Georgia Legislative Watch

State Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain) has introduced his $25 billion statewide transportation sales tax increase, HR 206, and it is chock full of projects to get legislators from around the state on board.

You can read the press release below the cut.

ATLANTA- Today House Transportation Committee Chairman Vance Smith, Jr. (R-Pine Mountain) introduced the Georgia 20/20 Statewide Transportation Act. The 20/20 Act offers a clear vision for the state’s transportation needs. It also puts accountability and transparency measures in place to ensure the revenues are dedicated to an approved transportation project list. If passed by the General Assembly, Georgians will vote in November 2010 to approve a ten year one percent statewide transportation sales tax that will expire at the end of year 2020.

“The 20/20 Act offers a well-defined plan to improve Georgia’s transportation needs throughout the state,” said Rep. Vance Smith. “From every corner of Georgia and to every city and county in between, this transportation proposal will provide real solutions.”

Under this legislation, funds would be made available to support infrastructure enhancements like interchange improvements, major arterials, a multi-modal station, pedestrian facilities, bridge rehabilitation, expanding lane capacity and further developing existing corridors for freight and economic development purposes. It would also include funds for all modes of transportation like commuter rail, and light rail as well as funds for general aviation improvements.

“Chairman Smith’s proposal not only meets Georgia’s statewide transportation needs, but will help the state continue its growth and prosperity,” said Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram). “The 20/20 Act is the type of bold, forward-thinking this state requires to solve our transportation problems, provide congestion relief, spur economic development and improve quality of life for all Georgians.”

In addition to the identified projects in the 20/20 Act, counties and cities will receive direct grants or Local Transportation Flexibility Funds based on a population formula to meet local transportation needs. These grants will be in addition to the State Aid, Local Assistance Road Program (LARP), Bridge Rehabilitation program and Dirt Road Program funds currently provided by the Department of Transportation.

“This proposal is similar to a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), except Georgians will be asked to approve a statewide list of transportation projects detailed in accompanying legislation,” said Rep. Donna Sheldon (R-Dacula). “This type of transparency and accountability is a key part of the 20/20 Act.”

The revenues raised by the 20/20 Act will be banked in a transportation trust fund administered by the State Road and Tollway Authority. A legislative oversight committee will ensure the funds are disbursed as approved by Georgia voters.

“This proposal addresses the transportation needs of all Georgia,” said Rep. Jay Shaw (D-Lakeland). “It provides congestion relief in metro areas and funds projects in rural Georgia that have deserved more attention.”

Upon approval by the General Assembly, the 20/20 Act is projected to raise $25-29 billion. All current sales tax exemptions will apply to the 20/20 Act.

Sponsors of the 20/20 Act also include Speaker Pro Tempore Mark Burkhalter (R-Johns Creek), House Majority Leader Jerry Keen (R-St. Simons), Rep. Donna Sheldon, and Rep. Jay Shaw.

A list of the proposed 20/20 Act projects and corresponding maps can be found below:

INTERCHANGES OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I-75 & I-285 North (Including Windy Hill Road & Kennedy)
I-75 & I-16
I-20 & I-285 West
I-20 & I-285 East
GA 400 & I-285 (Including Ashford Dunwoody CD System)
GA 400 & I-85

ARTERIALS OF STATE WIDE SIGNIFICANCE
S.R. 400 From S.R. 20 To I-285 North (Managed Lanes)
S.R. 92 From I-75 South To I-75 North (Including Third Army Road Interchange)
S.R. 316 From Athens Loop To S.R. 20 (Grade Separation and Managed Lanes)
S.R. 20 From I-75 To S.R. 316
I-575 From Sixes Road To S.R. 372 (Including Reconstruct Interchange At Sixes Road)
I-985 From I-85 To U.S. 129 (Including New Interchange At Martin Road, Exit 14)

FREIGHT ROUTE CORRIDORS
U.S. 441 From I-16 To U.S. 29 (Including Transfer Station in Dublin)
U.S. 29 (Athens, Ga Loop 10) From U.S. 441 To S.R. 316
S.R. 96 From I-16 To Peach County Line
U.S. 27 ALT. From I-185 To U.S. 27 (LaGrange Bypass)
Effingham Parkway From S.R. 119 To S.R. 21
Jimmy DeLoach Parkway From S. R. 21 to Port Gate (Port Last Mile Project)
U.S. 84 From Homerville to Waycross

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORRIDORS
S.R. 133 From U.S. 19 To I-75 (Between Albany & Valdosta)
Fall Line Freeway From Crawford Road To S.R. 68
U.S. 1 From I-16 To Altamaha River (Including Lyons Bypass)
S.R. 44 From I-20 To Linger-Longer
S.R. 11 Monroe Bypass
I-95 New Interchange AT Exit 82, Belfast-Siding Road
I-95 Reconstruct Interchange AT S.R. 99, (Including the Golden Isles Pkwy, Spur 25 Ext.)

NON-ARC CITIES WITH POPULATION OVER 15,000 (General Transportation Purposes)
1. Augusta-Richmond
2. Columbus-Muscogee
3. Savannah
4. Athens-Clarke
5. Macon
6. Albany
7. Warner-Robins
8. Valdosta
9. Rome
10. Gainesville
11. Dalton
12. Hinesville
13. Newnan
14. LaGrange
15. Statesboro
16. Griffin
17. Carrollton
18. Evans
19. Milledgeville
20. Thomasville
21. Cartersville
22. Dublin
23. St. Mary’s
24. Americus
25. Tifton
26. Brunswick
27. Moultrie
28. Waycross
29. Covington
30. Calhoun

NON-ARC, GRTA COUNTIES (General Transportation Purposes)
Forsyth
Paulding
Coweta

LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM
North Suburban Line (Beginning at KSU, I-75 To I-85 Via I-285)
East I-20 Line (Beginning at S-1 Garnett Sta. To Turner Hill Road, Stonecrest)

INTERCHANGES OF REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE (Congestion Mitigation)
I-20 @ Panola Road Interchange
I-20 @ S.R. 138 / S.R. 20 Interchange
I-285 @ S.R. 9 Roswell Road (Sandy Springs) Interchange
I-285 @ Bouldercrest Road Interchange
I-285 @ S.R. 155 / Flat Shoals Road Interchange
I-285 @ S.R. 280 South Cobb Drive Interchange
I-285 @ S.R. 8 / U.S. 78 / U.S. 278 / Bankhead Highway Interchange
I-75 @ 15th Street Bridge & HOV Interchange @ Atlantic Station
I-75 @ Aviation Boulevard / I-285 Interchange
I-75 @ C.R. 824 / Jodeco Road Interchange
I-85 @ S.R. 138 / Jonesboro Road Interchange
I-85 @ S.R. 324 / Gravel Springs Road, 4.5 Miles SE Of Buford
I-85 @ S.R. 74 / Peachtree City Interchange
S.R. 316 @ Collins Hill Road & S.R. 20 Interchanges (Gwinnett)

ARTERIALS REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE (Congestion Mitigation)
Ashford Dunwoody / Perimeter Center East (DeKalb)
Buford Highway (Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett)
Commerce Crossing (Rockdale)
Courtland Street Bridge Reconstruction (Fulton)
C.W. Grant / S.R. 3 – Old Dixie Highway – Grade Separation (Clayton)
Fayetteville East ByPass (Fayette)
Fayetteville West ByPass (Fayette)
Moores Mill / Bolton Road (Fulton)
Old Alabama Road (Fulton)
Panola Road (DeKalb)
Sigman Road (Rockdale)
Turner Hill Road (DeKalb)
S.R. 316 / Sugarloaf Interchange (Gwinnett)
S.R. 140 (Cherokee)
S.R. 140 (Fulton)
S.R. 141 (Fulton, Gwinnett)
S.R. 155 (Henry)
S.R. 162 Salem Road (Rockdale)
S.R. 42 (Henry)
S.R. 6 (Douglas, Cobb, Paulding)
S.R. 6 (Fulton)
U.S. 19 / Tara Boulevard (Clayton, Henry, Spalding)
U.S. 41 (Cobb)
U.S. 41 Including Chat. River Bridge (Fulton)

MANAGED LANES EXPANSION PROGRAM – ARC COUNTIES (Congestion Mitigation)
I-75 South Corridor From Aviation Blvd To S.R. 155 (Clayton, Henry)
I-75 / I-575 Northwest Corridor Fm I-285 To Hickory Grove & Sixes Road (Cobb, Cher)
I- 20 West From H.E. To S.R. 6 (Douglas, Cobb, Fulton)

CITY OF ATLANTA (General Transportation Purposes)

L.A.R.P (Non-ARC Counties)

STATE AID (Non-ARC Counties)

DIRT ROAD PROGRAM (Non-ARC Counties)

BRIDGE REHAB AND REPLACEMENT (Non-ARC Counties)

GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORTS

PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES (First Mile-Last Mile, ARC Counties)

ATLANTA BELTLINE (Transit Only)

ATLANTA TO ATHENS COMMUTER RAIL

MULTI MODAL STATION (MMPT, BLOCK D, Concept 6.0)

MAG-LEV FEASIBILITY STUDY (Atlanta To Savannah, Freight and Passenger)

ATLANTA STREET CARS (Phase 1)

Local Transportation Flexibility Funds Overall Map

Regional Transportation Investments

Regional Transportation Investments Basemap

Statewide Transportation Investments

Statewide Transportation Investments Basemap