Comments on: State Senators upset with GDOT’s lack of progress on alternative transportation

By: L Clifton Oliver II

L Clifton Oliver II — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 04:16:33 +0000

Just what I said we needed to do. GDOT can not spend its funds on anything other than roads and bridges – Why should they be to “go to” agency for alternative transportation when they are constitutionally restricted from using their funds to build, operate or maintain rail transportation?

Here’s what Georgia must do to be successful!

http://www.examiner.com/x-25727-Atlanta-Metro-Transportation-Examiner~y2010m1d4-Legislators-2010-Transportation-Needs-in-Georgia

By: ACC 12 Booster

ACC 12 Booster — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:56:15 +0000

“A pretty amazing resolution was introduced this week that basically describes the Georgia Department of Transportation as incompetent when it comes to developing anything other than highways, roads and bridges.”

The Georgia Department of Transportation became competent at developing highways, roads and bridges!!!!!? When did this happen? Must have just happened just this minute because they’ve got a reputation of being terribly inccompetent at attempting to build and develop roads, too, though I hear that the “geniuses” over at GDOT can laydown a mean layer of fresh new pavement. Although, I doubt that $430 million dollars of unpaid invoices crammed into a desk at GDOT Headquarters is the type of “competence” at roadbuilding that the public was thinking of.

By: Smell the Coffee

Smell the Coffee — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:29:37 +0000

One other comment – One thing we have learned over the past year of “witch hunts” that have substituted for transportation policy in Georgia – Georgia’s Transportation Board is absolutely powerless to influence, let along direct, transportation policy set by the legislature or Governor. Right now we have neither the leadership nor the funding necessary to give give the people and businesses of Georgia the multimodal transportation system they need and deserve.

By: Smell the Coffee

Smell the Coffee — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:41:25 +0000

“Do some Research” is closer to the truth – it is not GDOT (or GRTA for that matter) – it is a Republican Governor who did not value transportation for seven years of his term and a state legislature that should be accountable for not getting “crumbs” for high speed rail. Georgia residents are held hostage and we still are unable to match the Federal commuter rail earmark with state funds. We don’t even have funds to match the $750,000 Federal rail planning money (50-50) – it is a constitutional issue and a leadership issue – wake-up and smell the coffee – while we may not pay taxes, we sure won’t have infrastructure – you can bet on it.

By: Resolution: Take transit away from GDOT | My Green ATL

Resolution: Take transit away from GDOT | My Green ATL — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:23:39 +0000

[...] Maria Saporta reports on what she calls “a pretty amazing resolution … that basically describes the Georgia Department of Transportation as incompetent when it comes to developing anything other than highways, roads and bridges.” The resolution calls for transferring “other methods of transportation” to the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. [...]

By: Do some research

Do some research — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:15:35 +0000

AGAIN, it was the legislature and governor that passed and signed SB 200 last year that eliminated the division of intermodal programs. GDOT has no choice under this statute. The bill clearly defined which divisions the Department will and can have – none of which included intermodal. This is an obvious effort on the part of GRTA to save their over compensated skins.

By: Yr1215

Yr1215 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:40:13 +0000

Happenstance – I don’t think any of us are legal specialists. The point Transportation Planner, I think, may have been making is that there generally isn’t a federal mechanism to fund transportation dollars through anything other than the state DOT. In other words, it may be that the money still has to go through DOT. I, for one, have no idea.

I don’t know if this idea qualifies as good governmental organization, good policy, or good law. If it does, and helps make transportation happen, it’s a great idea. It would be interesting to hear from some transportation specialists and legal advisors on the soundness of this idea.

By: Happenstance

Happenstance — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:59:05 +0000

“But it doesn’t really matter if there’s no money behind the planning. If GRTA can’t get even a small portion of the federal dollars that is funneled to GDOT, what’s the point?”

There was money AVAILABLE, but Georgia didn’t have any viable, shovel-ready plans. So, the stimulus money went to our nearest competitors: NC and FL.

Maybe, just maybe, GEORGIA will get its act together with this newest resolution. Hopefully

By: Transportation Planner

Transportation Planner — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:21:05 +0000

When GRTA was created, they hired a few of the best rail planners in the country. When Perdue came into power, GRTA had to change their titles to “hide” the fact that they were rail specialists. I believe they now work on bus route planning and park-n-ride lots.

This is a great step for GRTA and for intermodal transportation in the state. But it doesn’t really matter if there’s no money behind the planning. If GRTA can’t get even a small portion of the federal dollars that is funneled to GDOT, what’s the point? Georgia has a deep history of planning for intermodal transportation- but never funding it. Look at the Multi-modal Passenger Terminal downtown- the first detailed plan for that was done in 1992!! Where is it today?