Public needs details on highways, taxes
Whoa.
The General Assembly’s failure to allow voters to raise the sales tax for transportation prompted the top hired hand at the Atlanta Regional Commission to rhetorical indiscretion. Said Chick Krautler, as reported Sunday by the AJC’s Cameron McWhirter and Ariel Hart:
“This was a travesty,” he said . “It’s an absolute outrage that the leaders of this state can’t deal with transportation.”
In the year that has seen the financial sector on the verge of collapse and a Congress and administration that steals the quality of life of future generations with a bogus stimulus bill, the bar for “absolute outrage” is much too elevated to register even mild upset here.
So the General Assembly in 2009 did not pass a proposed tax increase that could not, in any event, go before voters until November of 2010. Big deal. Ample time and 40 legislative days remain.
Under a bill that did pass, a new director of planning in the state’s Department of Transportation is not obligated to deliver the draft of a proposed statewide plan to elected officials until Dec. 31. The final version is not due until April 10, 2010.
While there’s ample time for the General Assembly to get a sales tax resolution to the ballot, Georgians do need to see a great deal more about how the money will be spent.
For all their faults, directly accountable elected officials should exercise final authority on how money is spent. Motorists stuck in traffic should be able to go into the voting booth and render judgment on whether we’re getting boondoggles or relief.
Over the years, I’ve come to discover that there’s no politics-free zone in public policy. Just after former Gov. Roy Barnes created the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, I watched as advocates with lifestyle agendas maneuvered to define GRTA’s mission to empower themselves.
“Best transportation” policies would, for example, dictate that all streets be kept “as narrow as possible and never more than four lanes wide” and that “networks” for pedestrians and bicyclists be “as good as the network for motorists.” The “best housing” practices would be “an average of net residential density of six to seven units per acre without the appearance of crowding.”
It was a document that never went through elected officials.
Over the years, too, I’ve watched bureaucrats manage their bosses in the state Legislature. They manage them by framing the problem to get the result they want. Legislators, they know, are in session 40 days and are dealing with hundreds of pieces of legislation. Control the information and you control the part-time legislator.
Over the years, I have also watched Department of Transportation commissioners decide when to push for tax increases and by how much. Then they’d build a mile here and a mile there all over the state, gaining complete leverage over legislators. The new DOT governance bill that passed the House and Senate on Friday night is flawed. But, then, so is the system now and the system before.
One flaw is that it invites campaign money and puts politicians and businessmen in relationships that seriously need watching.
Another is that there are so many factors for deciding when a project has merit that there are none. Anything goes.
Rather than “detail how the listed projects will help to mitigate congestion, improve air quality, improve public safety, increase mobility, and encourage economic development” an impossible, near meaningless set of standards, it now is vaguer. It requires a statewide plan “to be developed with consideration of investment politics addressing” 10 different goals.
Combine the governance bill that passed Friday with the laundry list of projects in the transportation sales tax resolution expected to pass next year and all our reactions should be: “Show me.”
Show me the list. Show me the specific projects. Show me how congestion bottlenecks are to be fixed. And when.
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39 comments Add your comment
ripkelly
April 6th, 2009
11:15 pm
Bring on the outer perimeter… now!!!!
Rob
April 6th, 2009
11:35 pm
It is clear this Group of GOP leaders lack leadership and in the absence of that leadership, they refuse to let the people make a choise. What are you guys afraid of…we the people might get it right. Shame on the GOP.
F22 Man
April 7th, 2009
8:20 am
What do Gates & McCain know about defence?
Gates said his spending decisions were “a cumulative outcome of a lifetime spent in the national security arena.” He has long argued that the Pentagon needed to focus its resources more on the sort of fighting the United States faces in Iraq and Afghanistan and less on war preparations against Russia and China that are holdovers from the Cold War era.
“This is a reform budget, reflecting lessons learned in Iraq and Afghanistan. … [But] there’s no question that a lot of these decisions will be controversial,” Gates said.
Gates found support from an unlikely ally. President Barack Obama’s presidential rival, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a perennial critic of underperforming Pentagon programs, said he couldn’t be happier.
“I strongly support Secretary Gates’ decision to restructure a number of major defense programs,” McCain said. “It has long been necessary to shift spending away from weapon systems plagued by scheduling and cost overruns to ones that strike the correct balance between the needs of our deployed forces and the requirements for meeting the emerging threats of tomorrow.”
Chris Broe
April 7th, 2009
8:42 am
“Show me.”
You know something? Wooten is…………. RIGHT!! Show us. It doesn’t matter what the public needs, the Assembly is not gonna show us their traffic-jam-friendly conspiracies. It’s time Georgia Motorists take things in their own hands. It should be, “Us voters will show the Assembly ours if the Assembly will show us theirs.” We’re wasting the cameras in our smart phones, people! You cant sell political reform without engendering genitalial power point exchanges. Lets make Georgia the real “show me” state, not Missouri. (Those pair-challenged wonders make me sick, anyway). Let’s show them! Who’s with me? Lets U-tube our boobs!!
One nip: We get the outer perimeter. One teet: We get higher speed limits. One cheek spread: we get a double-decked stretch of elevated highway at the connector (making spaghetti junction look like a jogging trail). One sac: we get bicycle lanes. One hairpie: we get free parking downtown.
See the possibilities? We need only to go back to the Garden of Eden, and make Atlanta a transportation paradise. We need only to read the bible….”In the beginning there was a dirt road, but vast expansion plans for rail, bus, and paved roads. And the Guv said, “Let there be Right (of way)…….. “
Redneck Convert
April 7th, 2009
8:46 am
Well, show me a bus and I’ll show you a traffic jam. That’s all I got to say about these MARTA people wanting to spend money that the law set aside. If these freeloaders want to get around let them pay the full cost and not do it on my dime.
I’m real glad the lawmakers didn’t vote to let the Atlanta libruls vote to tax theirselfs more. They want to raise the sales tax. Problem is, some of us godly people need to go to Librul Land once in a while and we’d end up paying the higher taxes. If they got traffic jams let them hitch up the trailer and move out of there. Just not to Forsyth County. They made the traffic and they can unmake it. If they wanted more money they should of voted Republican.
Besides, if there’s any road money to be spent I want it spent to widen Highway 20 outside of Cumming. It gets a little narrow two or three miles from town and we need to get to where we are going fast.
Have a good day everybody.
a former republican
April 7th, 2009
9:48 am
Wow….lets say they failed because they could have passed a transportation bill last year that could have been on the ballot in november 08 so because of their failure in 08, we now have to wait to years. What Wooten, god himself, failed to mention was that planning can at least begin when people understand how things would get funded.
AmVet
April 7th, 2009
9:56 am
OK, Jimbo, you and your heroes have practically destroyed the Republican Party in this country. And it is going to take a long, long time before a fed up nation forgives what you clods and frauds have done to it.
There’s only one honorable thing left do.
Form the Old White Guy Party of Dixie.
And secede.
Problem solved…
Peter
April 7th, 2009
10:04 am
Yes Jim….the GOP Governor and leadership in this state has done Zero in the last 6 years concerning transportation.
Time for new leadership, leadership that starts with Georgian’s first and not a governor that has gotten RICHER, and created his own Pork projects first !
I know Sonny wants a fishing tournament in the worst way, but that won’t solve all our problems !
More roads=more happiness forever
April 7th, 2009
10:28 am
What we need is more 20+ lane highways going everywhere, especially aroung and around Atlanta. And more cars! We clearly see how more lanes and more cars and more people have improved the quality of life here in Atlanta, so of course even more lanes and more cars and more people will make us even happier, and create endless full employment for the politicians’ road building buddies–and get rid of all that useless unproductive undeveloped green space.
Big Bucks GOP
April 7th, 2009
10:34 am
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which once upon a time had
the single mission insuring bank deposits, has elbowed its way into the
middle of the financial mess as an enabler of enormous leverage, Andrew
Ross Sorkin writes in his latest DealBook column.
As part of Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner’s plan to lend as
much as $1 trillion to private investors to help them buy toxic assets
from our nation’s banks, the F.D.I.C. will be insuring 85 percent of
the debt shelled out by the government — essentially adding more risk,
not less, in an effort to stabilize the system.
Much of the risk is being borne by the F.D.I.C. itself, which Mr.
Sorkin says is using a unique — some might call it plain wrong –
reading of its own rule book to accomplish this high-wire act.
Big Bucks GOP
April 7th, 2009
10:35 am
About half a dozen investment managers have put forward bids, ranging
between $400 million to $800 million, for troubled insurer American
International Group’s asset management business, The Wall Street
Journal reported.
Big Bucks GOP
April 7th, 2009
10:36 am
A judge on Monday rejected Patriarch Partners’ $59.1 million purchase
of Polaroid, reopening the auction amid complaints by the camera
company’s hedge fund creditors that the process was flawed.
Big Bucks GOP
April 7th, 2009
10:38 am
Merrill Lynch, now owned by Bank of America, agreed to pay $75 million
to settle a class-action lawsuit by employees who lost money investing
in Merrill stock through their retirement plans.
Big Bucks GOP
April 7th, 2009
10:39 am
U.S. securities regulators charged a Toronto-based fund manager, who
describes himself as the “Chinese Warren Buffett,” and his hedge fund
with operating a multimillion dollar investment fraud, the Securities
and Exchange Commission said on Monday.
Big Bucks GOP
April 7th, 2009
10:40 am
J. Ezra Merkin, a prominent New York financier whose private clients
lost more than $2 billion in the collapse of Bernard L. Madoff’s Ponzi
scheme, has been accused of fraud and deception in a civil lawsuit
filed Monday by the New York attorney general, Andrew M. Cuomo.
Churchill's MOM
April 7th, 2009
10:42 am
My Husband gave took North Carolina & I took 12 points, guess who is a love slave for the next week.. catch you next week..
Road Scholar
April 7th, 2009
11:22 am
What a cop-out Jim! If you were informed at all of the Multi- county tax proposal sponsored by the Atlanta and statewide Chambers of Commerce (are these Liberal groups?), any vote on the multi- county sales tax would include a specific list of projects (including possibly transit), their scope and cost, and a schedule for each projects’ completion. The list of projects would be crafted by the GDOT, GRTA, SRTA, ARC and the local counties planning departments. The state tax money could be leveraged with Federal funds. The list of possible projects would be vetted out to the public IN ADVANCE of the finalization of the list and any vote on revenue.
Of course any project will need to go through a public involvement program, a concept development (which clearly defines the scope, costs, and impacts to the community), and an environmental document. (I know some of your disdain for actually checking on the enviro impact of a project, but it is required under state and federal law, dependant on the funding source!) The concept/enviro/PI phase can take years to reach consensus on the scope and acceptiblity to the community. That time could be “saved” by beginning these steps in advance of the vote on the tax proposal. A project needs to be near the Right of way purchasing phase (which comes after the above discussed phases and enviro approval) to be considered viable under a specific schedule for implementation and completion. Getting a “running start” so to speak.
Also, ARC would have to include the projects in their short and long range plan along with an Air Quality Assessment. All meto counties are represented in approval these plans.
Why do I know this? Because every state and county (ask Cobb) that has passed a Splost has had to give voters assurances of the list, scope, schedule and costs before ANY approval. All proposals that did not meet this process have FAILED. This is a nationwide trend.
Now for the introduction of the legislators picking projects and approving the plan. Haven’t they’ve shown themselves incapable of doing “the Peoples’ business”. What licensed planners are elected officials or are on their staffs? Are their selective supporters more able or important than the voters in defining or selecting project scopes and content? Can you say earmarks? Can you say pork? I’ll take the publics response anytime over a politicians!
“I watched as advocates with lifestyle agendas maneuvered to define GRTA’s mission to empower themselves” What the he!! do you think Sonny is doing? “Motorists stuck in traffic should be able to go into the voting booth and render judgment on whether we’re getting boondoggles or relief.” Then get out of the way! The initial “bottleneck” that needs to be removed is the Georgia Legislature!
“Best transportation” policies would, for example, dictate that all streets be kept “as narrow as possible and never more than four lanes wide” and that “networks” for pedestrians and bicyclists be “as good as the network for motorists.” The “best housing” practices would be “an average of net residential density of six to seven units per acre without the appearance of crowding.” Yes but this is in a design manual, not law. Design manuals are not to be interpretted as an ultimatum. They provide guidance. The location, scope, desired affects, public input etc SHALL be considered in scoping a projects features. For many years professionals have hidden behind the liabilities associated with design and implementation. The recent (last 10 years) of design manuals have “loosened” that thought process to examine the true impacts a particular desgn may have and compare it to the risks and desires of the community.
Georgia is and has squandered its lead in having the best transpotation system in this country. Cogestion and maintenance of existing facilities has taken a back seat to improving our lives and encouraging growth. When will you and the other naysayers realize this?
Peter
April 7th, 2009
11:28 am
Hey Road Scholar…I have a question for you……can we get the Federal Funds you speak of to leverage with the state funds ?
The reason I am asking is because of the fact Georgia, is about the only state in the Union that does NOT require a seat belt be worn in a Pick up truck.
It seams this “stupid lack of seat belt law”, is holding up Federal Road money.
Comments ?
findog
April 7th, 2009
12:36 pm
Dear Redneck, widen it all you want but there is a bridge and Sugar Hill between you and I-85 so you’ll just hurry up and wait…
Road Scholar SPLOST are for specific purposes too, but here in Hall County they didn’t deliver on the last and snookered the populace to bite on the next one. Bait and switch, not allowed in BASS Tournaments, but SOP in good ol boy Georgia.
Peter, we only forfeit a portion of those funds so that the farming community doesn’t get inconvenienced with safety devices…
Imaginationed Liberalism
April 7th, 2009
1:04 pm
Imagine a world without nukes, eh? America should start taking the steps to a non-nuclear world, huh lib Democrats? Mindless unrealistic idiots.
“The Manhattan district attorney’s office has smashed a sinister plot to smuggle nuclear weapons materials to Iran through unwitting New York banks, the Daily News has learned.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/04/07/2009-04-07_iranian_nuke_plot_vaporized_in_the_city_-2.html
CommunistAJC
April 7th, 2009
1:10 pm
Wooten, can you take Bookmans tired lame a$$ with you once you retire? Please take him out back and end the misery that he spreads to the city of Atlanta. He’s about as relevant as an 8 track disc.
Road Scholar
April 7th, 2009
1:16 pm
Peter: We are still getting Federal funds for transportation. I’ll have to check on the pickup seat belt affect. It may only limit some safety money. Alledgegly we had a 89.5 % compliance on seat belt use in cars last month; near the average of 90%. If pickup truck drivers don’t wear them than there should be a surcharge added on their medical bill, just like if you smoke, they charge you more for insurance.
Finddog: So why did the voters approve the 2nd SPLOST? Congestion is too bad? The voters are the ones who determine what gets approved. Also during the first vote, the price of petroleum more than doubled, which probably trashed the original cost estimates. Name on item in Road building that was not influenced bt gas/oil/asphalt prices?
Road Scholar
April 7th, 2009
1:30 pm
Sorry for the multiple blogs, but at least they are on subject, eh BBGOP?
This new transportation bill keeps the Board, but the Gov appoints a “Director of Planning”! Do not know of the qualifications yet except boot licking is mandatory. Perdue’s Director of Planning of Everything- DOPE- should have a short tenure!
Jackie
April 7th, 2009
1:59 pm
More evidence of the criminality of the Dubya administration.
Federal judge tosses the conviction of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) indicating the worst cause of prosecutorial misconduct in his 25 years on the bench.
Dubya and his administrations criminality and incompetence are beginning to line up for public scrutiny.
Jackie
April 7th, 2009
2:26 pm
Atlanta has major transportation problems and the Gov. announced that he would not ask for a special session for Marta to get their funds made available to them.
The Gov. said that he is thinking about not calling the special session because MARTA did not get him involved initially.
So, should MARTA have to shut down entirely while the Gov. and the legislator do nothing to keep the city and state from going into a deeper economic hole?
Peter
April 7th, 2009
2:43 pm
MARTA an interesting issue…..
Funny it seems Marta wants $25 Million Dollars to keep going if I am not incorrect……..
Isn’t that the same amount Sonny is using for his Fish Hatchery $25 Million ?
More fish seems more important than transportation to a JOB……..don’t you folks think ?
CommunistAJC
April 7th, 2009
2:44 pm
Jackie, do us all a favor. Head down to Crawford and demand justice. Let us all know how that works out for you.
Jackie
April 7th, 2009
2:55 pm
@CommunistAJC
I will do that favor for you if you will take your hip out and play in the traffic!
AFTER YOU!!!!!
fearless fosdick
April 7th, 2009
3:14 pm
Commie @ 1:10 pm
I see you’re still smarting over being banned from Bookman’s blog.
I think a tell all book could be written on that very topic…How to act like an idiot, and get banned from a blog.
CommunistAJC
April 7th, 2009
4:02 pm
Jackie, the mind boggles. Please, seek help.
fearless fosNOdick, I see you’re still without a GED and sitting in your mom’s basement blogging all day. Say hi to comrade Bookman for me. It won’t be too long before he gets the boot.
CommunistAJC
April 7th, 2009
4:25 pm
fearless, this is what I imagine you to look like in the morning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjL7NoWiwd8&feature=related
ATL
April 7th, 2009
5:05 pm
this is a chicken/egg argument. It takes money to do the planning and come up with the projects that Jim Wooten the taxpayer wants to see BEFORE you vote for a sales tax (if that’s even the appropriate funding mechanism). And that list will be politically loaded … one way or another.
Jackie
April 7th, 2009
6:23 pm
@CommunistAJC
As usual, you write a check with you mouth that you hip can’t cash!
Get you some medication for the diarrhea of the lip, whale gravy!
Jackie
April 7th, 2009
6:26 pm
The Federal Judge that handled the case for former Sen. Stevens has issued a request for a special prosecutor citing the handling of this case was so egregious that the Justice Department needed help with the criminal and ethical conduct of the prosecutors in Dubya’s administration.
The wall is beginning to crack. Ask Mr. Cheyney to keep talking!
CommunistAJC
April 7th, 2009
11:21 pm
Jackie, and as usual you can’t spell or even put a competent sentence together. Again, seek professional help Jesse because you constantly embarrass yourself.
Jackie
April 8th, 2009
1:17 am
@CommunistAJC
As usual, you wait until you think there will be no challenge to you BS to speak.
I think my sentence was competent and coherent enough for you to understand its import, otherwise you would not have responded, WHALE GRAVY!!!!!
Point out the errors that you found and I will be glad to correct the prose and diction for your small mind.
Can I get your help?
Canetus Poontang
April 8th, 2009
7:48 am
Sorry for the delay folks. Wooten is working on a trenchant expose of how the troops still hate Obama and wish George W Dingus were still president.
oops. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=7272544&page=1
Canetus Poontang
April 8th, 2009
7:58 am
Sorry for the further delay. Since the traitorous troops who cheered Obama yesterday ruined the premise of today’s column, Wooten has had to move to plan B…an enthusiastic embrace of the burgeoning Tea Bag movement, and the big public demonstration of teabagging (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teabagging) that will take place on April 15.
Wooten says he has never tried to Tea Bag before, but has always been .. umm … curious.
CommunistAJC
April 8th, 2009
9:14 am
Jackie, you wrote: As usual, you wait until you think there will be no challenge to you BS to speak.
YOU WROTE THIS AT 1AM! You now have ZERO credibility, Jesse Jackson. Go sell stupid somewhere else.