of 20 years. I have two questions:
What is the cost effectiveness of completing the GRIP system- 4 laning rural state highways, some of which have projected traffic of 10,000 VPD. This has led GDOT to being more strapped for cash.
How will we pay for it? The present regime appears scared to increase funding for fear of being labeled tax increasers…or worse…democrats. These are user fees…the roads gets used…you pay for it.
And I am not talking tolls, which proceeds will not pay for a major widening project.
The recent revelation of possible funding for buses (which was denied this past legislative session) is a good first step, if followed through on. Since gas is not reducing in cost, and the opening of any new oil fields or refineries would take about 7 years to be realized, solutions that reduce gas consumption and provide mobility are needed now.
Mr. Gov, since you appear to be in charge of GDOT, what are your specific proposals and how will Georgians pay for them.
By El Guapo
June 10, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
MARTA is the only transit system in the Country with not a single penny funded by the state. Sonny is all talk.
By SUBURBAN OVERLORD
June 10, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
The state needs to follow a “business approach” in addressing transportation. A plan needs to be done that lists out all the projects, figures out how much they cost, and says when they ought to be built.
The “business case” needs to be made for transportation projects, just like Sonny did for his “Go Fishing” program, rural GRIP road projects, and that fancy Houston County horse barn in his home county. Showing a “business case” justification is only for metro Atlanta projects, it does not apply to projects in parts of the state that Sonny likes.
What? You say we already have done a bunch of those transportation plans? Well, then why do another one?
Well, it might be because the Governor figured out that EVERYONE has had enough of his profanity-laced tirades and is moving on without him. What Sonny needs to do is pray about is not being such a nasty potty-mouth. On second thought, nah, that will never happen.
By June
June 10, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
I.T.3? That can’t be right. Sonny has declared that he is anti-gimmick.
North Carolina is eating our lunch, and Sonny, in his own words, is “ineffective” to stop it. I’m praying for a better governor.
By Aujourd'hui en France
June 10, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
This guy is a loss. Georgia is on the fast track to becoming a midget empire thanks to him.
By Interested Bystander
June 11, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
When he’s more concerned with the photo-op (such as pulling on a Tour de Georgia cycling jersey over his bulky frame) than he is about whether we have cycling lanes for commuters, that’s a problem.
When he shows more interest in widening roads in his home county than in addressing mass transit needs that have been documented for 10 years, that’s a problem.
When he thinks that more meetings will bring a “new innovative solution”, he’s THE problem.
Metro Atlanta’s got millions of residents that need to get from location A to location B and back. When we don’t have public transit that addresses a multi-county area, and the Governor won’t support funds for the one entity that is currently addressing transit needs (MARTA, which has shown willingness to work with the alphabet soup of county-transit systems CCT, Gwinnett, etc) … that’s a show-stopper.
We need a Governor who will take on this problem, rather than ignore it for eight years. Give us the Sewer Mayor over this yokel.