TRANSPORTATION NEWS
HB277, Transportation Investment Act of 2010 To enact the "Transportation Investment Act of 2010"; to provide for a short title; to amend Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to highways, bridges, and ferries, so as to provide for certain powers and duties of the Department of Transportation; to provide for certain responsibilities of the commissioner of transportation; to provide for certain responsibilities of the director of planning; to suspend restrictions on the use by public transit authorities of local sales and use tax proceeds; to change the membership of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority; to provide for a Georgia Coordinating Committee for Rural and Human Services Transportation; to amend Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to revenue and taxation, so as to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for the creation of special districts; to provide for a special district transportation sales and use tax in such special districts; to provide for definitions; to provide for an exemption from the cap on the imposition of local sales and use taxes; to provide for the development of an investment list of projects; to provide for a referendum; to provide for the rate and manner of imposition of such tax; to provide for collection and administration of such tax; to provide for use of the proceeds of such tax; to provide for returns; to provide for distribution and expenditure of proceeds; to provide for annual reporting; to provide for regional Citizens Review Panels; to provide for tax credits; to provide for certain exemptions; to provide for the effect on any local sales and use taxes; to provide for judicial actions; to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to provide for the creation of the Transit Governance Study Commission; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Click here to download document HB277, Transportation Investment Act of 2010 Presentation Click to down load presentation Summary of House Bill 277: Transportation Funding: REGIONAL SALES TAX Proposes a one-percent regional sales and use tax to fund all modes of transportation for a period often years. The bill establishes 12 special tax districts based on existing regional commission boundaries. Counties may not opt out of or switch regions. A new "Regional Transportation Roundtable" is established in each regional commission comprised of every county chair and one mayor from each county. If more than 90% of the total county population resides in cities, the county will have an extra mayor on the roundtable. The roundtables meet twice, both times at the call of the DP. Each roundtable elects five of its members to serve on an executive committee. In addition, the House and Senate Transportation Committee Chairmen appoint two state representatives and one state senator, respectively, to serve as non-voting members of the executive committee. The GDOT Director of Planning (DP), who is appointed by the Governor, facilitates the planning process within each region. The planning process consists of three  stages: Click here to download document