Stay Informed
Get Georgia Moving Coalition Applauds House Passage of SR 845, Urges Lawmakers: ‘Now Let’s Cross the Finish Line’
March 27, 2008
ATLANTA – The Get Georgia Moving coalition, which represents more than 50 groups across Georgia --including business leaders, government leaders, transit advocates, road builders and environmentalists -- today applauded the Georgia House of Representatives for passing Senate Resolution 845, a transportation funding approach that would give voters across the state a voice, while ensuring local control of projects and spending.
"Both the House and Senate have now passed legislation that addresses Georgia's critical transportation funding needs today and will help us plan for the future," said Charles Tarbutton, assistant vice president of Sandersville Railroad Company, chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the Get Georgia Moving Coalition. “The time is now. We remain confident that reform and funding can and should be addressed concurrently so that 18-24 months from now, an improved Georgia Department of Transportation will have the resources to move forward with the infrastructure projects this state needs. We look forward to working with both the House and Senate on final passage of this important legislation.”
The resolution, sponsored by Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga), was passed by the full Senate by an overwhelming majority earlier this session. It was then modified by the House Transportation Committee, led by Chairman Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain), and passed by the full House today.
The proposal is now likely to head to a conference committee of the House and Senate to work out minor differences.
Get Georgia Moving is a diverse group of business leaders, state and local government leaders, transit advocates, road builders and environmentalists. A partial list is below.
"This approach is popular because it lets the voters decide what’s best for their region,” said Joe Leonard, chairman of AirTran Airways, chairman of the transportation policy committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the Get Georgia Moving Coalition. “They decide whether to vote on funding for local projects. They choose the projects. They keep the money at home. And there’s a clear end date.”
SR 845 provides for a voluntary one-cent TSPLOST, or transportation special purpose local-option sales tax. The concept would be similar to SPLOSTs for education that have been popular with voters across the state. It includes these features:
•2-step vote process
o statewide authorization - First, a statewide referendum would be held to approve a constitutional amendment that would give regional development centers (RDCs) the authority to enact a 1 percent transportation sales tax. The regions would call a regional referendum to enact the tax when they so choose.
o regional vote - Second, regions would have the option to hold a SPLOST-like vote to implement the tax.
•project selection
o Prior to the vote, regions would develop a project list in coordination with GDOT.
•sunshine and sunset: In addition to requiring the project list to be published, there would also be a clear end date for the funding stream.
•100 percent return to each region: The funds raised in each region stay in that region.
“The momentum to do something on transportation has been building all year – and now we’re closer than ever,” said Bill Linginfelter, former Georgia State CEO for Wachovia Bank and former chairman of the transportation policy committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. “It's time we give Georgia's citizens a voice in how they want to deal with congestion and other transportation needs. We urge the House and Senate to agree on a final resolution, pass it, and help us get Georgia moving.”
Members of the Get Georgia Moving coalition said they support SR 845 as a way to relieve congestion, ensure air quality and promote economic development. To that end, the coalition also supports efforts to optimize current revenue sources, invest in transit and all other modes of transportation, and support innovative funding programs.
Participants in the coalition include:
• American Council of Engineering Companies
• Association County Commissioners of Georgia
• Atlanta Regional Commission
• Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development at Georgia Tech
• Central Atlanta Progress
• Citizens for Progressive Transit
• Civic League for Regional Atlanta
• Clean Air Campaign
• Community Improvement District Alliance
• Council for Quality Growth
• CSX
• C. W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc.
• Georgia Asphalt Pavement Association
• Georgia Association of Regional Development Centers
• Georgia Chamber of Commerce
• Georgia Concrete Pavement Association
• Georgia Conservancy
• Georgia Construction Aggregate Association
• Georgia Department of Transportation
• Georgia Economic Developers’ Association
• Georgia Electric Membership Corporation
• Georgia Engineering Alliance
• Georgia Highway Contractors Association
• Georgia Municipal Association
• Georgia Policy and Budget Institute
• Georgia Power Company
• Georgia Railroad Association
• Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
• Georgia Transit Association
• Georgians for Better Transportation
• Georgians for the Brain Train
• Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
• Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
• HNTB Corporation
• Livable Communities Coalition
• Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
• Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
• Norfolk Southern
• Regional Business Coalition
• Sierra Club
• Transit Planning Board
