OOIDA Call to Action – Georgia members
November 30, 2009

Attention: Georgia truckers! The Georgia DOT is looking into a new game plan to incorporate public-private toll roads into its network. The agency is accepting written comments on this strategy through Monday, Dec. 7. You are encouraged to make your voice heard on this issue.

Georgia’s new strategy gives the state, not private-sector interests, more control over certain types of road projects.

Although it is good to see the state is pursuing greater control, there is concern that the proposal allows Georgia to enter into non-compete clauses with private investors. Such clauses would allow toll operators to prevent the state from building toll-free roads in the proximity of a privately operated toll road.

In early November, the State Transportation Board launched a rulemaking process for the new strategy on PPPs and toll roads, which included a 30-day public review period and a public hearing.

Written comments are being accepted through Monday, Dec. 7. Click here to access the online comment form. Public comments will be taken into account when the state board develops official recommendations for lawmakers. Click here to learn more about Georgia’s public-private partnership program.

State officials will hold a workshop with stakeholders from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Georgia Freight Depot, 65 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30334.

The OOIDA Board’s updated Highway Funding Principles includes points relevant to this discussion, which are worth sharing with GDOT officials. The transportation department should be encouraged to support a limited role for the private sector in managing transportation assets.

It is important that a toll road project provide choice for users, remove fees once the project is paid for, and consider state and local land rights, while limiting government taxpayer resources used to support private sector endeavors. Highway users also should be reimbursed or exempt from paying federal highway fuel taxes for miles driven on toll roads.