State finalizes T-SPLOST project list for Ga. Mtns. Region

ATLANTA - The draft project lists approved by each of the twelve Regional Transportation Roundtable (RTR) Executive Committees for the potential transportation sales tax (T-SPLOST) have been finalized by the state Department of Transportation. Each list is available for public review and comment within the respective regions.

There are 60 projects on the list for the 13-county Georgia Mountains Region which were approved by the Georgia Mountains Region Transportation Roundtable. Nine of them are in Hall County.

The county-by-county breakdown is as follows:

Banks, three projects; Dawson, four; Forsyth, 20; Franklin, seven; Habersham, three; Hall, nine; Hart, three; Lumpkin, two; Rabun, three; Stephens, two; Towns, one; Union, one; and, White, two.

DOT says this was a key step in the process of implementing the TIA, which is intended to provide financial assistance in meeting present and future transportation needs.

The legislation created twelve special tax districts in which a 1% sales tax can be levied for 10 years, if approved by voters in that district.

An Executive Committee, including five members of the Roundtable and three Legislators, have met on numerous occasions in every region in an effort to develop a list of proposed projects to be considered for funding. Projects were submitted by a March 30 deadline by local organizations throughout the region. On June 1, GDOT s Director of Planning submitted to the Executive Committee a fiscally unconstrained list. That list had to be narrowed down to the level of anticipated resources.

A final list must be approved by the RTR no later than October 15. The fiscally constrained lists may be viewed at: http://www.it3.ga.gov/Pages/default.aspx.

In order to gain input and present the list to interested parties, public meetings have been scheduled in each region. A calendar of public meetings related to TIA projects is available online at: http://www.it3.ga.gov/Pages/Roundtable.aspx#meeting

The meeting for the the Georgia Mountains Region Transportation Roundtable will be next Wednesday from 5:00-7:00 at the Clarkesville Recreation Center.