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DEL.ICIO.USState needs to make concrete transport plans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A higher tax on gasoline is not inherently objectionable or summarily dismissable.
It is both objectionable and dismissable, however, until Georgia has a statewide transportation plan that clearly spells out what we’re buying — what we’re buying in terms of projects and congestion relief. In my state transportation plan, we don’t have any slow trains to nowhere that people are going or any recreational projects masquerading as alternatives to gridlock solutions. We don’t have hidden agendas to promote “economic justice” or advance some group’s notion of what advocacy groups believe are more desirable lifestyle choices — high-density, for example.
We have measurable congestion-relieving solutions. We have government returning to what the Georgia Department of Transportation once did. Our government measures the flow of traffic, identifies developing and foreseeable bottlenecks, devises solutions and fixes them. That’s all any of us should want: A government that works, a government that takes our money and serves us as we choose to live.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson issued a joint statement just over a week ago pointing out that Georgia has “far too many government agencies debating transportation plans instead of building roads” with the consequence that “the economic future of our entire state hangs in the balance.” Both expressed a frustration that boils down to this: Do something, dangit!
The “do something” involves some process nuts-and-bolts that are likely to be reflected in legislation that will be the outgrowth of a joint House-Senate transportation study committee. But something bolder and broader is needed.
Gov. Sonny Perdue essentially laid out the principles to which a statewide plan should adhere in remarks before the House-Senate transportation study committee. Those should be mobility, safety, reliability, efficiency and responsible stewardship of limited resources. Solutions should cost as little as possible in time and money while quickly and safely moving people from point A to B.
A comprehensive statewide transportation plan should first identify those cost-efficient solutions that move people and goods more speedily through what are now congestion bottlenecks. And, secondarily, they eliminate barriers to economic prosperity where they exist throughout Georgia.
The first task is to define roles for the many government agencies, some of which are tempted into empire-building. Nobody can do that but the governor, though the legislature could — less desirably — write roles into law.
The second task, for which some work has been done already, is to develop the state plan, determine which components can be funded with anticipated public money and which should be farmed out to the private sector as toll roads or special-pricing lanes or other public-private hybrids.
The final task is to determine how to finance the public’s share. Taxpayers need to know precisely what they’re buying and why. The why should be that the proposed solution is the most efficient way to deliver the greatest congestion relief. Or in the event that a statewide plan included something like the now-jettisoned Northern Arc linking I-75 and I-85 across North Georgia, as it should, a full explanation of how it furthers the goal of a prosperous Georgia.
The point is simply that asking taxpayers to make a major financial commitment to solving their mobility problems should be based on honesty and on measurable evidence. It’s what Perdue refers to as “stewardship of resources,” the assurance that time, money and effort are appropriately allocated. A politically popular white elephant project will, for example, consume as much time and money as something that actually solves a real mobility problem. No pork. No local earmarks.
The coming legislative session is not the time to propose a gasoline tax increase. It’s impossible to know now whether one penny or 25 is supportable. Or any. Junk up a state plan with pork and special-interest projects that won’t hold up to marketplace cost-benefit scrutiny and taxpayers will react badly.
One: Develop clear lines of responsibility and authority with a hierarchy. Two: Create the statewide plan that fixes gridlock, with public and private players. Three: Raise the money.
- Jim Wooten is the associate editorial page editor. His column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment | Categories: Column
Comments
By Dusty
October 7, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
Dear Jim Wooten,
I like your one two three conclusion. But, on #1, is there anyone left who can tell the difference between responsibility and authority as opposed to hierachy? Gov. Perdue may have the authority and, I hope, the ability. But he is going to need a lot of support to banish the “hierachies”.
Smaller government seems to be a thing of the past. Speaking of “smaller”, would you elaborate a bit on the Congressional Farm Bill? The new version of USDA sounds good. But “sounds good” doesn’t always come out like it sounds. I am joining a discussion group next week on the Farm Bill. I thought you might have some ideas on the subject.
By Luckoduh
October 7, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
Hear the cry babies wail:
{{{{The massive U.S. embassy under construction in Baghdad could cost $144 million more than projected and will open months behind schedule because of poor planning, shoddy workmanship, internal disputes and last-minute changes sought by State Department officials, according to U.S. officials and a department document provided to Congress.-Urinal}}}}
I mean it’s not like we’re building it in a war zone or anything.
And check this out, in their head long rush to whine about America, the libs let the cat out of the bag:
{{{{Completing the sprawling, 21-building compound is viewed by some officials as a key element of building a sustainable, long-term diplomatic presence in Baghdad.}}}}
I thought the democrats were “getting us out” of this “failed war” that we already, in the words of Hairy Reed, “lost.”
Or was all that just a bunch of noise to give the democrat party dullards some red meat to chew on?
Aren’t they just so gullible?
~~~~~~
{{{{Just imagine that Vice President Dick Cheney went on a visit to a foreign country —- let’s say Great Britain —- and that one of his Secret Service agents was shot several times and killed by a drunken bodyguard hired by the Brits.- Queen Pinko, Urinal}}}}
Let me guess, there would be much outrage with you pinko liberals because the drunken bodyguard didn’t hit Cheney, right?
What a silly scenario this is anyway, it’s like when you go to Great Britain you have to be armed up for those roving bands of kidnappers that would like nothing better to make a beheading jihad video with some high ranking diplomat.
The two situations are not even comparable.
{{{{If Americans are still puzzled by the hostility with which so many Iraqis —- indeed, so many Muslims —- view the U.S. occupation, this one episode ought to go a long way toward explaining the resentment.}}}}
Let’s see here, Al Qaeda has bombed to death 100,000 women and children, Blackwater accidentally killed 11 men, so of course Blackwater sucks, when will Sinthia weep over the Al Qaeda victims?
{{{{In what seems another lifetime, President Bush promised a “humble” foreign policy. But after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, he followed a swaggering and belligerent course, fueled by cowboy rhetoric and a stubborn, even messianic, insistence that he knew what was right. His policies were supported by a scared-silly public desperate to believe that our military might still guarantee American dominance of the world.-Queen Pinko, Urinal}}}}
Tell’s you something about the standards of the pulitzer committee, don’t it?
A presumably grown woman, immersed in babbling insanity as though she’s breathlessly reporting from her own reality, something she must think we can’t see with our own two eyes.
Either that or she has a really low opinion of the intelligence level of the average pinko AJC reader.
A “swaggering and belligerent” 8 months of consulting with the UN security council over their resolutions and pleading with Saddam to give them access or evidence to the contrary.
Do these stupid, mindless diatribes excite you liberals, writing and reading them, does it make you horny or what?
{{{{Many of us, however, didn’t want to send our own sons and daughters to supplement that military power. So we relied heavily on mercenaries from companies such as Blackwater and DynCorp and Triple Canopy to do dirty jobs in dangerous places.}}}}
Either that or Clinton cut military spending to the bone, duh.
{{{{Not so long ago, the United States was a master in the use of soft power and the light touch: food for famine victims; medicine for sick children; visas for foreign students; radio broadcasts about the wonders of our country; diplomatic missions to beg, cajole and threaten wayward countries back into line.}}}}
Yeah, them Cambodians that died by the millions after you democrats abandoned Vietnam thought your ideas were great.
And such dividends to be proud of, sucking up to Middle East Criminals while they slaughter thousands of citizens in the heart of our financial district.
Only a legacy a koward lib could be proud of.
By John
October 7, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this
Grading Wooten: C
The very awkward and misleading opening sentence should read, “A higher tax on gasoline is neither inherently objectionable nor summarily dismissable. But why would you open with that when your topic is gridlock. Gridlock and the future of transporation.
The second sentence is sophmoric: “It is both objectionable and dismissable, however, until….” (Then the sentence ends in redundancies).
The third sentence in not Wootens fault. The fourth sentence is. It’s very tough sledding to try to grasp the topic here.
Wooten does make a point by the end of this article and it’s a fine effort. C
BTW: never use “however”. It’s redundant. It stinks. It’s obsolete. Just dont use it.
By getalife
October 7, 2007 1:24 PM | Link to this
dusty,
A discussion group?
OMG, do they know you a fraud?
Do they read your bias here? Anything the gop spews you will agree dittohead.
Wow, anyhoo, I would pimp sugarcane ethanol.
duh,
Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11
You look mental as usual. Stop embarrassing yourself.
Have some self dignity man.
Geez, fruit loop.
By getalife
October 7, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this
Seriously dusty,
What do you know about farming?
By DemDems4Ever
October 7, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this
Dusty,
Ignore the liberal sycophant, getalife. It is an angry troll today with little to do and thus the rage.
By getalife
October 7, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this
Geez, talk about no substance.
Do you have anything else to post that is not about me loser?
By John
October 7, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this
Falcons are the equal to every team they’ve played. Impressive first half in that the game hasn’t run away from them. There’s something screwy with the HD broadcast. I think it’s only 720p not 1080p. It just doesn’t look clear. You dont think it’s the wine? nah, my wife mashed those grapes friday night. Wife still recovering from monday’s double-mastect. Everything hurts. She’s all pain killer right now. Waiting on her hand and foot. Oye!
By @@
October 7, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this
Jim, I’m beginning to think you don’t like me. You’re always wanting me to “play in traffic”.
Reading your column, it truly is a shame when resolving problems the “right way” seems innovative. Here’s the steps I would take when baking a cheesecake.
What kind of cheesecake am I going to make? Chocolate? Pumpkin? Amaretto?
What are my necessary ingredients?
Buy ingredients, and go to work in the kitchen. I’m gonna improvise on your “Rocky Road Recipe”.
It would make more sense to place #2 in the #1 spot and vice-versa. Like this:
1 — Create the statewide plan that fixes gridlock, with public and private players. 2 — Develop clear lines of responsibility and authority with a hierarchy. 3 — Two: Three: Raise the money.So that’s what I think. More than likely, we’ll end up on the perimeter ending up back at the starting point and the cheesecake will have cracks.
But here’s hoping…..
By getalife
October 7, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this
For the Craig pervert lover
At least, that “substance” did not include a cheesecake recipe.
Geez.
By John
October 7, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this
I do question the falcon’s game plan. Who would call a screen on 2nd down? (Except a moron).
By @@
October 7, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
Whoops! Let me change that last sentence.
More than likely we’ll wind up on the perimeter going back to where we started from.
I saw the “english prof”, PoliFore snooping around here earlier. Wouldn’t wanna get a frowny face on my paper.
By @@
October 7, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this
Oh chit! Let me do that again…
More than likely we’ll wind up on the perimeter starting over from our point of origin.
Getalife is Cracked:
Do tell! Where up ^^^ there do you see a cheesecake recipe.
Why are you fixated on Senator Craig? I was reading an article from an Idaho paper, and it seems a lot of his constituents have no problem with him staying in office. They said he’s worked hard for Idaho.
What’s it gonna be?
Power to the people or power to Getalife?
By John
October 7, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
The falcons are a good team. The falcon coach has talent. It’s the game plan. Why try a 53 yard field goal with the 0-for-50 wonderfoot? No, no, no, at this point in the game, you punt, and make the titans bring it out risking a disaster. There’s plenty of time. Another worst case bad call scenario. Inconceivable.
Inconcievable.
By getalife
October 7, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this
geezcake,
Ida ho says it all.
PF,
Told ya that LSU game was one to watch.
By John
October 7, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this
Okay, falcons intercept on the titan’s 20. first play? dunn runs toward the sideline in an easily defended, slow-developing sweep. then they take their time, waste time and then call timeout. no game plan. that’s the falcon weakness. We can still win. that’s how good the falcons are, but they are wasted on that coach. Think Blank is calling these plays? They really stink.
By John
October 7, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this
Special teams! Bust it up the middle. It’s a brilliant game plan. i love the coach. i love blank i love everyone touchdown touchdown TOUCHDOWN!!! maybe
By John
October 7, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
Okay, first and goal from the one? What do they do? They throw the ball toward the titan goalline. who thinks of plays like that. Just sneek the ball in.
inconceivable.
By getalife
October 7, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this
Falcons lose, Saints lose, they both suk.
By John
October 7, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this
It’s okay. Falcons could have won this game at any point. Their here. We can still make the playoffs. We simply need a game plan, that includes plays appropriate for the evolving situation. second and long in the first quarter, is different than second and long in the fourth quarter, it also depends on many other factors, but obviously, petrino has no idea what play to call when.
I volunteer my football savant mind here. blank? call me.
By John
October 7, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this
Okay, the post game interviews with petrino prove that blank is calling these plays, AND it proves that petrino has no idea what play to call or why or what football is.
Inconceivable. blank got himself an airhead with no mind of his own to follow orders no matter what. Did you hear his explanation about why he changed quarterbacks?
bwa what a dope. I love it! Football is still wide open. it’s about the generals.
By Luckoduh
October 7, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this
{{{{Ultimately, traffic gridlock threatens the nation’s economic competitiveness, as it takes longer and longer to get goods delivered. But while America is idling, many of our global competitors race ahead. When it comes to transportation improvements, China, India and the European Union are “eating America’s lunch.” By 2020, China will build 42,000 miles of interstate quality highways and India will build 25,000 miles. And the European Unions plans more than 10,000 new miles of road and rail capacity. Where is the U.S. transportation plan?}}}}
We’re discussing it on a blog, geez.
It can’t be any more obvious that the people running DOT should not be running DOT.
~~~~~~
Americans need more money to offset higher energy prices, higher food prices, higher interest rates, no one can argue that, so what do the dumocrat presidential candidates want to do to help:
{{{{Among the front-runners, the Democrats’ chief prescription for the economy is raising the top tax rate on wealthy Americans to pay for universal health care and other social-welfare proposals.}}}}
Take more of your money away from you, why, how could we have not known?
~~~~~
{{{{ The IDF recently sent a letter to France 2 demanding the release of Talal Abu Rahmeh’s 27 minutes of raw footage, asserting the implausibility of IDF guilt for the death of Mohammad al-Dura, and raising the possibility that the entire affair may have been staged. Tragically, there is no way to repair the damage inflicted on Israel’s international image by the France 2 report, much less restore the Israeli and Jewish victims whose lives were exacted as vengeance. It is possible, however, to deter slanderous news reporting—and the violence that often accompanies it—by setting a precedent for media accountability via the handover of Talal Abu Rahmeh’s full 27 minutes of raw footage. Encouragingly, the judge presiding over Mr. Karsenty’s appeal has now requested the tapes. France 2 must make a full public disclosure. If there is nothing to hide, why should it refuse?}}}}
~~~~~
{{{{Last year, when accounts of the killing of 24 Iraqis in Haditha by a group of marines came to light, it seemed that the Iraq war had produced its defining atrocity, just as the conflict in Vietnam had spawned the My Lai massacre a generation ago.}}}}
Alas, it was not to be, the poor wittle Treason Times lost it’s My Lai.
Let’s all cry for them, sniff, sniff.
~~~~~~
{{{{Curiously, something that’s rarely mentioned is that temperatures in Greenland were higher in 1941 than they are today. Or that melt rates around Ilulissat were faster in the early part of the past century, according to a new study. And while the delegations first fly into Kangerlussuaq, about 100 miles to the south, they all change planes to go straight to Ilulissat — perhaps because the Kangerlussuaq glacier is inconveniently growing.-Washington Post}}}}
By GaLiberal
October 7, 2007 11:01 PM | Link to this
Moron Jim says: In my state transportation plan, we don’t have any slow trains to nowhere that people are going or any recreational projects masquerading as alternatives to gridlock solutions. We don’t have hidden agendas to promote “economic justice” or advance some group’s notion of what advocacy groups believe are more desirable lifestyle choices — high-density, for example.
What Moron Jim doesn’t tell you is that simply building roads is not going to solve the problem. The state has been building roads for 30+ years and it has only exacerbate the gridlock and commuting delays. If insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different outcome, then building more roads is surely insane. Rail is the best way to move large volumes of people from one fixed point to another fixed point. The problem with our current system is that it doesn’t serve enough points. Hence, the call to EXPAND the system. Of course, like any state transportation system it needs money to operate efficiently and reliably. But Moron Jim and his Rethuglicon buddies ignore it as an “Atlanta” problem. If Moron Jim and his Rethuglicon buddies had their way, they would pave every inch of open land just so they don’t have to be stalled in traffic. Who pays for all this ‘affluent welfare?’ Those who can afford it the least and have the least need for the roads. But that’s just fine with Moron Jim; build the roads just for me, but make someone else pay for them.
Another thing that Moron Jim doesn’t tell you is that many road projects will have to cut through existing homes and businesses. That means the state will have to exercise ‘imminent domain’ to get the land it needs to build and then expand and expand and expand and expand these roads as more cars are dumped onto them. Of course, it will be cheaper to displace the poor because the compensation will be smaller and they won’t have the resources (money) to fight the state. So of course these roads will be routed through economically underprivileged areas. Not to mention state legislators and county commissioners that will line their pockets as they get the state DOT to reroute the roads either through or away from their property. Real estate developers will get richer building new subdivisions attracting even more people to use the roads which will then get backed up and have to be expanded. When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And Jim Wooten is living proof.