House Bill 277 and its Impact on

the Georgia Mountains

Region

OverviewTransportation Investment Act of 2010

Regions can adopt 1% sales and use tax

Proceeds to be used for transportation:

Transit; Roads; Maintenance & Operation

Proceeds must be used within the region

Uses 12 Regional Commission boundaries

Counties may not switch regions or opt out

Georgia Mountains Region (Region 2)

13 Counties; 38 Municipalities

Overview

GMRC 13 County Region

OverviewAdvisory Bodies for Each Region:

1)Regional Transportation Roundtable

•Two representatives from each co.• County Chairmen or Sole

Commissioner• One Mayor from each County

Overview2) Executive Committee

• 5 members from Roundtable• 2 State Representatives & 1 State Senator

Appointed by House & Senate Transportation Committee Chairmen as non-voting members

3) 5 Member Citizens Review Panel• 3 District Citizens Appointed by House

Speaker• 2 District Citizens Appointed by Lieutenant

Governor

The Planning Process

Stage One (Current Stage):

6/02/10: Legislation Signed by Governor

8/03/10: GDOT provided local governments and MPO’s with draft project assessment criteria

9/30/10: Last day for local governments and MPO’s to submit comments on criteria

11/10/10: Confirmation of mayoral representatives

The Planning ProcessStage One (Continued):

After 11/15/10: GDOT submits final assessment criteria Calls first meeting of Roundtables

Meeting agenda: Amendment and approval of assessment

criteriaElect members for Executive Committee

The Planning Process Stage Two (Investment List):

Before August 15, 2011 Local Governments & MPOs submit requests for investment list to GDOT

After August 15, 2011 List refined by GDOT and Executive Committee

Second meeting of Roundtable, discussion of draft investment list

The Planning ProcessStage Three (Referendum):

July 2012 Regions with an approved project list vote on the 1% sales and use tax Referendum must be approved by a majority of the voters Tax only levied in regions where the referendum passes

Collection of funds can begin first day of new calendar quarter, following an 80 day intervening period (early 2013)

Impacts on the Georgia Mountains

Region1) If Roundtable does not approve an investment list:

24 months before investment list can be re-

introducedLocal government match to receive

local GDOT funds* = 50%

*Local Maintenance Improvement Grants replaces LARP & State Aid

Impacts on the Georgia Mountains

Region2) If Roundtable approves an investment list, but voters do not pass the sales tax:

24 months before investment list can be re-

introducedLocal government match to receive

local GDOT funds* = 30%

*Local Maintenance Improvement Grants replaces LARP & State Aid

Impacts on the Georgia Mountains

Region3) If Roundtable approves an investment list and voters pass the sales tax:

Local government match to receive local

GDOT funds* = 10%

*Local Maintenance Improvement Grants replaces LARP & State Aid

Impacts on the Georgia Mountains

RegionGMRC Counties Voter Pop. Voter Pop. % Banks 8,266 2.7 % Dawson 12,738 4.2 % Forsyth 93,674 30.7 % Franklin 10,601 3.5 % Habersham 18,730 6.1 % Hall 77,864 25.5 % Hart 12,494 4.1 % Lumpkin 14,488 4.7 % Rabuns 9,176 3.0 % Stephens 13,465 4.4 % Towns 7,246 2.4 % Union 13,080 4.3 % White 13,514 4.4 %

Impacts on the Georgia Mountains Region

Investment List AllocationsProgram Areas Target Ranges

Roadway Capital 50-70% Safety 15-30% Traffic Operations 0-20% Freight & Logistics 2-10% Transit Capital 0-10% Transit O&M 0-10% Bicycle/ Pedestrian 0-5% Aviation 0-5% Road & Bridge Maintenance 0-5%

Draft Project CriteriaInvestment List Allocations

Program Areas Target Ranges Roadway Capital 50-70% Safety 15-30% Traffic Operations 0-20% Freight & Logistics 2-10% Transit Capital 0-10% Transit O&M 0-10% Bicycle/ Pedestrian 0-5% Aviation 0-5% Road & Bridge Maintenance 0-5%

Collecting the FundsProjected Sales Tax Revenues: Using 2009 Figures

District Revenue (In Millions of $)

Revenue per Capita

Growth in Revenue (2002-2007)

NWGRC $118.9 $141 38.8%GMRC $89.7 $145 45.3%ARC $727.8 $169 25.7%

TRRC $70.2 $143 37.6%NEGRC $72.8 $125 47.3%MGRC $78.2 $163 27.8%

CSRARC $69.2 $157 30.0%RVRC $53.8 $149 31.1%

HoGRC $36.5 $124 32.5%SWGRC $48.5 $132 26.9%SGRC $56.6 $143 34.4%CRC $117.5 $184 49.5%Total $1,539.7 $157 31.7%

2009 Revenue from a 1% Sales Tax (Data from Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies)

Collecting the FundsRegional Sales Tax Forecast- Minus Special Exemptions

(In Millions of $)

District 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

GMRC $88.6 $94.3 $100.5 $106.8 $113.5 $120.2 $127.1 $134.6 $142.4 $150.5 $159.0

Total $1.4B $1.5B $1.6B $1.7B $1.8B $1.9B $1.9B $2.0B $2.1B $2.2B $2.3B

Using the Funds100% of the funds stay within the region

25% of the total given to each jurisdiction Based on modified LARP formula (4/5 lane miles, 1/5 pop.) Can be used for discretionary local transportation projects

Can be used as match for other state funds

May be used for a 20 yr reserve for transit maintenance & operations

QUESTIONS? Danny Lewis Executive Director, GMRC dlewis@gmrc.ga.gov (770) 538-2626

Stephanie Harmon Adam Hazell Regional Planner, GMRC Planning Director, GMRC sharmon@gmrc.ga.govahazell@gmrc.ga.gov 770.538.2619 770.538.2617

Draft Project Criteria

Investing in Tomorrow’s Transportation Today (IT3)State of GA’s business plan for transportation

investment

Four Goals (Recently Approved in the Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan):

1) Support Georgia’s Economic Growth & Competitiveness

2) Ensure Safety and Security3) Maximize value of Georgia’s Transportation

Assets4) Minimize Impact of Transportation on the

Environment

Separate Criteria for Special Tax Districts Inside and Outside the Atlanta Region

Draft Project CriteriaDraft Criteria Same for all 11 Districts Outside Atlanta Region

• Some Variation Expected Between Districts as Process Continues

Outcomes• Strategic use of funds to achieve best value for tax

dollars & improvement of the region’s transportation network

• Transportation projects delivered on time & budget

• Public support of projects funded by sales tax & public trust that state & local government will deliver on promises

Draft Project CriteriaGuiding Principles

• Investment list developed with focus on deliverability

• Projects are from existing plans &/or studies• GDOT work program• MPO long range plan & short range

program• County transportation study

• Investment list consistent with policies of the Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan (& MPO’s plan if applicable)

• Investment list encourages effective multimodal solutions appealing to a broad spectrum of the region’s population

Draft Project CriteriaInvestment List Allocations

Program Areas Target Ranges Roadway Capital 50-70% Safety 15-30% Traffic Operations 0-20% Freight & Logistics 2-10% Transit Capital 0-10% Transit O&M 0-10% Bicycle/ Pedestrian 0-5% Aviation 0-5% Road & Bridge Maintenance 0-5%

Collecting the Funds1% sales and use tax on all purchased goods within the region

Exemptions: • Fuel

• Jet• Off-Road for Heavy Duty, Farm or

Agricultural Equipment• Locomotive• Public Mass Transit

• The Sale or Use of Energy Used in Manufacturing or

Processing Tangible Goods• Building and Construction Materials (Used for

Contract Jobs)

Only levied on the first $5,000 of any transaction involving the sale or lease of a motor vehicle

Draft Project CriteriaRoadway Capital•Serve trips to/from regional employment & activity centers

•Widenings, Interchanges, Interstate Improvements, Economic Development Corridors

•Emphasis on Construction

•Tier system to reflect level of certainty in deliverability

• Tier One- Construction can begin within 6 yrs• Tier Two- Approved concept report• Tier Three- Recommended by Legislators,

Local Governments &/or MPO

Draft Project CriteriaSafety•Align with key areas of Governor’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)

•Priority to projects that correct or improve road location, high potential for safety improvement, or address specific safety deficiency

•Objective is to reduce fatalities & serious injuries

•Examples- Intersection improvements, shoulder widening, bicycle/pedestrian safety improvements, rail-roadway crossing hazards, traffic calming, guardrails, signage, pavement markings, traffic signals

Draft Project CriteriaTraffic Operations•Improve or enhance the region’s:

Intelligent Transportation System NetworkIncident Management ProgramSignal Coordination & Timing

•Address an existing operational issue resulting in an improved level of service or reduction in delay or other congestion costs

Freight & Logistics•Address the demand for goods movement as identified in the Statewide Freight & Logistics Study

•Projects enhancing the flow of freight transported by trucks &/or rail or facilitate the transfer of freight between modes

Draft Project CriteriaTransit Capital•Projects should have shown considerable progress to assure deliverability in 10 years

•Emphasis on construction phase or acquisition of capital equipment

•Service should ultimately connect to employment or activity centers & provide increased mobility for individuals

•Capital expenditures may include new, systematic replacement, upgrades, refurbishment

Draft Project CriteriaTransit Operation & Maintenance•Funding must first serve to enhance existing local or regional transit systems in operation as of January 1, 2011

•Funding can be allocated to new transit projects once existing systems are brought up to state of good repair

Non-Motorized•Project must be identified in a Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan

•Provide connectivity to regional employment or activity center

•Provide connection to existing or planned transit, including bus stops & multimodal centers

•Pursue off-roadway paths/streetscapes, etc. using the 25% discretionary share

Draft Project CriteriaAviation•Projects should be consistent with the goals & objectives of Georgia’s Statewide Aviation System Plan

•Projects at new or existing non-commercial service airports contained in the airport’s 5 year Airport Capital Improvement Program (Runways, Taxiways, Aprons, & Navigational Aids)

Roadway & Bridge Maintenance•Priority to resurfacing/rehabilitation of state routes or equally important routes (routes that connect regional employment centers)

•Priority based on PACES & bridge ratings provided by GDOT

•Pursue off-system resurfacing using the 25% discretionary share