Georgia Public Policy Foundation Presents 'Plan B' for Transportation
GPPF says it is time to move forward from TSPLOST debate.
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The Georgia Public Policy Foundation (GPPF) recently presented its plan to address transportation issues in the state of Georgia.
The proposal, titled "Getting Georgia Moving," was created in response to the failed Transportation Investment Act referendum -- or TSPLOST -- that was soundly rejected by metro Atlanta voters in July.
In order to move the state forward, GPPF is encouraging leaders to build public trust through transparency, reform and performance and to provide effective, efficient and affordable transit alternatives. Rail, according to GPPF, is not a viable transit solution.
"In addition to having very low density, Atlanta’s commuters are not primarily traveling to one central destination, but often from one suburb to another," the GPPF report states. "This makes a railbased network unaffordable. We find it very frustrating that the Georgia Public Policy Foundation is often referred to as 'anti-transit.' We are not anti-transit, we are 'anti' wasting money. We believe a rail focus is a lose-lose scenario."
Instead, GPPF recommends "rubber-tired transit" -- in particular, bus rapid transit (BRT).
"BRT looks and feels like a light-rail vehicle, but it has rubber tires," GPPF explained. "It can use the HOV, HOT or managed lanes on the interstates to escape traffic and dedicated lanes on arterial routes or virtual dedicated lanes (controlled by an ITS) that offer very competitive trip times. Because this offers a high quality experience at a much lower cost than rail, we can afford to build out a true network."
To fund BRT and other transit programs including the Xpress bus service and MARTA, GPPF recommends the state allocate $65 million a year to transit.
The GPPF also offered several recommendations related to traditional road projects.
"For roads and bridges, there are several quick fixes that should be addressed immediately to maximize the capacity of existing infrastructure," the report stated. "Synchronizing lights (Atlanta has some of the worst signalized arterials of any major metro area in the U.S. so this needs to be a priority. GDOT should have the responsibility for setting and maintaining traffic signals on all state roads, including in local counties or cities.), adding shoulder bus lanes to highways without HOV/HOT lanes, expanding programs to clear accidents or incidents more quickly, and enhancing major arterials by adding median turn lanes or turn restrictions, adding raised medians and adding acceleration and deceleration lanes."
GPPF also advises state officials to take a closer look at some of the projects on the failed TSPLOST list and work to address the less controversial ones such as the GA 400/ I-285 interchange.
Another recommendation from GPPF involves working to create a statewide freight network, which would allow a significant amount of freight traffic to bypass the metro Atlanta area.
According to GPPF, "This could divert from 30-60 percent of the truck traffic out of metro Atlanta, removing the equivalent of up to 100,000 cars per day from the metro interstates."
GPPF recommends funding these transportation initiatives by rebalancing infrastructure spending without raising new taxes.
What do you think about BRT? Do you think these projects can be funded without raising taxes? Let us know in the comments.
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Jimmy Orr
3:00 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Under roads and bridges, I did not see any reference to Diverging Diamond Interchanges, aka DDI, as an option to relieve traffic congestion where there are congested bridges/interchanges throughout our Metro Atlanta interstate system. Chuck Warbington, Executive Director, Gwinnett Village CID and Joe Allen, Executive Director, Gwinnett Place CID have grabbed the proverbial bull by the horns on the DDI concept. DDI's are in the works for I-85/Jimmy Carter Blvd. and I-85/Pleasant Hill Rd. I have negotiated the DDI at I-285/Ashford-Dunwoody Rd. on several occassions and believe that same offers a relatively inexpensive way to retrofit existing bridges associated with congested interchange traffic on our Metro Atlanta interstates. Chuck and Joe are to be commended for their forward thinking in bringing the DDI concept to Gwinnett County.
Jim Regan
7:37 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
@Jimmy, I too have gone through the DDI at Ashford-Dunwoody. What a great improvement since I used to work in the area and had to deal with daily delays at that intersection.
I also like the idea of diverting truck traffic around Atlanta or at the very least restricting semi-trucks, not making deliverys in Atlanta, during peak rush hours.
Jimmy Orr
9:19 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
@Jim. Good Morning! I also use to work in what was then the 100 Perimeter Center Place building back in the 80's. This intersection was congested back then. I like your idea about diverting truck traffic around Atlanta and or not making deliveries during peak traffic hours as this would certainly help. However, the outer perimeter highway, which did not get built, would have alleviated the truck traffic (as we know it) heading down I-85 South to I-285 West making their way to I-75. If the outer perimeter had been built, it should have been a limited access highway so as not to become another developer's dream and another motorists nightmare.
Emily
9:53 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
Love the idea! Do you feel it would work well for the I-85/Indian Trail interchange?
Pat Gabilondo
10:18 am on Monday, October 15, 2012
How is the closure of the 400 Tollway coming along? On schedule?
Jesse Budlong
10:49 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
With people hooting and hollering over the one toll in the state closing and the conversion of HOV to HOT lanes financially under performing I just don't see an alternative bi-partisan sustainable funding mechanism that will help maintain Atlanta's reputation as an Alpha− Global City. I look forward to taking my Urban Planning & Public Finance educational background elsewhere.