Issue Position: Transportation Improvement

Issue Position

Promote Transportation/Community Improvement

Promote Transportation/Community Improvement: We must continue to support and work to find ways to reduce the traffic congestion that limits growth and causes stress and loss of time with family in traffic; increase the number of sidewalks to make our neighborhoods more community friendly; and also work with the other federal and regional authorities toward expanding public transportation. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood specifically addressed Georgia's prospects for part of $8 billion in stimulus funds when he stated that "It'll come to Atlanta if Georgia gets its act together." LaHood said, ""There has to be a commitment by state government that transit is important."

Although the passage of a recent transportation bill is a start, it has no beginning or impact until several years while federal funds are more current and not guaranteed in the future. Our neighbors like Florida and North Carolina received $1.8 billion combined while we virtually sat on the sidelines. The first phase of the Atlanta-Macon commuter line, the Lovejoy line, is threatened with the loss of its $87 million in federal funds that we already have sitting unused for the last 10 years because the state has not agreed to provide slightly more than $19 million in matching funds. We need leadership willing to work with Washington to bring transportation and high speed rail through the heart of Georgia from Tennessee to Savannah for economic development and connectivity with Rural Georgia.

Source