JENNINGS: T-SPLOST to benefit Barrow County

We’re in a different region from Atlanta. Our money won’t pay one cent for MARTA, beltlines, or HOT lanes. Our money will stay right here, in Northeast Georgia, to improve transportation problems that WE want to fix.

Many misconceptions have emerged from the T-SPLOST discussion. Some of the more prevalent seem to be:

•“Once in place, this tax will never go away.” This will be a tax for a maximum of ten years, or whenever the designated money is collected. If voters choose to vote the tax again, after the 10-year period — or if they choose not to — that is the will of the people. There’s no coercion.

•“The money will go to GDOT for them to waste.” All monies go to the Georgia State Finance Commission, to be held in a trust, to be disbursed to GDOT for ONLY eligible costs, and is subject to a mandatory audit to ensure monies are used only for eligible projects.

•“Why raise more funds for transportation? Let the DOT live within it’s means.” The Fuel Tax has been declining within the state, due to more fuel-efficient vehicles now being sold. Think about it – is your car more of a gas-guzzler now than it was 10 to 15 years ago? Georgia ranks last in per capita funding for transportation as compared to the contiguous states that surround us – states that compete with us for new business each and every day.

The fact is, Hwy. 316 is one of the most unsafe roads within the state. The T-SPLOST will be able to help fund, with help from GDOT, two limited access interchanges – one at Hwy 11, and another at Hwy 81.

The fact is, Hwy. 8, from the Hog Mountain Road to the Oconee County line, is one of the most bumpy, patched, repaired roads in Barrow County. The T-SPLOST will deliver funds to resurface and repair that road once and for all.

The fact is, Kilcrease Road is a stretch of road that would compare with any San Francisco twisty-turn-y street. The T-SPLOST will re-align and improve Kilcrease Road, to improve the connectivity from 316 to the City of Auburn.

The fact is, the intersection on 211 and Cedar Creek Road is dangerous. I know this for a fact, as I sent my father to the hospital because a flat-bed truck turned North on 211 from Cedar Creek, and my dad, not seeing the dim running light on the side of the flat-bed in the dark, ran underneath the trailer. The T-SPLOST will fix the intersection, allowing better use by trucks that travel to our plants on the Bankhead Hwy.

The fact is, the City of Winder has needed a by-pass for 50+ years. The T-SPLOST will fund, along with GDOT, the West Winder By-pass. Finally.
The fact is, 25% of the funds will go to local governments, both cities and county. Now, these funds aren’t to go into the general budget, but must be used ONLY for transportation projects. We have bridges that haven’t been maintained in twenty years. We still have dirt roads. We have paved roads that need much attention.

Finally, while there is not evidence of DIRECT impact on economic development, what is a fact are the comments of the recently-located giant Caterpillar, whose chairman, Doug Oberhelman was quoted as saying he believed that the improvement of the transportation system was “critical” to make Georgia competitive. Moreover, Caterpillar felt it very important to be within five hours of the Port of Savannah, and recognizing the importance of ease of access to the port – all a part of the Transportation Investment Act.

I appreciate Mike Buffington, and the family-run business that puts out news, and newspapers, each week. They do a great job. And I appreciate the opportunity to present “a different side.”

Tommy Jennings is president of the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce.