“We are making further progress in the form of our I-285/GA-400 interchange, which will ease congestion for hundreds of thousands of travelers each day,” he said.
Photo credit Georgia Department of Transportation
“We are constructing new capacity express lanes along large stretches of I-75 and 575,” he said. “We are also extending the managed lanes on I-85.”
Deal also said interstate renovations are a high priority for his staff and Georgia residents around the metro Atlanta area.
“If that is our plan [to do nothing], then our roads will slowly slip into disrepair, the safety of our citizens will be jeopardized, and our economy will be stagnated by increased congestion,” he said. “That is unacceptable.”
Deal also said his cabinet seeks to address additional tasks to satisfy the needs of voters and residents, according to the address.
“When it comes to our constituents’ needs in education, healthcare, transportation and public safety, the sea seems so great and our boat so small,” he said. “We may have 10 million challenges, but we also have 10 million oars.”
Plans for expansion
Deal said in his state address that he and his cabinet narrowed down their funding options for the completion of the infrastructure projects.
He also said their initial proposal was unpopular among constituents.
“Only three regions in the state invested in … a regional 1 percent sales tax for designated infrastructure projects,” Deal said.
Another viable option entailed reallocating funds to accomplish the essential tasks, according to the governor’s speech.
“Plan B, which includes reprioritized funding and a focus on the most essential projects that will target our most congested areas,” Deal said. “For example, we are constructing new capacity express lanes along large stretches of I-75 and 575. We are also extending the managed lanes on I-85.”
Harper said financial specifics for these plans cannot yet be discussed as the legislation is ongoing but a house bill has been introduced regarding potential funding.
Funding the construction
Georgia’s House Bill 170 (HB 170), referred to as the “Transportation Funding act of 2015,” seeks to alter certain articles of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) to better suit Atlanta’s expanding business climate, according to the bill.
HB 170, sponsored by six republican house representatives, addresses potential funding for interstate renovation and maintenance by adjusting Georgia’s transportation taxes.
Deal said the excise tax, which is a fee claimed by the state from the purchase of each gallon of fuel, has remained the same since 1971 and increasing that fee would afford the state more revenue to implement expansion plans, according to the address.
“That’s 44 years,” he said. “In that time the fuel efficiency for the average vehicle has almost doubled, which means the amount of excise tax collected for each mile driven has roughly been cut in half. And the federal government has mandated new standards that would again double the miles per gallon for the average vehicle over the next 10 years, meaning that the amount of excise tax collected for every mile traveled will continue to shrink every year.”
HB 170 would also increase the flat rate fee fuel distributors pay, according to the bill.
“An excise tax is [to be] imposed at the rate of 29.2¢ per gallon on distributors who sell or use motor fuel within this state. An excise tax is imposed at the rate of 33¢ per gallon on distributors who sell or use diesel fuel within this state,” the bill states.
The bill also proposed to levy a fee when registering any vehicle running on alternative fuel that would require $200 from non-commercial drivers and $300 to those for commercial purposes.
The importance of transportation infrastructure
Deal said these large projects can consume considerable amounts of the state’s budget. However the plans are quintessential in maintaining a safe city atmosphere.
“According to industry experts, simply maintaining what we currently have on our roadways requires a minimum of hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue each year. Some industry experts even suggest it’s more than $1 billion a year,” he said at the state address.
Stefanie Harper, director of communications for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said the repair and construction of Georgia’s highways largely impacts the state economy.
“Georgia’s solid transportation infrastructure is a huge deciding factor for companies,” she said.
Harper also said Georgia needs to accommodate traffic to thrive as a business hub.
“Suppliers can reach 80 percent of the U.S. market in a two-day truck drive using two major transcontinental interstate highways and four additional interstates that connect to 15 other states,” she said.
The Hartsfield-Jackson Airport should remain accessible for trade and business travel and the interstate expansion could facilitate the transportation of products and professionals, according to Harper.
“Companies can also reach the majority of the U.S. market in a two-hour flight. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport offers direct flights to 75 international destinations in 50 countries and is home to 14 cargo-only carriers, making it easy for out-of-state business meetings,” she said.
Georgia State marketing student Joe Ho said the expected cost may concern some.
“Highway expansion will be helpful for many commuters fighting through traffic but $1.1 billion is a lot of money,” he said.
Georgia State marketing student Adil Bandali said he believes the highway expansion could yield short term pitfalls.
“It will take a very long time to get it done and it will definitely affect students because, with all that traffic, many [students] will be late to class and many will transfer out of GSU,” he said.
However, Ho also said the completion of the project will benefit the commuter population.
“Expanding the highway would affect students by encouraging more commuting and for people who already commute it would help a lot to keep people from getting stuck in traffic,” he said.
