Georgia DOT to get $2 billion for infrastructure (Atlanta, Savannah: construction, contractor)

[Caleb Longstreet]

Originally Posted by arjay57

GDOT has really gotten their back up about statements like this.

See the official statement they issued the other day.

Fact(?) Check

Fact(?) Check
FACT(?) CHECK is a service of the Georgia Department of Transportation - Office of Communications. Its purpose is to refute falsehoods and correct inaccuracies in news media coverage of the Department and also to provide factual information and proper perspective on DOT policies, programs and activities.

7/2/12: Talk Radio and the Georgia DOT
In advance of the July 31 vote on the Transportation Referendum, talk radio stations and various internet blogs have presented inaccurate, often malicious, criticisms of the Department of Transportation. The following is a response by Department Press Secretary David Spear.

The very First Amendment to the United States Constitution – a declaration of the people’s absolute, unwavering right to free speech remains perhaps the most brilliant and important decision of the very many brilliant and important decisions made by our Founding Fathers.

For 223 years, that inalterable guarantee has been sorely tested by discontent, disobedience, dissent, obscenity, insult, protest – even flag burning. But the freedom to speak one’s mind and criticize one’s government always endures, as it should. If 99 of 100 are offended by comments of the one, the whole still is better for the right of the one to voice their opinion.

That doesn’t mean though that the one is correct. Or that the 99 aren’t similarly entitled to express their rebuttal.

Never has that principle been more applicable than in today’s era of talk radio and social media where anyone with a telephone or email access can become a “commentator” on current events or anoint themselves the omniscient authority on any and all things. Indeed, much of today’s talk radio and the blogosphere have become veritable “fact free” zones – a place where thoughtful discourse goes to die. And lately, where the State Transportation Board and Georgia’s DOT routinely have been taken to task – sometimes deservedly so, but more often wrongly and without merit…

Never is it mentioned that the Board and the Department have built and maintained what is widely recognized as one of the finest transportation networks in the nation – one that has allowed Georgia to outpace almost all other states in growth and development while retaining its inherent beauty and charm.

Nor that Georgia DOT is ranked in an independent survey to be the Number One state transportation department in the country for delivering its projects within budget and Number Two for delivering them on time.

Nor that the Department – on its own initiative – has reduced its employee headcount by a third, almost 2,000 positions, in the last half-dozen years.

Nor that the Department has for decades had to operate with less per capita revenue than almost any other state DOT.

Those four statements are verifiable truths. You can look ‘em up, as the saying goes. In fact, you may have to; you certainly won’t hear them on talk radio. It’s hard to build an audience or rile up taxpayers by talking about a government agency that actually works well.

I am not particularly fearful, however. While Georgians embrace freedom of speech, they’re also quick to recognize these sorts of deliberate distortions, bellicose bullying and thoughtless tirades for what they really are – cheap theatrics.

Okay, here's s

[Caleb Longstreet]

Originally Posted by arjay57

GDOT has really gotten their back up about statements like this.

See the official statement they issued the other day.

Fact(?) Check

Fact(?) Check
FACT(?) CHECK is a service of the Georgia Department of Transportation - Office of Communications. Its purpose is to refute falsehoods and correct inaccuracies in news media coverage of the Department and also to provide factual information and proper perspective on DOT policies, programs and activities.

7/2/12: Talk Radio and the Georgia DOT
In advance of the July 31 vote on the Transportation Referendum, talk radio stations and various internet blogs have presented inaccurate, often malicious, criticisms of the Department of Transportation. The following is a response by Department Press Secretary David Spear.

The very First Amendment to the United States Constitution – a declaration of the people’s absolute, unwavering right to free speech remains perhaps the most brilliant and important decision of the very many brilliant and important decisions made by our Founding Fathers.

For 223 years, that inalterable guarantee has been sorely tested by discontent, disobedience, dissent, obscenity, insult, protest – even flag burning. But the freedom to speak one’s mind and criticize one’s government always endures, as it should. If 99 of 100 are offended by comments of the one, the whole still is better for the right of the one to voice their opinion.

That doesn’t mean though that the one is correct. Or that the 99 aren’t similarly entitled to express their rebuttal.

Never has that principle been more applicable than in today’s era of talk radio and social media where anyone with a telephone or email access can become a “commentator” on current events or anoint themselves the omniscient authority on any and all things. Indeed, much of today’s talk radio and the blogosphere have become veritable “fact free” zones – a place where thoughtful discourse goes to die. And lately, where the State Transportation Board and Georgia’s DOT routinely have been taken to task – sometimes deservedly so, but more often wrongly and without merit…

Never is it mentioned that the Board and the Department have built and maintained what is widely recognized as one of the finest transportation networks in the nation – one that has allowed Georgia to outpace almost all other states in growth and development while retaining its inherent beauty and charm.

Nor that Georgia DOT is ranked in an independent survey to be the Number One state transportation department in the country for delivering its projects within budget and Number Two for delivering them on time.

Nor that the Department – on its own initiative – has reduced its employee headcount by a third, almost 2,000 positions, in the last half-dozen years.

Nor that the Department has for decades had to operate with less per capita revenue than almost any other state DOT.

Those four statements are verifiable truths. You can look ‘em up, as the saying goes. In fact, you may have to; you certainly won’t hear them on talk radio. It’s hard to build an audience or rile up taxpayers by talking about a government agency that actually works well.

I am not particularly fearful, however. While Georgians embrace freedom of speech, they’re also quick to recognize these sorts of deliberate distortions, bellicose bullying and thoughtless tirades for what they really are – cheap theatrics.

Okay, simple theatrics. You show us, on an audited website, exactly who is getting the bids, what we are paying for aggregates, how much for the labor and with whom, how many consultants and their names and affiliations, full audit controls with the public, very punitive measures installed for graft, quarterly statements on expenditures and all costs accounted for

Hey, maybe a step in that direction will work. Skip the constitutional review as we seldom confuse efforts for results. Nah, we like to see real results and full accounting and go from there.

You up for it? I know we are...Afterall, you earn your stereotypes

[tikigod311]

To the DOTs defense, I have always been impressed with quality of roads in georgia. I know folks can come up with examples here and there, but spending time in other states, especially Texas and Tennessee, our roads are generally very smooth and fun as hell to drive on. Never realized what a luxury right hand turn lanes are until I lived in Houston.

[red92s]

$2B should be enough to fix 10th street once and for all!

[Jobworkinger]

Originally Posted by cqholt

They won't. I'm sure most will be spent in South GA.

What's wrong with giving money to those counties south of the Fall Line? If more Atlanta folks moved to Macon, Columbus, Augusta, and Savannah, maybe ya'll could be the solution to the ills of those metros. All it takes is an inflow of new to flush out the corrupt.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Caleb Longstreet

Okay, simple theatrics. You show us, on an audited website, exactly who is getting the bids, what we are paying for aggregates, how much for the labor and with whom, how many consultants and their names and affiliations, full audit controls with the public, very punitive measures installed for graft, quarterly statements on expenditures and all costs accounted for

Hey, maybe a step in that direction will work. Skip the constitutional review as we seldom confuse efforts for results. Nah, we like to see real results and full accounting and go from there.

You up for it? I know we are...Afterall, you earn your stereotypes

Oh, come on, Caleb, they've always had that information out there. Anybody who's been in the business can tell you from personal experience there's no slack.

Just go here for all the details.

GDOT-Office of Construction Bidding Administration

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by Jobworkinger

What's wrong with giving money to those counties south of the Fall Line?

Maybe because South Georgia has about 1/10th the population of Metro Atlanta? I'm not saying they shouldn't get anything, but 'ol Governor Pray for Rain made sure his buddies down south were paid.

Originally Posted by Jobworkinger

If more Atlanta folks moved to Macon, Columbus, Augusta, and Savannah, maybe ya'll could be the solution to the ills of those metros. All it takes is an inflow of new to flush out the corrupt.

I'll take a rain check...unless that offer came with a sweet townhouse somewhere in the Historic District of Savannah and bullet train back to Atlanta when I actually needed to do stuff.

[mattee01]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

To the DOTs defense, I have always been impressed with quality of roads in georgia. I know folks can come up with examples here and there, but spending time in other states, especially Texas and Tennessee, our roads are generally very smooth and fun as hell to drive on. Never realized what a luxury right hand turn lanes are until I lived in Houston.

Georgians really do take a lot of their roads for granted. Watch what happens on I-85 once you cross over into SC. Watch what happens to GA-28 once it becomes SC-28.

[southgeorgia]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Nor that Georgia DOT is ranked in an independent survey to be the Number One state transportation department in the country for delivering its projects within budget and Number Two for delivering them on time.

If you consider 4-5 years behind schedule as being "on-time", than i guess its indeed a fact. They've apparently forgotten the I75 fiasco of south georgia. Countless millions over-budget also as much of the work had to be redone.


Yall come down here and watch them replace the same traffic light three times in a year so they can be sure to burn their entire budget for the fiscal year; gotta keep themselves in debt to make sure the budget gets expanded.

[cqholt]

Never is it mentioned that the Board and the Department have built and maintained what is widely recognized as one of the finest transportation networks in the nation – one that has allowed Georgia to outpace almost all other states in growth and development while retaining its inherent beauty and charm.

Nor that Georgia DOT is ranked in an independent survey to be the Number One state transportation department in the country for delivering its projects within budget and Number Two for delivering them on time.

Georgia boast some of the best roads in america. GDOT can design a damn good freeway.

$2B should be enough to fix 10th street once and for all!

That is on the list of improvements for the TIA. So if you want 10th street improved, vote YES on July 31st.