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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Ga. Highway 316 needs
help; Are "Hot" lanes the way to go?
By
Benita M. Dodd
Vice President, Georgia Public Policy Foundation
Special to GwinnettForum.com
JAN. 18, 2005 -- Are toll roads HOT, and when is HOT not cool?
Dodd |
That's a serious policy consideration, and whether the lack of
distinction between toll roads and High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes
is deliberate or unintended, the consequences could be dire. Confusion
about whether, when, where and how to allow toll roads or HOT lanes,
threatens to undermine this state's ability to utilize an increasingly
popular and vital transportation tool.
Why is the ability to charge tolls vital? The statewide transportation
plan through 2025 anticipates $36 billion in revenues, but "needs"
$51 billion. Georgia has been a "donor" state when it
comes to transportation dollars. The state gets back only about
86 cents of every Highway Account dollar it sends to Washington.
The state is urging more equity in the next six-year federal transportation
bill, over which Congress continues to bicker.
Even if equity comes, the federal government already has warned
that transportation funding is likely to shrink and take a back
seat to other budgetary priorities. Consideration of a gas tax hike
in Georgia has repeatedly met a cold shoulder. States and local
governments need to become creative and innovative when it comes
to funding transportation improvements.
Enter the increasingly popular option of tolling to expedite improvements.
Legislation enabling public-private partnerships allows Georgia
to consider unsolicited proposals from private companies for infrastructure
improvement. In the case of transportation proposals, a company
could recoup its investment through charging users a fee or toll.
The first project proposed is a plan to improve Georgia Highway
316 by converting the 39-mile section between Interstate 85 and
the Athens Loop into a limited-access toll road. The state estimates
improvements will cost $800 million; commuters wanting traditional
funding would have to wait at least 15 years for the improvements.
The private consortium promises to complete the project within five
years.
Clearly, to recoup its investment, the consortium must encourage
traffic on the road. To do that requires a toll acceptable to commuters.
As DOT Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl commented recently, one solution
may be reducing the toll and extending the period to recoup the
investment.
Unfortunately, misunderstanding is blurring the lines between the
Georgia 316 toll road proposal and a second innovative option for
the state: HOT lanes. On Georgia 316, all vehicles would pay the
toll in all lanes. HOT lanes accommodate vehicles that under normal
circumstances would not qualify to ride in a high-occupancy vehicle
(HOV) lane. Commuters can choose to travel in the "free"
regular lanes or pay to use the HOT lane for a fee that changes
depending either on the time of day or the level of congestion.
While neither toll roads nor HOT lanes need be a public-private
partnership, it makes sense for government to leverage private money
to expedite construction and the easing of congestion.
Both concepts have been largely successful across the country.
Studies have raised concerns about the need for taxpayer funds to
"bail out" the private sector. The good news is that the
private sector wants profitable ventures - to recoup its investment
- and objective criteria can help select successful projects. And
even if the private sector overestimates revenues and fails, nobody
rolls up the project and takes away the pavement. The state gains
a valuable asset a lot sooner - and likely a lot cheaper - than
expected.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Gwinnett
needs professional planning to help ease the way
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JAN. 18, 2005 -- Bet many of us are in this same boat: we allow
things to happen, without enough prior planning.
 But
don't feel like the Lone Ranger. It's that way in most families,
and many businesses.
What is more important, this is also the way most government operates,
That's why sometimes the only reaction you get from government is
the greasing of a squeaking wheel. Few governments take the time
to project well into the future, and incorporate lots of citizens
looking into the future on the best path to take.
Yet the good governments do. That's what Gwinnett's county commission
has done in the past, and needs to do for our future: hire experts
to project forward, and assess professionally (not politically)
what steps the county needs to take now to make future steps easier
and less troublesome. It's worked well before; and should in the
future.
Yes, it will cost money. But it will be money well spent, especially
if the study can energize the citizens to adopt the needs identified
as necessary for the future. The commission, meanwhile, can adopt
its future budgets along these lines, knowing then that they have
the overall backing of the community buy-in.
Accepting what the study projects will not be an automatic nor
an easy process. There will have to be a lot of give-and-take, back-and-forth
discussion and consensus building. Yet that it what, in effect,
the elected officials have pledged to do, that is, what the citizens
want, and what is best for Gwinnett.
Some of you may think that Gwinnett doesn't need to spend money
to help us move forward, since the future will happen anyway.
We disagree. Not preparing is like not having a roadmap for a trip
when you have not been there before.
For instance, what will happen in Gwinnett in the next 25 years,
by 2030? We'll just throw out a few guesses. Some of you may have
more ideas.
1. Gwinnett population will be over one million people.
If only 10,000 people move here within the next 25 years, that's
another 250,000 people. Added to the 700,000 we have now…well,
you get the point.
2. Gwinnett cities may bump up against one another from DeKalb
to Barrow, from Hall to Rockdale. Right now we have 15 cities;
we could have more then. Even today, look at Peachtree Industrial
Boulevard, where Norcross and Berkeley Lake virtually adjoin; which
joins Duluth; near Suwanee; and Sugar Hill and Buford. Project that
all around Gwinnett, as the cities continue to annex land. The question:
is that good or bad?
3. Gwinnett will be more important in 2030 as a industrial and
job base. More and more people will move farther out of the
central city….and want a reasonable driving distance to work,
and work in Gwinnett. But they may live in Jackson, Hall or Clarke
Counties, or in Canton, Dahlonega, Blairsville or Carnesville. (One
lady told us years ago that she shopped at Harry's Market. "It's
only 50 minutes from my house," she said. She lived in Cornelia.)
4. The people will be even more diverse. Even today you
are beginning to see signs in different languages not just in isolated
parts of the county, but throughout the county. Gwinnett will become
more of an international arena, doing business with other countries,
but also having people from many other parts of the world living
here. It is already enriching, and changing, our laid-back southern
way of life.
5. Change will be the rule. We all will have to adapt to
new ways….or feel left out or behind.
These are just a few reasons we see Gwinnett's need for a study
of what we need to do to get ready for all these changes. It will
be a good investment that will pay off for years.
ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
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Company, with offices in Lawrenceville and Alpharetta The bank,
organized in 1996, has assets over $300 million and specializes
in great rates and friendly, dedicated people.Gwinnett Banking Company
was also named Georgia's "Lender of the Year" by the U.S.
Small Business Administration, having the highest total dollars
in 7(a) loans in Georgia. Check out its web site at www.gwinnettbanking.com,
or send an email to info@gwinnettbanking.com.
For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm.
55-WORD
STORY
1/18: Writing creatively
with simplest thoughts and 55 words
"It's really too hard for me! Anyone trying to write creatively
knows that fifty-five words are just not enough to effectively convey
even the simplest thoughts or ideas to another human being. Oh yes,
others have done it before me, but like Olympic champions, only
the very best can succeed and contribute to the GwinnettForum."
-- Robert Brannen, Lawrenceville
NEWS
Scott Haggard to assist Bannister with external affairs
Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister has announced
that Scott Haggard will be on the Chairman's staff as Special Assistant
to the Chairman for External Affairs. In his role, Haggard will
serve as Bannister's primary staff contact for intergovernmental
and constituent relations, maintaining relationships with local,
state and federal officials as well as responding to concerns from
the public.
Haggard, 31, a native of Gwinnett County, previously managed Bannister's
successful 2004 campaign for Gwinnett Commission Chairman. Prior
to that, he served nearly five years on the staff of Rep. John Linder.
Haggard was Linder's District Field Manager and Press Secretary
in the Gwinnett district office. Haggard has also served as a Program
Evaluator for the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington.
Haggard received his Master of Public Administration degree from
the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He also graduated
cum laude with membership in Phi Beta Kappa from the University
of Georgia. Haggard was raised in Norcross, and attended Gwinnett
County Public Schools.
Hudgens Center set
father-daughter Valentine Dance
What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day (other than with your
significant other) than with that special little girl in your life.
Imagine a night out, just the two of you (or maybe three) with
dinner, dancing, games, art exhibits, photos and much more. This
is an opportunity for a Daddy and his little girl(s) to dress up
and spend an evening together that they will cherish for years.
On Saturday, February 5, 2005, a Father-Daughter Valentine Dance
will be held at the Hudgens Arts Center in Duluth. Festivities,
provided by Tonight‚s Entertainment, will begin at 6 p.m. along
with a "Gourmet kid's dinner." Tickets are $30 for the
Father/Daughter couple and $10 for each additional sibling. Proceeds
from the evening will benefit the Children's Museum at the Hudgens
Arts Center.
As an added bonus, the fathers and daughters will be able to enjoy
art appreciation during the dance by viewing three children art
exhibits on display. Daddy can purchase a picture taken with his
daughter(s). Wrist corsages will also be available at a charge.
For more information about the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance,
contact Alicia McCart at 678/475-5702 or via email at alicia.mccart@mccart.com.
Seating is limited. Deadline for registration is Friday, January
28, 2005.
BOOK
RECOMMENDATION
- An invitation: What books have you enjoyed? Send us your
best recent book along with a short paragraph as to why you liked
it, plus what you plan to read next. --eeb
ENCYCLOPEDIA
TIDBIT
1/18: Jekyll Island
operated under Authority since 1950
Since 1950 Jekyll Island has operated under the auspices of the
Jekyll Island Authority.
 When
Jekyll was purchased by the state of Georgia, it officially became
the Jekyll Island State Park and was operated as part of the state
parks system in 1948-49. Maintenance and operational costs were
so great that the best way to operate the island was determined
to be via a state-sponsored authority, so that the island could
operate more like a business than as a department of state government.
The state then chartered the Jekyll Island Authority for 99 years
(beginning in 1950) to manage the island on behalf of the state.
The board of the Jekyll Island Authority is appointed by the governor.
The island has become renowned for the preservation of its natural
and historic resources, and it provides public access to thousands
of visitors annually. In 1972 the Jekyll Island Historic District
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 1978
it was elevated to National Historic Landmark status. In 2002 archaeologists
began to excavate the Horton House site, looking for evidence of
other structures and artifacts.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Social history sometimes
develops on sounding good
" Much of the social history of the Western world over the
past three decades has involved replacing what worked with what
sounded good."
-- Thomas Sowell, Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow, The
Hoover Institution, Stanford University, via Marshall Miller, Lilburn
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© 2005, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum
is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett
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