Anybody who is going to attend ought to read what the BOC has to say.

https://hcwebb.boca.co.henry.ga.us/news/articles.aspx#738

The long title for this information could read: Dueling developers, misplaced priorities, bridges to nowhere and we are still stuck in grueling traffic jams.

The per-car number of vehicles on I-85 through Gwinnett or I-75 through Cobb is higher than Henry County. But our per-lane volume exceeds both of our northern cousins in the quest for traffic congestion. Why, you may ask? It’s simply because Henry County officials are happy to grab the crumbs offered to us by the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Today's official memo from Jason Harper is not the whole story. There are commitments among some commissioners to support a new $100 million shopping mall on Jodeco Road. The developer, Bayer Construction, made it clear the bridge is a requirement for him to move forward. And there is a snit between Bayer and Jim Baker, developer of the shopping center on Hwy 20/81. Adding lanes to I-75 would help Baker and potentially hurt Bayer.

Rep. Steve Davis has presented an option for adding lanes to I-75 from I-675 to Eagles Landing. It is a new project not listed in the TIP, but only two commissioners are open to the idea. Even though the ARC plan they are willing to accept will not place new lanes on I-75 until 2020. They are not willing to abandon political agendas or personal allegiances.

There is no plan or money to widen Jodeco in either direction past one-half mile beyond the bridge. The $46 million cost of the bridge will pay for $30 million in right of way acquisition and $16 million for the 11-lane bridge.

To the East, it’s in the county’s plan to widen down to Oak Grove – as soon as the Campground Road Connector is completed it will all match up nicely. When will that happen? Who knows, but it’s in the plan. To the West there is no talk about intersection improvements or traffic lights at Chambers Road. And, by the way, the new BoC SPLOST list includes an access road on the west side of I-75 from Eagles Landing to Jodeco. Just what we need to access the new shopping center!

History is not one thing after another. It's just the same thing over and over again. Look at Henry County's penchant for dedicating transportation funds to promote development. The bridges at Eagles Landing, Jonesboro Road and Hwy 20/81 were constructed to promote the adjacent shopping areas. Jodeco Road is our next Eagles Landing.

“The Atlanta Regional Commission voted today on the Regional Transportation Plan, a 25-year to-do list of $67 billion worth of transportation projects for metro Atlanta. They'll also vote on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), the first six years of the larger plan.

For final approval, the TIP short-term plan also will have to get a thumbs-up this fall from the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. GRTA officials have protested ARC's process, so it ain't over till it's over.” (AJC 9/26/07 Metro)

I appreciate Jason Harper sharing information with citizens. But the whole story should be told. There is an opportunity to add lanes to I-75 he does not want to talk about. And notice NOBODY mentioned the new shopping center.

A maze of numbers and projects slated for some future date is what we have. Henry County officials are happy to grab the negotiated crumbs offered to us by the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Georgia Department of Transportation. ARC officials say there is $4 billion for new projects and $21 billion for regional operations and maintenance and $14.5 billion for MARTA.

Follow these links to see where the money is going. Hint: It ain't Henry County!

http://www.atlantaregional.com/cps/rde/xbcr/arc/TIP_Appendix_1.pdf
http://www.atlantaregional.com/arc/documents/E6_Fact_Sheet.pdf

So WHO is elected to take care of Henry's traffic problems? Who is accountable to us?

PLEASE ATTEND THE MEETING AT EAGLES LANDING MIDDLE SCHOOL
Thursday, 9/27/07 from 6pm to 9pm. Meet in the Media Center.

I hope that everyone can make it out to this meeting. No long boring speeches from the likes of the politicians(including me) just a time for the public to vent to the bi-partisan panel of the Henry County Legislative Delegation.