Cobb officials pushing for congestion relief on I-75/575

(Marietta, Ga. – January 24, 2012) Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee and Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews, along with State Senators Chip Rogers, Lindsey Tippins, and State Representative Earl Earhart are seeking to alter the Metro Atlanta Regional Transportation Referendum project list by significantly reducing funding for transit services and putting funding toward the managed reversible lanes on the county’s North/South interstate (also known as the Northwest Corridor I-75/575 P3 initiative).

Project TIA-CO-035 calls for enhanced transit services from North Cobb County to the MARTA Arts Center Station and is the single most expensive project on Cobb’s list at $689 million. It was originally the leading project in Cobb’s effort to combat growing traffic congestion along Interstate 75 and Interstate 575.

“When Cobb County went out into the community to determine which projects were the most important for our future, the I-75/575 P3 project was a done deal,” Lee said. “We would never have focused on the transit piece if we had known that the I-75/575 project was in jeopardy. The suspension of the I-75/575 project by the state is a substantial and material change caused by the state after the project list process ended. The state should afford us the opportunity to fix that in this list.”

In October, Cobb’s list of 15 projects was finalized by the regional roundtable. Then in December the state Department of Transportation's board determined that the concessionaire approach was not in the state’s best interest so they withdrew funding for the P3 which would have added capacity along I-75/575 through Cobb and into Cherokee County. Originally slated to build two reversible toll lanes alongside I-75 from I-285 to I-575, one reversible toll lane each along I-75 up to Hickory Grove Road and along I-575 up to Sixes Road, the project funding was pulled.

“The I-75/575 corridor is the single greatest priority for getting traffic moving on the Northside,” said Mathews. “Had it been known at the time that the P3 was doomed, we would have made this corridor the top priority for Cobb County.”

Lee and Mathews have been working closely with members of Cobb’s legislative delegation and have gained support in their effort to fund the new lanes on I-75/575 while reducing funding for enhanced transit service which remains on the county’s project list.

“By combining the scope of the P3 and TIA initiatives we have the rare opportunity to relatively quickly alleviate our current massive traffic congestion on the 75/575 corridor in Cobb, Cherokee and Bartow counties and simultaneously expand future capacity on these major arteries to encourage economic growth while providing cost efficient lane access for express commuter bus service from Acworth to Atlanta,” explained Tippins. “Functionality, flexibility and cost efficiency should always be our goal. This change would accomplish all three.”

Funding the Transportation Investment Act project list is scheduled to be voted on by the public in July.

Chairman Lee, Mayor Mathews and members of the Cobb Legislative Delegation will be available for comment today, January 24, 3:30 p.m. at the Capitol’s North grand staircase.

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