Tybee Island City Council to vote on funding portion of Hwy 80 construction (Atlanta: cost of)

[Airforceguy]

It's sad that Tybee has to take things into their own hands to get a road project like widening U.S. 80 done. That's why I would support a TSPLOST for Chatham County. If your waiting on GDOT to get a project done, you have a better chance of winning the lotto. If it doesn't benefit Atlanta or the Ports, GDOT doesn't seem to care.

In November, the GDOT planning director told WTOC that safety is their number one priority. But GDOT has yet to fulfill an open records request and show where this project sits on their list of priorities.

But we do know there are a dozen other projects – benefitting the ports - that were pushed ahead and prioritized. Meanwhile, the Lazaretto Creek and Bull River bridges are sitting with failing scores of 41 and 61; and the road continues to be compromised by wrecks and high tides.
"In researching how other projects are fast-tracked, I've found that with the ports authority, with the county, with Effingham County and with others, this is not without precedence. There is a precedence for locals pitching in for federal and state projects to help move the ball down the field,” Buelterman said.

Tybee's resolution to spend the money to complete Phase 3 also urges GDOT to prioritize the completion of the project for the sake of the safety of all who travel to-and-from Tybee.

“There's no way that Tybee or the county could afford $112 million; that's not what we are doing at all. We are following precedence set by other authorities and governments where the locals pitch in a little bit of money so that the big pot of money for construction can be funded quicker than otherwise,” Buelterman said.

Tybee Island City Council to vote on funding portion of Hwy 80 c - WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports

[GA Survivor]

The cost of the project keeps it as a low priority. The cost benefit is extremely low when compared to other state projects. Like it or not, the ports drive a huge revenue source and it is the main reason we get anything. The Atlanta area is the core of the state and will continue to get the bulk of the funding.

[Airforceguy]

Considering the fact that U.S. 80 is the only route to and from Tybee, it should rank high because if there is a major storm and medical emergency and the bridge is congested or out, it could become life-threatening. Also, Savannah is the fastest growing area of the state outside of Atlanta, GDOT needs to show the area more attention besides the roads that lead to the port. That's why I favor TSPLOST because it allows counties and regions of the state to take their infrastructure needs into their own hands and not have to wait on GDOT.

[843904]

TSPLOST is bad news, period. The problem with it is, you fund all of these new road projects, but have NO funds remaining to maintain them. Think about how expensive it would be to simply maintain a newly expanded Tybee Road? And who will pick up the tab for THAT? Local taxpayers, that's who.

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by 843904

TSPLOST is bad news, period. The problem with it is, you fund all of these new road projects, but have NO funds remaining to maintain them. Think about how expensive it would be to simply maintain a newly expanded Tybee Road? And who will pick up the tab for THAT? Local taxpayers, that's who.

Not only the above, but the amount of dream projects put forth are stunning. Consider the 4 lane highway to Augusta which the federal government couldn't justify funding for.