Georgia's Proposed Toll Road

A heavy backlash against a toll road in Georgia spurs several innovative compromises.

1 minute read

May 14, 2005, 12:00 PM PDT

By Brenda Meyer


"The consortium of highway builders who sparked public outrage when they proposed turning Ga. 316 into a toll road said Tuesday they are reworking their plan to scale back costs to commuters.

But they no longer plan to fund a $1 billion upgrade by charging every driver $4.70 to drive between Athens and Lawrenceville. Instead, the group is considering a variety of proposals they hope might be more palatable to the motoring public.

Among them, unveiled at a Tuesday presentation to business leaders at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce:

• Optional toll lanes for drivers who would pay to get out of traffic jams in otherwise free lanes on the 39-mile highway.

• Unspecified discounts for frequent toll payers and variable peak travel-time fares.

• Free use of the toll lanes by some drivers, such as University of Georgia students.

"We're trying to see if we can come up with a project that is reasonable, feasible, workable and financeable," said Bill Berry, vice president of operations for Washington Group International."

Thanks to Brenda Meyer

Thursday, May 12, 2005 in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Brutalist grey department of housing and urban development building in Washington DC.

How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response

Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.

2 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Lancaster Boulevard with tree-lined median and wide sidewalks in Lancaster, California.

The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way

One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.

2 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Sign in front of building for seior services center in St. Petersburg, Fl.

Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk

High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.

4 hours ago - WESH

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA