Minding the Mission

If you have courageously self-identified as an Atlanta commuter (as I have), you may wonder what radical changes government has in mind for our commute.  I wonder that too sometimes, especially since I work for GDOT. 

While major changes involving transit, rail or significant new systems will be up to the State itself, you can see some evidence of what the near future will look like. 

1. Safety—the future could be open roads or distracted driving; the choice is yours.  Please pay attention, ignore the mobile device and Arrive Alive. 
2. Resurfacing—roadway conditions will be improved through resurfacing activities, including the downtown connector. The pavement was damaged more than usual in part because of severe weather events in 2013 and 2014 when heavy plows scratched into the roadway surface courses and beneath.   The Commissioner himself mentioned in a recent interview of the relief coming for drivers on the tortured asphalt and concrete on I-20’s west side towards Six Flags. 
3. Maintenance continuing—aging bridges have been replaced in recent years, and the state is now rated in the top quarter of states for efficiency and for most physical conditions (see 21st Annual Highway Report from Reason Foundation). Plans include replacing some bridges, while widening and rehabilitating others. 
4. Express lanes and more—the I-75 South Metro Express Lanes project is typical of 21st century solutions to traffic problems and of more narrowly focusing resources at fixing a specific need. You may have heard recent news stories regarding truck lanes for I-75 between Atlanta and Macon.  One-way reversible Express lanes are also in the works for I-75 North Metro and I-285. 
5. Flex commuting and Technology—to have an advantage commuting, get wired, even while doing so safely. There are many apps, like the GDOTs 511, Waze, Google Maps, MotionX GPS Drive, Navigon USA and Scout by Telenav.  Uber, Lyft and ride-sharing technologies help make travelling more efficient. 
6. Winter weather—having participated now in most activities involving winter weather in Georgia, I can vouch that the State has modeled its preparations on neighboring states with more winter headaches than we have here. The next needed response should be devastating for the poor snow and ice. 
7. Communication—we are all learning that communicating with the driving public is more critical than ever.   

Meanwhile, Georgia is still highly ranked for condition of rural highways and interstates, which represents a good state incentive for businesses here.  Georgia’s freight network is improving also with enhancements at the Port of Savannah. 

The Georgia DOT is a large State agency, but for all that it does, the Department only demands about 6% of the state budget, which is much less than most of our neighboring states, even though, in most cases, our roads and road-related infrastructures are in better condition. 

The State is taking many worthy measures to reduce congestion, to increase safety and to serve the growing capacity of Georgia’s travelers, commuters and businesses.  The lifestyle-changing ones (like commuter transit and passenger rail), if we want them, are beyond the present mission and office of the Department; these will require our political will, our tax dollars and our votes to execute.