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UGA
newspaper says build Highway 316
with tolls, but have student discounts
The Red and Black
Reprinted with permission
(Editor's note: With Georgia Highway
316 being so important to Gwinnett County, we thought our readers
would enjoy seeing what The Red and Black, the independent student
newspaper at the University of Georgia, wrote recently (March 4)
on the road. -- eeb)
Since its completion, Ga. 316 has become a convenient and efficient
link to metro Atlanta. It's also become a deadly one.
Figures released by consulting firm Post, Buckley, Schuh &
Jernigan estimate seven deaths occurred last year on Georgia 316
as a result of dangerous intersections. The firm estimates if exits
existed on the highway instead of intersections, five lives could
have been saved.
The Georgia Department of Transportation is taking a serious look
at the exit option. It's solution: make Georgia 316 safer with exits,
but fund the project with state money and tolls.
The renovation project could cost up to $800 million, but could
cut down on drive time in addition to increasing safety. The bulk
of the money collected from Georgia 316 patrons could come from
the people who can least afford it -- University students.
According to the current plan, a trip from Athens to Atlanta could
cost drivers up to $4. This amount is reasonable for football fans
and perhaps some faculty making the trip, but to expect daily, or
even weekly, commuters to bear the burden of this cost is unreasonable.
Although the University does not have as many outside commuters
enrolled as other metro colleges like Georgia State University or
Georgia Perimeter College, these students do exist. No doubt the
toll road will impact the growth of that demographic in the future.
In addition, perhaps more so than students, many faculty and staff
live outside of the Athens area. The high toll could inconvenience
them if they are required to pay it three times a week.
Nevertheless, the added safety an exit system would provide, along
with the shortened driving time, is alluring. Coupled with the five
to 10 years the highway would take to complete if it were a toll,
versus the 20 to 25 it would take if funded by the state, the toll
conversion seems almost necessary.
If Georgia 316 becomes a toll road, we'd like to suggest the department
implement a discount program for members of the University. A simple
plan that would allow frequent commuters to purchase a pass on the
Internet for a discounted cost, and then display this pass when
driving would create a middle ground between safety and sensibility.
University students and faculty could afford to enjoy the benefits
of the new highway and the Department of Transportation would not
experience a great financial setback. In addition, a pre-payment
plan would assure the department a substantial amount of revenue
each month by allowing drivers to commit to the drive.
The overflow from drivers not wanting to pay the toll could be
felt on Georgia 78, the only other major alternate entry into Athens.
As a result, the department could have to expand this highway as
well, leaving tax payers with even more of a financial burden.
By offering University members a price break, the overflow onto
Georgia 78 could be limited and the toll road could serve its purpose.
We support the conversion of Georgia 316 into a toll road, but only
if the department is willing to meet members of the University half
way.
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Number
1.97, April 9, 2002
