Last week, Gov. Brian Kemp announced how the state plans to spend $1.5 billion in surplus funds the General Assembly earmarked earlier this year for transportation infrastructure improvements.
The one-time infusion of transportation dollars will raise spending on the Georgia Department of Transportation's capital construction program by 58%, more than double state aid to local governments for transportation improvements, boost funding for repaving projects by 32%, pay for improvement projects at various general aviation airports, and fund a new program aimed at improving the movement of freight across Georgia.
"What I like above all is it's going to keep people working in all parts of our state ... with money to spend to support their families," Kemp told Capitol Beat in an exclusive interview.
Jannine Miller, the DOT's director of planning, said 80% of the $1.5 billion will go toward adding roadway capacity.
"We are a growing state, both people and freight movement," Miller told members of the State Transportation Board Thursday. "That capacity is going to make a big difference."
The biggest chunk of the funding - $593 million - will help the DOT keep pace not only with the additional demand on highway capacity resulting from Georgia's population growth but with inflated road construction costs. The money will be used to accelerate the construction of 24 road projects by a total of 43 years.
"It gives us a big shot in the arm to make sure no projects are getting put on the back burner," Kemp said.
Highway projects to be funded through the infrastructure package include completing an overhaul of the Interstate 16/I-75 interchange in Bibb County - work that has been dragging on for years - expanding the toll lanes along I-75 south of Atlanta to allow the lanes to open both northbound and southbound at the same time, and extending Georgia 400 at its northern end in Lumpkin County.
The $500 million freight program includes 18 projects, highlighted by widening Interstate 16 in Chatham and Effingham counties to improve the movement of cargo in and out of the Port of Savannah, improvements to Georgia 365 in Hall County to aid the flow of cargo out of the Georgia Ports Authority's planned inland port in Gainesville, and improvements to Georgia 5 and Georgia 515 in Pickens County.
Cities and counties will get $250 million for local transportation improvements. Airport aid will be increased by $98 million, highlighted by construction of a new Griffin/Spalding Regional Airport. Resurfacing of state highways across Georgia will be funded through a $50 million increase in the DOT's capital maintenance budget.
