Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Keith Golden recently told a gathering about the state’s reliance on federal money for transportation, saying, “We’ve got to find a way to break away from our dependence on federal dollars.”
Nikki Wiley reports on a recent presentation by Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Commissioner Keith Golden, in which he detailed the state’s struggle to find money for transportation. The state’s transportation funding concerns are compounded by uncertainty over the future of federal transportation funding.
GDOT’s 2014-15 budget includes $80 million for capital improvements and $200 million for maintenance. “Much of the department’s projects are funded by federal allocations, a 4 percent state sales tax and a 7.5 percent gas tax, with 1 percent going to the state’s general fund budget,” writes Wiley. States like the neighboring Florida spend a lot more on transportation per capita, according to Golden.
Golden voiced strong opinions about the federal government’s inability to resolve the expected insolvency of the Highway Trust Fund. “It’s not a sustainable option and everyone knows it,” said Golden, calling the highway fund the “fiscal cliff of transportation.”
Golden also made a case for raising the federal gas tax as a possible solution to the highway fund’s problem, saying it wouldn’t be political suicide but acknowledging that raising the tax is unlikely.
Golden was clearly being generous with his time and opinions, also discussing Atlanta's new major league baseball stadium, to be built in 2017 in the Cumberland area. Golden stated that he doesn’t believe the project would have much of a negative impact on traffic in the area.
FULL STORY: Chief says GDOT relies too much on federal funds

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

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

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions