Gov. Barnes asked a federal judge to keep the road money flowing in the Atlanta region, after environmentalist filed a suit proclaiming the state hasn't done enough to combat the region's congestion and air quality issues.
"The setting was a hearing on environmentalists' request for an injunction against the region's three-year transportation spending program. They say the plan approved last year violates the federal Clean Air Act. The environmentalists also contend that metro Atlanta is getting back to road-building before getting a handle on the root causes of emissions and growing congestion and that reverting to road-building now will only make the smog problem harder to solve. Barnes took the whole notion as a personal assault on his record as governor. While his predecessor, Zell Miller, completely ducked the tough issues around Atlanta's smog, congestion and sprawl, Barnes has tried to take them on." Among other things, the Governor established the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, and has been supportive of transit funding. However, he stated that political realites prevent the region from doing more to promote transit construction and use.
Thanks to Christian Peralta
FULL STORY: Constitution: On transportation, Barnes bound by political reality
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