DOT pulls plug on $1 billion I-75/I-575 project

 From the AJC article today...

Last month, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that traffic predictions showed the project was expected to make commutes slightly worse for some drivers, and would not provide major congestion relief for most in the main lanes.

DOT responded that the goal of the project was not to ease traffic for all drivers, but to provide an option for all drivers in times of need. Should they choose the toll lane, a state study showed, their commutes would be more than twice as fast.

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My take on this is that GDOT has acknowledged that the changes would make matters worse in the general purpose lanes, as well as the goal of the lane was not to ease traffic for ALL drivers but those willing to pay in times of need.  The next step should be that the persons in Henry and Clayton county fight for the same respect.  While the lane system is different the problem there is that there are not enough lanes to support the traffic.  In the area where the congestion is there are only 3 general purpose lanes.  Instead of adding 2 reversable toll lanes the area could be more effectively served by adding 4 lanes (two in each direction) all the way through the proposed area.  This would effect a less expensive plan and add the ability for 60% more cars to travel in the area with little delay and down time for construction.  This could also be left as 5 full general purpose lanes with the 2 innermost lanes being  the travel lanes for long haul trucks.  This would leave the 3 outside lanes for local drivers who are on and off the roadway in the 20 mile stretch, without out having to fight the big trucks headed to or from Florida. 

This also opens up the arguement that if the lanes in I75/575 were going to be congested there is no reason that they could not see that the same problems ALREADY exist along I-85 in Gwinnett.  It is a great day to be inthe fight against the toll lanes, be sure to send thanks to Ariel hart, Chris Haley, Victor Ramikisson, Brian Gist, Renee Starzyk, and so many others that have been fighting all along.  Without their efforts to spread the word we would not have garnered the attention from those who voted against the current project.  

Comments

[Howard Rodgers]

Just to be clear Ariel Hart, Renee Starzyk and others mentioned may not have taken a side in the fight, but were open and honest in the reporting and spreading the details of what was going on from both sides. My apologies if it seems that they were against the HOT lanes. My thank you was and is an honest expression of my appreciation for work that was and is being done. Without others reporting and sharing information we would not have made it this far.
Howard Rodgers