Nathan Deal: Ga. 400 tolls to come down by end of 2013
More later, but here’s the press release just issued – there’s no mention of it, but clearly the timing is intended to help the July 31 vote on the transportation sales tax:
Fulfilling his promise to commuters, Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that he will have the state pay off its bond debt on Dec. 1, 2013, and move rapidly after that to remove the Ga. 400 toll by the end of that year. This will stop collection four years earlier than previously planned.
“Ga. 400 commuters have paid more than their fair share already, and this is the earliest we can bring it down without paying a penalty for early repayment of the bonds,” Deal said. “When the Ga. 400 toll went up, the state of Georgia promised commuters that it wasn’t forever. If we don’t keep that promise, we lose the faith of the people. We face many challenges when it comes to paying for new capacity, particularly in the Atlanta region. There are no easy answers, no secret pots of money, but it is imperative that governments build the trust of their people. As your governor, I will keep the promises I make to you.”
The Ga. 400 toll was originally scheduled to come down after 20 years, ending in 2011. In 2010 – after then-candidate Deal promised to end the toll the following year – the state issued new bonds tied to the toll revenue in order to pay for needed improvements in the Ga. 400 corridor, including a new connector to I-85. The $40 million in new bonds were issued Dec. 1, 2010, and they mature June 1, 2017. But at the three-year mark the state can repay the bonds without a penalty. Further, the state needs time to plan for physically bringing down the gates and the dramatic restructuring that will be needed in the toll area.
“As I have said many times before: I inherited a situation where we could not bring down the gates immediately, and we face a situation where we would have to pay a penalty for early repayment,” Deal said. “This timeline gives commuters a finish line, while still allowing us to meet our obligations. Moving forward, we’ll need to continue to work on long-term solutions to congestion in the 400 corridor. And I look forward to doing that in a transparent fashion that commuters can trust.”
The governor’s proposal requires approval of the State Road and Tollway Authority.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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412 comments Add your comment
NO TSPLOST !!!
July 19th, 2012
7:42 pm
To VOTE YES & @Charles is Voting Yes:
#1: The people behind this are the same people (government, big business, city officials, etc.) that for years did not enforce our laws, creating havoc for our schools, jobs, housing, etc. You know, the ones that “allowed illegal immigrants” into our fine state to the tune of hundreds of thousands so that they could “do their bidding” re cheap labor for housing, farming, businesses, government, etc. Oh, excuse me, now they will “e-verify?” Right ! They all knew what was going on and did it anyway. Not to mention the banks who gave out loans knowingly to people who could not afford them – yes – in our state. Also – not to mention the “robo-signing that took place that illegally took away thousands of peoples homes in this state. And – none of these people cared nor did anything about it. They failed the people of the state miserably. And, our current situation in this state economically – and in our schools – is their fault. They were all too busy “padding their pockets” forsaking the people here. Now these same entities wish us to “trust them?” These people are just “salivating at the mouth” over this.
#2: “They are proposing spending over $600,000,000 (about 7.5% of the total $8 billion for Atlanta Metro Area) on a STREETCAR down Auburn Ave.” What does anyone think those who do not live downtown care about this one? While I do care about the history behind Auburn Ave. let the people who live downtown take care of that one. Oh, that’s right, most of them can’t because of the unemployment and lack of jobs. You know, the ones these big builders, banks, businesses and government took away from them and gave to the illegals!!
#3: Perhaps our state and big biz simply does not understand – we are in a massive recession still….Atlanta has been going down the tubes for quite a long time due to crime, schools, etc. Let the people in “Atlanta fix Atlanta.” They might start with the massive corrpution that has gone on for years out at the airport. And no, I don’t want “metro Atlanta” to turn into a “New York metro” with rails, etc. bringing said crime further out into our communities.
#4: Georgia was citied as the most corrupt state by politifacts – there are reasons for that…
#5: Our state was supposed to use the big bucks they received from the tobacco companies for cancer research. Not even half has ever gone to that – they took those funds and used them in the “general funds.” Our legislators and gov. didn’t even bat an eye…
#6: Lest anyone forget – you are speaking of the same officials and big businesses who turned a completely deaf ear to our most vulnerable citizens for years and still are doing so. If all of these people really care about Georgia citizens and their welfare…someone tell me where were they when innocent handicapped people were getting abused, neglected, and killed in our state institutions so much so that it went on for years until the AJC brought it out in their “HIDDEN SHAME” articles. The Dept. of Justice had to sue the State of Georgia to correct these horrors and we did not see politicians, governors, officials, nor the head of the Chamber of Commerce or big business stand up and “do a shout-out” demand for these atrocities to cease and assist in protecting those people. Why? Dead silence, sweeping it all under the rug. And we are to historically trust these kinds of people? I would suggest that all incumbents at voting time regularly be voted “out of office” in this state – unless united we can see some great changes in Georgia from them. They didn’t care about those people – you think they care about the money? Sure they do – the $ this will bring to them…
#6: I am so sick of seeing the commercials on TV regarding this – backed by these people, T-SPLOST is supposed to “UNTANGLE” the “TANGLED UP MESS” these SAME PEOPLE “TANGLED UP” to begin with !!!! Makes great sense to trust these same people for regarding their “visions” for our fine state.
VOTE NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO on T-SPLOST!!!
Emma
July 19th, 2012
7:47 pm
If you keep doing what you’re doing, you get what you’re already getting.
If you vote NO on TSPLOT, don’t expect anything to change.
Bella
July 19th, 2012
7:50 pm
The REAL problem is all those that green-lighted endless sprawl in Atlanta. Past unchecked growth is killling us all. That’s why I’m moving to a city with good public transportation. I can’t take it anymore here.
NO TSPLOST !!!
July 19th, 2012
7:55 pm
@Emma: with all due respect “If you keep doing what you’re doing, you get what you’re already getting”….that is indeed what is this all about….VOTE NO, NO, NO, NO…
NO TSPLOST !!!
July 19th, 2012
8:04 pm
Correction: @Emma: with all due respect “If you keep doing what you’re doing, you get what you’re already getting”….that is indeed what This IS ALL ABOUT….VOTE NO, NO, NO, NO…and remember: T-SPLOST is supposed to “UNTANGLE” the “TANGLED UP MESS” these SAME PEOPLE “TANGLED UP” to begin with !!!!
Vote NO NO NO
WHO CARES!
July 19th, 2012
8:36 pm
Most of us don’t use Georgia 400 anyway. Ending that tax is not going to make us vote for more taxes on ourselves (TSPLOST0. And Deal has promised the 400 toll would end before. We’ll believe it when we see it. Deal hasn’t kept his word on a lot of things.
Bastante
July 19th, 2012
8:45 pm
Yes, the timing is absolutely geared towards weakening some of the resistance to the T-SPLOST vote.
didn’t fool me then, won’t fool me now. had enough of the mismanagement of funds, quit coming to us with your hand out for more…
zeke
July 19th, 2012
8:55 pm
Just like Obozo’s amnesty for illegals, this is only to try to influence the vote! I would bet that if the vote is no, the toll will not go away, and, probably if it is yes, the toll will still not go away!!
Wa Wu
July 19th, 2012
8:55 pm
Do not be fooled T-Splost tax!!! Take sales tax off gas add $ .05 to gal of gas.
CliffATL
July 19th, 2012
8:58 pm
I’m voting NO on the T-Splost tax to build more Roads!! MARTA needs to be front and center in the solution to our traffice gridlock.
Why not keep the toll and dedicate the revenues to the construction and operation of a heavy rail line extension from the current North Springs MARTA station all the way up to Windward?
Stations in Downtown Roswell, Downtown Alpharetta, North Point Mall and Windward (to name a few) would alieviate the traffic nightmare GA 400 commuters experience daily. If not to alieviate the traffic congestion – at least there would be an alternate mode of travel other than a CAR!
occasional 400 user
July 20th, 2012
8:50 am
I am not sure doing away with the toll is the best idea. If the funds from the toll could be deposited into an escrow account for the I-85 / GA400 interchange and GA400 maintenance only, i think most people would support it. i am ok with paying a little for the piece of road i am using – as long as the person controlling the checkbook can be trusted. I wonder how hard it would be to postpone the referendum until after the tools booths have disappeared? It is just a line on an electronic ballot – delay until the promise is fulfilled.
M-Cubed
July 20th, 2012
1:00 pm
@ CliffATL – The T-Splost is the best chance transit has of getting funds for expansion in this political climate. What chance do you think a plan that puts 100% of funds to transit would have of passing? Zilch. In addition, to build the type of rail line you suggest would take decades and project funds in the billions of dollars.
The truth is the T-Splost is Plan B, heck, it’s Plan C. The Legislature punted twice on adequately funding infrastructure, and now they finally have allowed for the public to vote on it themselves with HB 277.
VOTE YES!