Details Released for Listening Tour on Transportation Plan

ATLANTA— Governor Sonny Perdue today announced specifics for a seven-city public input “listening tour” in conjunction with the Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today (IT3) initiative to transform Georgia's transportation system.

During the week of September 22, top state transportation officials will meet with the public in Macon, Savannah, Dalton, Atlanta, Valdosta, Columbus and Augusta (details provided below) to gather input on what Georgians want in terms of future transportation infrastructure and how they believe it should be financed.

“It is my hope that through IT3 we will transform the way Georgia deals with our transportation challenges,” said Governor Perdue. “This listening tour will allow Georgians to give us their input and ideas as we crystallize the goals and priorities that will ultimately become the final IT3 proposal.”

IT3 is a collaborative effort begun by the Georgia's elected leadership and the State Transportation Board in which the state’s transportation agencies are working with the transportation committees of the General Assembly, stakeholder groups and the general public to develop a business case for transportation investment. The business case will include the definition of strategic goals and policies, benchmarking with other states’ transportation successes and an examination of ways to financially achieve outcomes.

Georgia Transportation Commissioner Gena Evans and Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) Executive Director Dick Anderson will conduct the listening tour, joined by members of the State Transportation Board, legislators and local elected officials.

“The time has come for serious discussions and serious decisions on the 21^st Century transportation needs of Georgia,” Commissioner Evans said. “Governor Perdue’s IT3 initiative will foster those discussions and help us make those decisions.  Dick and I look forward to hearing directly from the people what they want in their transportation system.”

“Georgia must have a clear strategy, with specific targets and goals, if we are to continue the success of our transportation system,” Anderson said. “IT3, with strong input from the people of Georgia, will help us set those targets and goals and move forward with our efforts to ensure that everyone in Georgia can get where they want to go, when they want to go, and how they want to go.”

For more information on IT3 visit www.it3.ga.gov .

The schedule for Commissioner Evans and Mr. Anderson is as follows:

TIME AND DATE, VENUE/CITY, PRINCIPAL(S)

4-7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 22, Central GA Technical College, Macon, Commissioner Evans & Mr. Anderson

4-7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23, Coastal Georgia Center, Savannah, Commissioner Evans & Mr. Anderson

Noon-2 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24, City Hall, Dalton, Commissioner Evans & Mr. Anderson

4-7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Commissioner Evans & Mr. Anderson

Noon-2 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25, Valdosta Technical College, Valdosta, Mr. Anderson

4-7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25,   Cunningham Center, Columbus, Mr. Anderson

Noon-2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 26, Columbia County Library, Evans (Augusta area), Mr. Anderson

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