State’s Transportation Leaders Collaborate to Meet Challenges
(ATLANTA - April 8, 2008)
The leaders and senior executives of the state’s key transportation agencies met throughout the past weekend to discuss common solutions to Georgia’s growing mobility challenges. As a result of the summit, Gena Abraham, Georgia DOT Commissioner; Dick Anderson, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) Executive Director; Chick Krautler, Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Director; Dr. Beverly Scott, MARTA General Manager; and Terri Slack, COO of the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) will be collaborating in new and effective ways to evaluate and execute transportation projects that will best benefit the state.
In addition to the agency heads, about 40 key staff in planning, legal affairs, financing, engineering, etc. attended a Transportation Summit from Friday evening through Sunday evening. Presentations precipitated candid and informed discussions to clarify each agencies’ responsibilities in meeting the challenges of highway and transit project funding, proceeding with evaluation of public-private partnerships and HOT lanes, monitoring congressional district balancing, planning for alternate modes and land use, and others. The Summit also represents a new level of cooperation among the agencies in a commitment to attacking congestion in metro Atlanta in a direct, comprehensive manner.
Also in attendance were Rodney Barry from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Myra Immings from the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA), and Jannine Miller, transportation policy advisor to Governor Sonny Perdue. Miller’s presentations helped facilitate consensus on transportation goals in the context of the state’s strategic plan, currently in development.
During the Summit’s closing session, Miller stated: “We’ve got challenges, but we’ve also got some unique opportunities in front of us. As a result of this Summit, I’m encouraged that we’ve got the teamwork we need to implement transportation solutions that achieve results for Georgians.”
