Georgia Department of Transportation 
ON TARGET 
 
Office of Planning 
 
Summer 2002 
 
Planning Georgias Future Today 
Vol. 8 No. 4 
 
WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE NORTHERN ARC? 
 
The proposed Northern Arc, located in the northern reaches of metropolitan Atlanta, would serve an area from west of I-75, in Bartow County, eastward through Cherokee and Forsyth Counties, to east of SR 316 in Gwinnett County. Between 1990 and 2000, these counties experienced an average population growth of 66%. Forsyth County's population grew 123%. There is no sign of the north metro area's extraordinary growth slowing down. Along with such aggressive growth comes increased traffic congestion and safety concerns. In 1990, only 3% of roads in the Northern Arc area operated under extremely congested travel conditions. By the year 2035, 87% of the study area's roadways would experience gridlock conditions. Traffic accidents and fatalities are expected to increase as traffic volumes increase. 
The Northern Arc is in two different stages of development: the section located 
 
west of GA 400 and that located east of GA 400. West of GA 400, the Department is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that analyzes multiple alternatives, including a "No-Build" scenario. The Draft EIS is addressing impacts of several alternatives and will identify a preferred alternative. The Department anticipates Public Hearings will be held during the Summer of 2002 in each of the affected Counties (Forsyth, Cherokee, and Bartow Counties). The Final EIS is expected during the Spring of 2003 with Federal approval by the Summer of 2003. 
The section east of GA 400 is at the advanced stage of project implementation. The environmental approvals were received in the late 1980s. Right-of-way plans were developed for the approved alignment and acquisition began in the early 1990s. Approximately 140 parcels have been acquired through a formal, 
 
structured process known as "protective buy". Due to continued development within the approved corridor, some alignment changes are being considered. Updates to environmental documents and analysis of proposed alignment changes are underway as part of the Department's normal procedures preceding construction. The Department anticipates a Public Hearing will be held in the Spring of 2003 regarding proposed alignment changes and possible additional impacts. The environmental process should be completed by late Summer of 2003. Funding for right-of-way acquisition in FY 2003 has been proposed for the Atlanta Regional Commission's FY 2003-2005 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Until the TIP is adopted and updated environmental documents approved, protective right-of-way acquisition will continue in areas where there are no significant changes in 
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NEW AIR QUALITY STANDARDS UPHELD BY THE COURTS 
 
The Environmental Protection 
 
Agency (EPA), the agency charged 
 
with carrying out clean air 
 
legislation passed by Congress, 
 
recently proposed new standards 
 
for maximum permissible amounts 
 
of the air pollutants ozone and 
 
particulate matter. The EPA's 
 
proposed new standards and the 
 
extent of EPA's authority to carry 
 
out clean air legislation by 
 
Congress have been the subjects of 
 
a recent Supreme Court battle in 
 
New Clean Air Act may add which EPA proved victorious. Muscogee, Bibb and Richmond The subject of the court battle 
 
counties to the non-attainment focused in part on the EPA's new 
 
area. 
 
regulation for ozone, known as the 
 
"8-hour standard," which was to replace the current "1-hour standard." Under the 8-hour standard, urban areas exceeding a .08-parts-per-billion quantity of ozone over an 8-hour period are defined as being in non-attainment. The older 1-hour standard allowed for up to .12 parts-per-billion over a 1-hour period. 
Congress originally established standards for cleaner air beginning with the 1970 Clean Air Act. In 1990, the Clean Air Act was amended to allow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate principal air contaminants including ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrous dioxide, lead, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. These pollutants can cause health problems such as diminished functioning of the lungs, watery eyes, dizziness and headaches. 
The EPA's proposed 8-hour standard as well as EPA's authority to establish the standard in the very first place were challenged in the Supreme Court by the American Trucking Association (Whitman vs. American Trucking Association, 2001). 
Continued on Page 4 
 
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ON TARGET 
 
DEPARTMENTS ROLE IN THE GOVERNORS TRANSPORTATION 
CHOICE INITIATIVE 
The Governor's Transportation Choice Initiative (GTCI) proposes to advance the implementation of many transportation improvements that would otherwise take as much as 20 years to complete. The program will be funded by bonds issued by the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) and backed by federal highway funds and state gas tax revenues. Projects included in the GTCI include: *the completion of the Governor's Road Improvement Program (GRIP), as a system of rural multi-lane arterials *the expansion of the HOV System in the Metro Atlanta Region *development of a commuter bus system *construction of new park and ride lots 
The Department will play a major role in the success of this effort. In cooperation with the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, the Department has initiated the addition of the projects from the GTCI to the Atlanta Regional Commissions Transportation Work Program Projects. This is the first step in authorizing funds for the implementation of the GTCI. 
The magnitude of the GTCI will require far more resources for project development than are currently available within the Department. Consequently, the Department will hire qualified consultants to develop plans for those projects that have not been initiated, using funds from SRTA's bond program. 
The Governor, through the GTCI has given the Department of Transportation, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and the State Road and Tollway Authority a very difficult task. The Department will be working very closely with GRTA and SRTA to successfully implement the GTCI. 
By: Daryl Cranford Phone: (404) 656-5360 Email:daryl.cranford@dot.state.ga.us 
 
2002 LEGISLATIVE SESSION 
 
The 2002 Legislative Session, one of the longest in Georgia's history, came to an end on Friday, April 12th. Many of the issues and bills introduced and/or passed proved controversial such as the passage of the $16.1 billion state budget and approval of the Senate's redistricting plan. 
The Department of Transportation's Legislative Team is tasked with staying abreast of issues that can potentially impact the Department. Each legislative session brings with it issues that are of particular concern or interest to the Department, and this session is no exception. 
Some of the Departments top issues this year are: Budget Highlights 
Local Assistance Road Program: Although the General Assembly did not appropriate additional funds for LARP beyond the Governor's $26 million, accelerated funding was directed to GDOT for local road projects through a bonding package. $150 million has been set aside for local roads, with $60 million being distributed on the LARP formula toward counties' priority lists. 
Other budget activity: $2.75 million appropriated for acquisition of downtown Atlantas multimodal passenger terminal; $3.9 million for 70 alternative fuel buses to be distributed state-wide; $2.4 million in bond funds for Railroad Rehabilitation, and $137.5 million GRIP funding added in FY 2003 Supplemental Budget Redistricting Plan 
Democratic leadership in the General Assembly prolonged the session waiting on the ruling from a panel of three federal judges reviewing the new congressional district maps. The state's congressional and legislative redistricting plans were reviewed in December and January for compliance to the Voting Rights Act and approved; however, the state's Senate plan was rejected based on three districts where the black voting age population was reduced. In the final days of the session the Senate drafted and approved a new map, which was later approved by the Justice Department. Hauling Concrete 
Senate Bill 386 passed both the House 
 
and Senate and increased the amount of "readi-mix concrete" carried by trucks on state and local roads to 23,000 pounds per single axle or 46,000 pounds for a tandem axle. The Department opposed the bill because an increase in the volume of trucks carrying the heavy loads will cause county roads to deteriorate at a quicker pace due to their lack of ability to handle the additional weight. Congressional District Balancing 
HB 1587, provides GDOT's Congressional District balancing requirements, will remain in effect under the current Congressional districts until 2005 for balancing purposes. Provisions in the Bill provides latitude for the Transportation Board to exempt the Department from this requirement with a 2/3 vote. 
By: Debbie Royal Phone: (404)657-6694 Email:debbie.royal@dot.state.ga.us 
STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION PLAN: BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE 
During the past two years, On Target has provided information on the progress of the update of Georgia's 2025 Statewide Transportation Plan. We are pleased to announce that the Statewide Transportation Plan was adopted by the Transportation Board in February. This was the culmination of a two year effort to complete a major update of the Plan, which included an evaluation of transportation needs and the resources to provide for these needs. 
Since the completion of the 1995 Statewide Transportation Plan, life has changed in Georgia. Rapid economic growth of the state has worsened traffic congestion and air quality in the Atlanta Metro area and in many cities across the state. The Statewide Transportation Plan Update included a report card on the Department's progress in maintaining the transportation infrastructure during the five year period from 1995 and 2002. 
The 2025 Statewide Transportation Plan is based on economic forecasts for 
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ON TARGET 
 
STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM DEVELOPED 
 
The annual update of Georgia's Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is underway. The State Transportation Improvement Program is a three-year work program containing federally funded transportation projects. The STIP only contains those projects which the State can reasonably expect to fund during that three year period. The STIP is a requirement of the transportation bill, TEA-21, Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, passed by Congress in 1998. 
As the Department develops the 2003-2005 STIP, emphasis is placed on Public Involvement. Each of the Department's District offices and the Service Delivery Regions (SDR) coordinate the public involvement for the rural counties in their area. The District offices meet with county officials and municipalities to discuss the planned projects in their jurisdiction. These meetings allow the Department the opportunity to keep the local governments abreast of the transportation projects in their jurisdictions to explain the planning and programming process and to give each government the opportunity to be an active participant in the process. Via these meetings, the local governments can suggest changes to the prioritization of projects in their area. The Department and SDRs also coordinate public meetings with the general public. The meetings are advertised using press releases, public announcements on the radio, newspaper ads, flyers, and direct mail outs. In some areas, the meeting notifications are translated into other languages. 
A total of 13 public meetings were held between April 30 and June 5. During these meetings and the meetings with local 
 
officials, the Draft Rural STIP was available for review and comments. The Draft Rural STIP is also available for review on the Department's web page at:www.dot.state.ga.us/dot/planprog/planning/ programs/stip2003_2005/index.shtml 
During the time the Department was conducting public and governmental meetings for the Draft Rural STIP, the 11 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) within the state were busy developing their 2003-2005 Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs). During this stage, they were also conducting public involvement meetings giving local citizens the opportunity to ask questions and comment on the Draft TIPs. In June, the TIPs will be forwarded to the Governor's office for his approval. In July, the approved TIPs will be combined with the Draft Rural STIP along with any changes resulting from the public involvement process. The combined documents form the Draft 2003-2005 STIP. 
The Draft STIP will be distributed throughout the state for a second round of public review and comments. Copies of the Draft STIP are sent to the District Area Offices, the MPOs, Regional Development Centers, and county libraries for a comment period, during July and August. This final STIP document will be taken to the State Transportation Board in September for their approval prior to sending it to the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration for their approval. 
By: Ulysses Mitchell, (404) 657-6686 Email:ulysses.mitchell@dot.state.ga.us 
 
NORTHERN ARC............................CONTINUED 
alignment. The estimated cost for the Northern Arc is approximately 
$2.4 Billion. The State of Georgia is exploring multiple funding options, including non-traditional funds such as tolls. The project is being coordinated with the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Governor's Transportation Choice Initiative that was announced in 2001. Over the years, multiple planning evaluations have determined that the Northern Arc is needed to address mobility needs. However, the Northern Arc by itself will not resolve all of the north metro area's transportation needs. Other improvements will be necessary. The level of growth in the northern reaches of Atlanta will require planning and funding a balanced transportation program. 
On April 17, 2002, the Chief Engineer, Mr. Frank L. Danchetz, and other representatives of the Department briefed the State Transportation Board on the Northern Arc. The Offices of Planning, Environment/Location, Urban Design, and Right-ofWay presented information on various aspects of the Northern Arc. The Chief Engineer provided the opening and closing remarks. If you would like to view the presentation, go to the Department's web site at http://www.dot.state.ga.us/ and look under Hot Topics for the Northern Arc. 
 
STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.......CONTINUED 
 
Georgia that could be used to determine future demand for 
 
transportation services for all modes, including highways, rail, air 
 
and ports. The Plan also addressed the implications of future 
 
transportation investments to sustain Georgia's transportation 
 
system. 
 
A major public outreach effort was a critical component of the 
 
Plan Update, the most extensive conducted by the Department. 
 
Public meeting were held across the State, as well as a series of 
 
stakeholder meetings to address special needs and concerns such 
 
as rural Georgia transportation needs, freight issues and 
 
environmental justice. 
 
The Statewide Transportation Plan, Georgia's transportation 
 
blueprint for the future, is now available on the Georgia 
 
Department 
 
of 
 
Transportation 
 
website 
 
at: 
 
http://www.dot.state.ga.us/dot/plan- 
 
prog/planning/strategic/swtp/index.shtml. Here you will find an 
 
executive summary of the Plan as well as the many documents that 
 
were created during this two year process. We hope you will take 
 
the opportunity to review these important findings. If you do not 
 
have access to the internet and would like a copy of the executive 
 
summary of the Statewide Transportation Plan, please contact Ellis 
 
Woodall at 404-657-5229. 
 
By: Cora Cook, (404) 657-6687 E-mail: cora.cook@dot.state.ga.us 
 
By: Daryl Cranford, (404) 656-5360 Email:daryl.cranford@dot.state.ga.us 
 
 Page 4 
 
NEW AIR QUALITY............................CONTINUED 
 
The Supreme Court ruled for the EPA, the defendant in this case, on three key issues. First, the Court ruled that EPA did indeed have the Constitutional power to establish air quality standards. Second, the Court ruled that the EPA could establish clean air standards without first conducting a costbenefit analysis of the expense required to meet a standard vs. the benefit of obtaining the standard. Also as part of the case, the Court overturned a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling, upholding a lower court ruling and held that the EPA must revise its method of implementing the proposed 8-hour standard. The Court ruled that EPA must make revisions that are consistent with Subpart 2 of the Clean Air Act which was added in 1990 and that a provision must be made for classifying areas which were in attainment under the 1-hour standard but not making attainment under the 8-hour standard. 
Presently, EPA is deciding on four different ways of implementing the 8-hour standard. The EPA states that between 1997 and 1998, 34 states did not meet the 
 
standard for ozone. The 13-county Atlanta urban area was 
designated non-attainment in 1993 for ozone under the 1-hour standard. The 8hour standard will be tougher to meet. On March 28, 2000, the EPA requested that all Governors submit their recommendations for non-attainment areas under the proposed 8-hour standard. Per this EPA request, Governor Roy E. Barnes, by letter dated June 30, 2000, recommended Muscogee, Bibb, and Richmond Counties (Columbus, Macon, and Augusta) in addition to the 21-counties surrounding and including the existing 1-hour standard Atlanta non-attainment area. Like other proposed non-attainment areas in the country, the Atlanta metro-area is taking the preliminary steps in developing a transportation and air quality plan that will meet the EPA's new 8-hour standard. 
By: Joel North Phone: (404) 463-0694 Email: joel.north@dot.state.ga.us 
 
ON TARGET 
On Target is a quarterly publication of the Georgia 
Department of Transportations Office of 
Planning. 
Please send address corrections to: 
Michelle Caldwell Office of Planning No. 2 Capitol Square S.W. Atlanta, GA 30334-1002 Phone: (404) 651-5327 Fax: (404) 657-5228 
Email: 
michelle.caldwell@dot.state.ga.us 
Visit our recently updated website at: http://www.dot.state.ga.us/dot/plan- 
prog/planning/index.shtml 
 
Georgia Department of Transportation Office of Planning No. 2 Capitol Square S.W. Atlanta, GA 30334-1002