Governor Perdue and Transportation Partners Create Taskforce to Reduce Congestion

Group to Submit Traffic Recommendations by December 31, 2005

ATLANTA – Today Governor Sonny Perdue joined members of transportation organizations to create a task force of state partners that will develop criteria for selecting transportation projects that effectively reduce traffic congestion in the metro-Atlanta area.

“One of my top priorities as Governor is reducing the traffic headaches that leave so many Georgians sitting in their cars during rush hour when they’d rather be home with their families,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Our transportation agencies have brought a more business-like approach to their work over the last couple of years. They will work together in that spirit to improve our project selection process and reduce traffic congestion.”

The Congestion Mitigation Task Force will develop cost/benefit criteria for selecting and prioritizing congestion relief projects in the metropolitan Atlanta area. It will ensure that the entire process from selection to financing to implementation is focused on improving mobility in the region. The task force has been charged to present its recommendations no later than December 31, 2005 to the board members of the four transportation partners that make up the task force membership.

The resolution forming the task force was signed by Governor Perdue; Larry Dent, assistant commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT); David Doss, chair of the DOT board; Steve Stancil, executive director of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA); Sonny Deriso, chairman of the GRTA board; Doug Hooker, executive director of the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA); Sam Olens, chair of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) and Charles Krautler, ARC director.

The Congestion Mitigation Task Force will include two board members from the DOT board, ARC, GRTA and two appointments to be designated by SRTA. The task force members will be selected by each agency’s board chairman. The Governor will select a chairman to preside over the task force meetings and a secretary to record the proceedings of the meetings. Each agency will dedicate staff and resources as appropriate to facilitate the activities of the task force.