Commuting Blog
8 Georgia transportation projects delayed by federal funding crisis
Thanks to our road rage-inducing traffic, Georgia now has laws on the books targeting people who go too fast and too slow. A few years after passing the so-called superspeeder law assessing extra fines on motorists caught going 85 mph or more on most Georgia passed a slowpoke bill that can mean a fine for drivers who lollygag in the left hand lane. Next, they should aim at "idiots." JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Thanks to our road rage-inducing traffic, Georgia now has laws on the books targeting people who go too fast and too slow. A few years after passing the so-called superspeeder law assessing extra fines on motorists caught going 85 mph or more on most Georgia passed a slowpoke bill that can mean a fine for drivers who lollygag in the left hand lane. Next, they should aim at "idiots." JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
More than a hundred transportation projects in Georgia totaling $447 million have been shelved because Congress has failed to pass a long-term transportation funding bill.
They include the following metro Atlanta projects that could have an immediate impact on traffic congestion and safety. The deadline for federal lawmakers to pass an extension is May 31.
- Norfolk Southern Railroad warning device upgrades at 65 locations in Clayton, DeKalb, Douglas and Fulton counties. Cost: $333,910. Phase: Construction.
- The Georgia Gwinnett College Pedestrian Pathways project, which involves the building of sidewalks between buildings and parking lots on campus, as well as new handicap ramps and crosswalks. Cost: $1.25 million. Phase: Construction.
- Linking sections of McGinnis Ferry, Abbotts Bridge and States Bridge roads to the city of John's Creek's Intelligent Transportation System, allowing the city to monitor traffic and trip switches at busy intersections to clear congestion. Cost: $2.4 million. Phase: Construction.
- Pedestrian safety improvements along Ponce de Leon Avenue in downtown Atlanta between Piedmont Avenue and Moreland Avenue. Includes improved lighting, upgrading the pedestrian signals, sidewalk installation and repair, intermittent traffic islands, and HAWK pedestrian crossing signals at selected locations. Cost: $1.18 million. Phase: Construction.
- Diverging Diamond Interchange at Windy Hill Road and I-75. Cost: $700,000. Phase: Preliminary engineering.
- Continuation of an express toll lane along I-85 in Gwinnett County, involving the construction of a new lane in each direction along 10 miles from Old Peachtree Road to Hamilton Mill Road. Cost: $5 million. Phase: Preliminary engineering.
- A project that originated with U.S. Rep. John Lewis to add new sidewalks, upgrade substandard sidewalks, and add handicap improvements, streetscaping and landscaping to 11 street corridors in Hapeville. The completed project would make Hapeville substantially more pedestrian-friendly. Cost: $331,000. Phase: Right-of-way acquisition.
- The Revive 285 project, the improvement project for the top-end segment of the Perimeter between I-75 and I-85. Cost: $5 million. Phase: Preliminary engineering.
