The Georgia Road Geek - Blogsite

I-75/575 HOT Lane Plans Revived

2012-02-04T01:50:17Z

It's baaaaaaack.

That's right, dear readers. The plan to build high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on I-75 and I-575 in Cobb and Cherokee Counties is back.

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and several legislators have proposed that the state provide an additional $300,000,000 in taxpayer funds that otherwise would have been provided through a public-private partnership (P3).

The estimated costs of these new HOT lanes is approximately $870,000,000, which would come from the following sources...

Motor Fuel Taxes: $500,000,000 (was $200,000,000 under the P3 plan)
Loan From Federal Government: $270,000,000
Bonds: $100,000,000

The Georgia DOT (GDOT), however, would still have to approve this latest incarnation.

Unlike the I-85 HOT lanes, these would be brand new reversible lanes built alongside the existing Interstates. However, given that these lanes would be paid for primarily using our tax dollars, I would much rather see these lanes being built as high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes instead of so-called "Lexus lanes" that would essentially make them "rich people's" lanes for solo drivers.

If said lanes are truly about congestion reduction, it would be much wiser IMHO to make them "HOV-2" (one driver, plus one or more passengers) that would allow carpools, buses (e.g. GRTA Xpress), motorcycles, emergency vehicles, and alternative-fueled vehicles (e.g. natural gas-powered cars).

So far, there's no mention of the Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA), but it's a sure-fire bet that their hands would definitely be involved in this whole deal as the state's tolling agency... and as SRTA has already shown us with GA 400 and the I-85 HOT lanes, they looooove to take our hard-earned money and give us the shaft.

If anyone at GDOT is reading this blog, then I urge you to listen to Georgia's drivers and reject this project altogether. All drivers, regardless of income level, race, creed, color, etc., deserve an equal opportunity to use Georgia's highways and making people pay to use lanes that their tax dollars already paid for amounts to "double taxation".

Governor Deal and GDOT, I thank you very much for rejecting the prior I-75/I-575 P3 proposal. Please, however, go one step further and reject the toll option altogether.

If you, dear Georgia readers, wish to contact GDOT and urge them to put the brakes on HOT lanes altogether, then please click here.

Please also let your elected officials in the Georgia General Assembly know as well. To find your State Senator and/or Representative, please click here.

Bottom line is this... HOT lanes are a bad idea. They really don't help congestion and are a colossal waste of taxpayer money. However, we, the people can work together to throw cold water on the HOT lanes and assure that any and all transportation plans can be tailored to benefit all Georgians. If anyone wants to build a toll road, then they are more than welcome to pay for it themselves (raise capital, purchase right-of-way, design, build, and maintain), market it to drivers, and assume the responsibility for their private road just like you would if you opened your own business.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading and please come back often.

SOURCE: "Plan Would Fund I-75/I-575 Toll Project", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 2, 2012

Our New England Adventure

2012-01-28T19:43:57Z

A week-and-a-half ago, Mary and I traveled to the New England area to see my little brother Chris assume command of the USS Springfield in a formal ceremony at the U.S. Submarine Base in Groton/New London, Connecticut.

My brother, Commander Chris Williams, and I in Connecticut
(Photo By Mary Williams)

The Williams Family at the Naval Submarine Library and Museum in Groton, CT.
(Photo By Amy Rossetti)

During our brief stay in Connecticut, we also found some time to do a little touring around Groton, New London, and Mystic, plus a jaunt up to the Mohegan Sun Casino to celebrate Chris's new assignment over dinner at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.

Given our time constraints, Mary and I decided to fly Delta from Atlanta to Boston and then rent a car to drive down to Groton, approximately 100 miles (160 km) south of Boston just off I-95 near the Rhode Island state line.

Roadgeek-wise, I got to drive through part of Boston's famous "Big Dig", the Ted Williams Tunnel (I-90/Massachusetts Turnpike), which was a $3.50 toll for drivers heading into Boston from Logan International Airport.

Speaking of the toll, the vehicle in front of us was stopped at the plaza for at least 5 minutes, causing traffic to queue up. After he finally pulled off and it was my turn to pay the toll, the "Mass Pike" collector explained to me that the guy was German and apparently did not realize that this was a toll road, so she waved him through. I remarked that though I was from Georgia, I knew there was a toll. We didn't exactly have a long chat, since I didn't want to hold up traffic any longer, but I thought it was kinda funny. Hopefully, the poor guy got off the "Mass Pike" before he got to another plaza, which may not have been quite as charitable to him as the nice lady at the Ted Williams plaza.

On our way to Groton, I got to drive the southernmost 16 miles (26 km) of I-93 and the southernmost 12 miles (19 km) of I-95 in Massachusetts, and "clinch" all 43.5 miles (70 km) of I-95 in Rhode Island. I also "clinched" 3 Massachusetts counties (Bristol, Norfolk, and Suffolk), 3 Rhode Island counties (Kent, Providence, and Washington), and one (1) Connecticut county (New London).

During our 3-day stay in Connecticut, I drove a total of 24 miles (38 km) of I-95, plus drive the southernmost 9.5 miles (15 km) of I-395.

In Connecticut, I noticed a lot of "button-copy" signage and how several of the signs showed "outlined" route markers. Connecticut also likes to put the exit tabs in the center, as opposed to on the right (or left for left-hand exits) as per MUTCD standards. Here's a photo I took of one of the overhead gantries on I-95 southbound near Groton...

Like Georgia did until 2000, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island number their exits sequentially instead of by milepost.

For those of you who are fans of state names within Interstate shields, Connecticut is your place, since most of their signpost-mounted Interstate shields are of that "old-school" type (similar to how Georgia does it). Here's one of them (with "yours truly") near the Old Mistick Village...

Above photo taken by Mary Williams.

On I-395 southbound, just south of the Mohegan Sun Casino, I noticed a rest area with a Mobil gas station. Since non-tolled Interstates do not normally allow commercial businesses in rest areas, it is apparently a holdout from when I-395 was part of the pre-1985 Connecticut Turnpike toll road (now known as the Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike).

Last Saturday, I drove back to Boston from Groton... in 100 miles of snowy highways.

Before we could leave, I had to dig the car out of snow before leaving our hotel in Mystic...

Above photo taken by Mary Williams.

After digging out the car and hitting the snowy, slippery road to Boston, Mary took several more photos along our journey.

Here's how I-95 northbound looked in Connecticut...

I-95 in Rhode Island wasn't much different as shown below...

As we approached I-93 in Massachusetts, the plows were in force and the roads were a lot clearer as shown in the final "winter road" photo below...

In Massachusetts, we noticed that several of the plows working along the roads were private contractors. Perhaps GDOT could take note next time we get another "snowmageddon".

By the time we arrived at our hotel in Boston after being on the road for at least 4 hours, I was not exactly smiling as I was in the photo where I was digging out the car. In fact, it was one of those rare moments where I was just freakin' sick and tired of driving. This was the longest I have ever driven in crappy winter weather. BTW, I think I've changed my mind on pursuing a career in ice road trucking.

The next morning, it was bright, sunny, and I-93 and I-90 were nice and clear of snow and ice on our way to Logan Airport to drop off the rental car and catch our flight back to Atlanta... and milder weather.

Overall, we had a nice experience in New England, got to see my brother (and even tour his boat), see some sights, drive more Interstates, and "clinch" more counties. Next time, I'd like to visit the area in the warmer months and drive the rest of Boston's "Big Dig".

That's it for now. Thanks for reading, enjoy the rest of your weekend, and please come back often.

GA 400 Breakdown Lane Could Become Travel Lane

2012-01-14T23:52:54Z

Hi, Y'all!

Hope your new year has gotten off to a good start and that all is well with you and yours.

Here are GRG HQ, I haven't been blogging as much as I had been over the last 6 years, and since it's been at least a month since I've written a blog, I figured it was time to get off my butt and do so.

In most recent Georgia road news, Governor Nathan Deal is proposing that a section of breakdown lane on US 19/GA 400 from the North Springs MARTA Station (Exit 5C) to Holcomb Bridge Road/GA 140 (Exit 7) be converted to a regular travel lane during rush hour.

Right now, the breakdown lane in question already serves as an auxiliary bus travel lane for MARTA and GRTA Xpress buses to use when traffic is going slower than 35 MPH (60 km/h). Otherwise, it is designed strictly for vehicles that need to get off the road due to accidents or breakdowns and for emergency vehicles to use when they are rushing to a scene.

On the surface, it seems like a good idea (and it least it doesn't involve tolls), but what about emergency vehicles that need to get to a scene (e.g. traffic accident)? If traffic on 400 is slammed (and boy, it can get slammed), then response times could seriously be affected. Depending on the extent of injuries, mere seconds could be the difference between life and death. Furthermore, how are you going to route traffic around accidents that cannot move off the road? The variable message signs can warn drivers at certain points to avoid the congested section in question, but for those who have unfortunately been caught up the mess by no fault of their own, it could be a potential logistical nightmare.

GDOT estimates the cost of converting the total of 11.5 miles (18.4 km) of existing lanes in question at US$1,000,000, versus US$3,000,000/mile (US$1,875,000/km). Frankly, I would prefer that the lanes be converted with new breakdown lanes added. Granted it would cost much more to add new lanes, but as a taxpayer, I would much rather see my tax dollars spent on doing the job properly.

As an additional alternative, perhaps GDOT could consider building at least a couple of shorter stretches of emergency lane to the right of the lanes for the purposes of mitigating any bottleneck potential. Said lanes could be built using asphalt instead of concrete to save some money. Just a thought.

What are your thoughts on this idea? Please feel free to post them in the comments section.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading, please visit (and "like") the GRG Facebook page, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

SOURCE: "Governor's GA 400 Plan Sparks Alarm", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 14, 2012.

I-75/575 HOT Lane Plans Stopped

2011-12-17T17:22:04Z

To those of us who aren't too happy with GDOT/SRTA "Lexus Lanes", it seems that Santa Claus came a little bit early this week, as the plans for High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes on I-75 and I-575 in Cobb and Cherokee Counties were stopped... at least for now.

Could it be that thousands of Georgia's drivers, including "yours truly", aren't too tickled about HOT lanes and that our elected officials are (perhaps) finally getting the picture? I'm not so sure, but our friend Chris Haley at "Stolen Lanes" tends to think so... and I like his assessment. Please click here to see his interview on CBS Atlanta 46.

On the south side of Metro Atlanta, there are similar plans for I-75 in Clayton and Henry Counties. Hopefully, these will suffer the same fate as their northern counterparts, but we shall see.

For now, I'm thankful for the fact that we aren't going to see any more "Lexus Lanes" here in Georgia anytime soon. Yes, traffic in Metro Atlanta sucks, but we need solutions that will be beneficial to all drivers, regardless of income, race, color, etc.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading, please visit (and "like") our Facebook page, and please subscribe to our Twitter page.

... and may you and yours have a very happy and safe holiday season!!!

Jammin' Down I-20 To Covington!

2011-11-27T02:30:45Z

Yesterday, as Mary and I were daytrippin' down I-20 to The Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle, Georgia, I shot some video for my latest "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!".

I didn't quite film it to Social Circle, but I got darn near close.

After several hours of editing work and "burning the midnight oil" at Georgia Road Geek Studios, here's the finished product...

Hope you enjoy the video, thanks in advance for watching, and please come back soon.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-25T01:21:09Z

Please click here for a special recorded Thanksgiving message.

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Which GA Highway Was Named For a "Poppy Lady"?

2011-11-11T17:54:07Z

Today, let us pause for a moment to remember those who serve, have served, and have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

At the end of World War I in 1918, Moina Michael, a native of Good Hope, Georgia, located in Walton County between Monroe and Athens, became an advocate for disabled veterans and decided to sell poppies to raise funds for assisting them. As a result, Ms. Michael was known as "The Poppy Lady" and the poppy became a lasting symbol for honoring veterans. To read more about Ms. Michael, please click here.

Ms. Michael died in 1944 and was buried in the Walton County seat of Monroe, Georgia. Please click here to see her grave.

In 1969, the Georgia General Assembly designated the 25-mile (40 km) stretch of US 78/GA 10 between Monroe and Athens as the "Moina Michael Highway".

Whenever you travel this particular stretch of highway, please think about Ms. Michael and how she unselfishly served those who served our nation. You and I may not be a "Moina Michael", but the least we can do is thank those family members, friends, and co-workers who have served, or continue to serve, our great nation in the active, National Guard, and reserve components of the U.S. military.

That's it for now. Thanks again to all our veterans and those currently serving our great nation and have a great day!

SRTA and GDOT, What Are You Afraid Of?

2011-11-11T00:58:17Z

Today, Chris Haley of "Stop Peach Pass" sent me an e-mail to announce the formation of "Stolen Lanes" (stolenlanes.org), an alliance of Chris with Victor Ramkissoon ("Against The Georgia Peach Pass") and Howard Rodgers of "Stop The HOT Lane!").

Next Thursday (November 17th) at 7:00 PM in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville, the group will host a town hall meeting to discuss the I-85 HOT lane issue. (Please see the "Stolen Lanes" website for more info.)

On behalf of the "Stolen Lanes" coalition, Chris has extended an offer to both the Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) and the Georgia DOT to discuss this matter in a moderated environment, but both groups have declined as of the writing of this blog.

I applaud the efforts of the coalition in their efforts and have to wonder what both SRTA and GDOT (especially SRTA) are afraid of.

SRTA, if you are so adamant that the HOT lanes are a great thing for Georgia, then why shy away? Seems to me that it is implying that the HOT lanes are simply a money-making deal that amounts to little more than socioeconomic discrimination, hence the term "Lexus Lane".

If SRTA and GDOT truly care about the people of Georgia, then they would send representatives to hear the concerns of the people and work with them to come up with some kind of solution. Chris has extended an "olive branch" to you, thus I, as a taxpaying citizen of Georgia, urge you to accept it and take advantage of this "face-to-face" opportunity.

Finally, I urge all my readers to support the "Stolen Lanes" coalition and help put a stop to the HOT lanes. Traffic solutions should be tailored to helping all Georgians, and charging to travel in "Lexus Lanes" is definitely not the solution.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading and please come back often.

P.S. "Stolen Lanes", I would also ask SRTA what constitutes a "special case" for raising toll rates above the 90-cent-per-mile maximum.

SRTA, What Is A "Special Case"?

2011-11-06T02:23:59Z

This week, the Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) issued its 100,000th Peach Pass for the controversial I-85 HOT lanes.

Toll rates for those who use these HOT lanes can range from 10 to 90 cents per mile (6.25 to 56.25 cents per kilometer). However, SRTA can raise the maximum toll rate above the 90-cent level in "special cases".

So what constitutes a "special case"? The SRTA Peach Pass site doesn't list what special cases are. If any of our dear friends at SRTA could give us a little more detail (which I doubt they would), then that would be great, mmkay? (With apologies to Bill Lumbergh.)

Here's how I see it...

SRTA is sorta like your "friendly-neighborhood" crack cocaine salesman. You get a nice sample of said salesman's wares for little or nothing. As soon as you get hooked on said substance, said salesman has got you as a customer and can start charging you more-and-more. Said salesman may determine that the current price increase is due to a "special case", which, of course, means you have to shell out even more money.

Right now, if you're one of the first 300,000 new Peach Pass customers for the I-85 HOT lanes, you get your pass free. Doesn't seem like a bad deal, huh? Well, since SRTA has you "hooked" on their product (e.g. Peach Pass), nothing theoretically stops them from charging you more-and-more, up to (and including) the so-called "special case" rate, whatever that may be. Oh... and did I mention that the HOT lanes (former free HOV-2 lanes) and the Peach Pass tolling system were paid for by our tax dollars? Each time a Peach Pass driver with fewer than 3 people in their vehicle (including driver) uses the HOT lanes, said driver is paying even more of their hard-earned money to pay for this proverbial real estate (lanes and tolling system equipment) over-and-over-and-over.

SRTA did one great job, however, in constantly congratulating themselves over this whole HOT lane mess. Since no one else I know of (including "yours truly") is exactly celebrating, I guess Gena and her SRTA minions have no other choice, do they?

For now, I'll step down from my "soapbox". In the meantime, I encourage all my fellow anti-HOT lane compatriots to keep on fighting the good fight.

Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour tonight before going to bed, thanks for reading, and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

SOURCE: "100,000th Peach Pass issued for controversial HOT lanes", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 3, 2011.

GA 316 Upgrade Contract Awarded

2011-10-22T01:51:16Z

Yesterday (Thursday), the Georgia DOT announced that as part of "RoadWorks2011", G.P.'s Enterprises, Inc., of Auburn, Georgia, has been awarded a $37,000,000 contract to upgrade about 2.2 miles (3.6 km) of Georgia 316 (a.k.a. "University Parkway") from the Georgia 120 interchange to Collins Hill Road and Georgia 20/124 (a.k.a. "Buford Drive") in Lawrenceville to a limited-access highway (GDOT Project ID 0004086).

Since Collins Hill Road and Buford Drive are spaced so close together, there will be a "collector-distributor" (C/D) ramp system to separate traffic going to (and coming from) both roads from mainline 316 through traffic, similar to the C/D setup GDOT built on I-85 from Pleasant Hill Road to GA 316, Sugarloaf Parkway, and GA 120.

The project will also include High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on 316 from I-85 to Hi-Hope Road, just east of GA 20/124. Hopefully, given the controversy over the new I-85 HOT lanes, they will be "HOV-2" (2 persons per vehicle, including driver) and no tolls will be charged... but I'll believe it when I see it.

As early as at least the 1960s, the plan was to have an Atlanta-to-Athens Interstate-style freeway, but only the first 5 miles (9 km) of 316 was built as a freeway. In 1981, the segment from GA 120 to US 29/GA 8 (Winder Highway) was opened, and the final segments between Winder Highway and the Athens Perimeter (GA 10 Loop/422) in Oconee County were fully completed and open to traffic in 1995. With the exception of the interchange with US 78/GA 10, the highway was built as an "at-grade" surface road and subsequently riddled with traffic lights... especially in Gwinnett County.

IMHO, GDOT had the opportunity and the means (including funding, which is now not as plentiful as it used to be due to more fuel efficient vehicles) to "go the distance" and build 316 as a full-blown Interstate-style limited-access highway. Thanks to the shortsightedness of those who planned 316's extension over the last 30 years, we now have what I consider to be a sub-standard (and hazardous, in parts) highway that will require even more of our tax dollars to upgrade.

If you are on Facebook, and feel that 316 should be upgraded to a freeway, then please "like" Jefferson Taffet's page "Turn GA 316 Into A Limited Access Highway Without Tolls". I have "liked" it and hope you will as well.

For now, I am looking forward to the completion of the Collins Hill/Buford Road section being upgraded (estimated completion date: December 31, 2014), and hope that in my lifetime, I'll see the rest of 316 upgraded accordingly.

And finally, please click on the photo below for a very special message from "Mr. T"...

That's it for now. Thanks for reading, please "like" us on Facebook, and please come back often... or I might have to send "Mr. T" after you.

SOURCE: "GA DOT Authorizes $37 Million Project On GA 316 In Lawrenceville", Georgia Department of Transportation, October 20, 2011

I-85 HOT Lanes Backfire On SRTA

2011-10-08T13:48:26Z

Starting Monday, the fur really began to fly when I-85 congestion increased and drivers began to realize that the I-85 High-Occupancy Toll lanes were a "boondoggle" that would do nothing to relieve congestion.

Atlanta television stations set up cameras and shot plenty of video of empty HOT lanes alongside crowded "regular" lanes along this heavily traveled Interstate highway. Here is one of the segments from WSB-TV...

According to an article in Tollroads News, the I-85 HOT lanes "is by far the wildest start to any of the toll/HOT/managed/express lanes projects in the US so far" in comparison to HOT lanes implemented in other parts of the U.S.

Gena Evans, Ph.D., executive director of the Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority, responded to the outcry by saying, “Just add another person to your car pool,”. Reminds me of the time when Marie Antionette said that poor French peasants should just "eat cake".

Several Facebook users have created anti-Peach Pass/HOT Lane protest pages, including, but not limited to...

- Against The Georgia Peach Pass
- Boycott the HOT Lanes
- Stop Peach Pass

Governor Nathan Deal responded to the protest by ordering the HOT lane toll rates lowered and they were lowered from maximum of $5.50 for traveling all 16 miles (26 km) in the lanes to $3.05, a 44.5% decrease.

Since the lanes were federally funded with a stipulation that the lanes would be "HOV-3" instead of the "HOV-2" that they were as "free" lanes, Deal pledged to ask the Federal government for a "waiver" to allow "HOV-2" drivers to use the lanes free. Such a request, however, would likely be opposed by Federal officials, since it "could run afoul of a legal requirement that the HOT lanes flow at 45 mph (70 km/h) or better".

While I applaud Governor Deal for at least addressing our concerns, as opposed to Evans's "let them eat cake" response, I still believe that this $60,000,000 "boondoggle" needs to be squashed and that the lanes need to be restored to their prior status (free HOV-2).

If you wish to see the comments that several readers offered on my blog alone, please click here.

In the meantime, besides the plethora of anti-Peach Pass/HOT Facebook pages, you can also post your displeasure on the SRTA Facebook page as well. SRTA may delete your comments, but nonetheless, it's a great way to "rattle their cage", as my dad would say. Heck, you're welcome to post on (and "like") our own Facebook page, where we will not "censor" you solely on the grounds that you think the I-85 HOT lanes suck... and we think they do!!!

Well, folks, that's it for now. We at "The Georgia Road Geek" always appreciate your visits and comments and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in this fight against the I-85 HOT lanes. Have a great weekend and God bless you and yours.

SOURCES:
- "GA/I-85 Express Lanes' wild start - tolls too high, lanes near empty, Governor steps in", Tollroads News, October 8, 2011
- "State looking at HOT lane changes; drivers fight back", WSB-TV, October 5, 2011
- "Deal lowers tolls on I-85 HOT lanes", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 6, 2011

I-85 HOT Lanes Open

2011-10-01T22:37:04Z

They're heeeerrrrre.

I've spoken my peace. That is all.

I-85 HOT Lanes May Make Traffic Worse

2011-09-23T16:24:26Z

Next week, the I-85 High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes in DeKalb and Gwinnett Counties will be opened... and they may not really help alleviate congestion.

According to a traffic and revenue study conducted on behalf of the State of Georgia by Jacobs Engineering shows that "the regular lanes are expected to gain up to 90 new vehicles per lane, per hour during rush hour, and at one location 120, making for traffic volumes of about 1,200 to 1,500 cars per hour in each lane" but "drivers won't notice"... okaaaaaayyyyyy.

What this seems to tell me is that a US$60,000,000 project to convert a section of I-85's existing High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to HOT lanes is potentially a waste of our taxpayer dollars spent on tolling lanes that we, the taxpayers, already paid for in the first place. Smooth move, State Road And Tollway Authority (SRTA).

These so-called "Lexus lanes" will be tolled at rates varying from 10 to 90 cents per mile ($0.06/km to $0.56/km). The greater the congestion in the regular travel lanes, the higher the toll rate. Given that fact, it seems that perhaps our dear friends at SRTA would probably like to see regular I-85 traffic get worse so that they can make more and more money from those solo and less-than-3-person drivers who choose to use the HOT lanes.

Furthermore, given that the HOT lanes are the leftmost lanes on the freeway, one would have to cut across multiple lanes of traffic to exit the freeway (except for I-85 northbound to GA 316, where there is an existing left-hand HOV exit). Have you ever encountered someone cutting in front of you across multiple lanes at once so that they can exit the freeway? It can be a scary sight and have you thanking God that it didn't result in a major pile-up (which you could've easily been a part of).

So, dear readers, do you really think that the I-85 HOT Lanes are going to provide a decent ROI (return on investment)? From what I am reading, I don't think so. The idea that lanes we paid for are being converted to toll... especially for "Lexus lanes"... is ludicrous, and I will not waste my money traveling in these lanes.

Now that I've spoken my peace, what do you, dear reader, think? Please feel free to post your thoughts on the comments section.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading and please come back often.

SOURCE: "I-85 Toll Project To Add To Traffic Jams In Regular Lanes", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 23, 2011

Radios, Rest Areas, and ROADS!!!

2011-09-10T15:32:33Z

Are you a licensed amateur ("ham") radio operator?

Are you a "roadgeek" or otherwise a roadtrip aficionado?

Do you have an appreciation and/or admiration for rest areas?

If you answered "Yes" to all of the above, then there's an organization that would likely be right up your alley... the Interstate Highway Rest Area Society (IHRAS)!!!

According to their official websi te, IHRAS "was started to promote mobile HF radio operations across the country" and offers ham radio operators the opportunity to operate a ham radio station at a rest area (cautioning that one should check state laws before doing so) or making contact with such a station via 2-way ham radio contact.

"Hams" can even earn awards for either operating their radios at rest areas or making radio contacts with other "hams". (See IHRAS website for rules and details.)

Some of my "ham" friends here in the Atlanta area have commented (in jest, of course) that you could get a "Worked All Crappers" award and that such an award would be one "s**tty certificate".

Seriously, I would really like to use this as an excuse to "roadtrip" and combine my love of radios, rest areas, and ROADS!!! It even has the potential to promote ham radio to the general public and work as a disaster preparedness exercise and encourage as many fellow "hams" and amateur radio clubs/organizations/societies to consider doing so. If you do have such plans to operate your ham station from a rest area, then please let me know by e-mailing steve at georgiaroadgeek dot com.

Speaking of disasters, tomorrow (September 11, 2011) will mark the tenth anniversary of the worst terrorist attack ever perpetrated on American soil. Thousands of innocent civilians, military, and public safety personnel needlessly lost their lives as a result of Al Qaeda's cowardly act, and I urge you to join me in remembering those people and the families that they left behind. While you're at it, never, ever take for granted your family and friends. I love them all and urge you to let yours know that you love them as well. The victims' families and friends will never be able to see or hear from them again, and you never know when (or how) you may leave this world. Please keep them all in your daily thoughts and prayers.

That's it for now. Whether you are a family member, friend, or a GRG reader, I appreciate you and pledge to never, ever take you for granted. Without you, I would not have an audience for my blog, videos, or the podcasts I've done in the past. Thanks for coming by and God bless you, yours, and America!!!

P.S. To learn more about amateur "ham" radio and how you can join in on the fun, visit the American Radio Relay League's official website at www.arrl.org.

My New Piece Of Roadgeek History

2011-08-13T02:22:25Z

Over the past few weeks, I've been so preoccupied with other things that I haven't been doing my blogs as often as I normally like to do. Hopefully, I can start cranking them out again like I had been for most of the past 6 years.

This week, I got an e-mail from a ham radio friend, George, who happened to have a piece of "roadgeek history" that he thought I'd be interested in... the I-75 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony program from 1977.

This ceremony, held on December 21, 1977, marked the completion of I-75 along its original planned route from Tampa, Florida, to the Canadian border at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. I-75 was the first "border-to-border" Interstate highway to be completed in the United States. (The I-75 extension from Tampa to Naples and Miami was not fully completed and signed until "Alligator Alley" was widened and upgraded to Interstate standards in 1992. All non-tolled sections of the extension were completed in 1986.)

I took pictures of the program and its contents and placed them on the GRG Facebook page. You can also see them by clicking here.

George, I can't thank you enough for giving me this awesome piece of history, dude.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading and please come back often.

Johns Creek Finally Gets Recognized On GA 400

2011-07-23T23:43:55Z

Just this week, Georgia DOT finally did something that should have been done at least 4 years ago... recognize the City of Johns Creek (population 76,728 according to the 2010 U.S. Census) from US19/GA 400.

Coming from I-285 up 400, Johns Creek is accessible via Exit 10 (GA 120/Old Milton Parkway/Alpharetta). If you are familiar with the North Fulton area of Metro Atlanta, then chances are, you know... but if you're not, then you might've been screwed... until now...

If you're taking 400 from Cumming, Dawsonville, or Dahlonega, Johns Creek is accessible via Exit 13 (GA 141/Norcross). Again, if you're familiar with the area, then you probably knew it already. But what if you weren't familiar? Thanks to GDOT, "no worries, mate" (with apologies to our Australian friends). We've got you covered...

Notice the standard freeway font on these new signs? In any other state (barring those that are adopting the new Clearview font), this would not be unusual, but since approximately 1989, GDOT has been using a narrower freeway font that some of us in the roadgeek community call "Georgia font".

Furthermore, GDOT has been doing something else that is unusual for them... placing signs with MUTCD standard exit tabs, such as this new sign for the new Hammond Drive exit (Exit 4C) in Sandy Springs...

BTW, I also visited the Hammond Drive interchange and took several pictures, which I'll be posting on the GRG Facebook page (which now has over 100 "likes", thanks to y'all).

That's it for now. Thanks for reading and please come back often.

More HOT Lanes Coming Our Way

2011-07-23T02:45:21Z

This week, the Federal government invited the State of Georgia to apply for a $270,000,000 loan for building new High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes along I-75 and I-575 in Cobb and Cherokee Counties. As a result, Georgia DOT (GDOT) is now putting this project out to bid as part of a "public-private partnership" (PPP) deal.

Like the I-85 HOT lanes, these lanes will have a per-mile price that vary according to traffic congestion levels. The greater congestion, the higher the toll.

Unlike the I-85 HOT lanes, these will be new lanes built alongside the existing Interstates.

According to GDOT, the I-75/575 HOT lane project (previously known as the Northwest Corridor Project) is estimated to cost a total of one billion... yes billion... dollars... and we, the taxpayers may be paying for about a third of it!!!

Granted that these would be brand new lanes, but still, the idea that my tax dollars are going to a project that will line the pockets of a private company and benefit a minority of drivers smells like a potentially bad case of so-called "corporate welfare" to me. Since the lanes are being built within the existing state right-of-way, then said firms should pay us (the taxpayers) for allowing them to construct their project, since we own it in the first place.

If a private firm factors in the potential revenue stream from would-be customers (motorists) and said revenues can cover the costs to own and operate HOT lanes, plus provide a profit, then that's fine with me. Otherwise, our tax dollars should be used to improve the existing roads (e.g. I-75 and I-575) for the benefit of all motorists... period!!!

I know that I'm essentially "fighting windmills", but nonetheless, I feel it is my duty as an American to freely express my views on something that I feel will not necessarily be in the best interests of the people overall. The First Amendment to our beloved U.S. Constitution gives us that right to do so. Billions of citizens of other nations (e.g. China) don't have such a right. For example, if I were Chinese, then I would be labeled a so-called "dissident" and would face imprisonment, torture, and even death, for questioning the government.

For now, I'm finished with my tirade, so let's "switch gears" and watch my 2-part "ROADGEEK-CAM!!!" from Valdosta...

That's it for now. Thanks for reading and watching my videos and please come back again.

SOURCE: "Toll Project To Go To Bidding, Not Sure When", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 19, 2011.

Are Georgia's Speed Limits Too Low?

2011-07-09T14:58:31Z

Hey, y'all!

I've been so busy with traveling and working my "real job", I've negelcted the blogsite, so please accept my apology.

In recent months, I've been posting a lot of Georgia highway-related articles on the GRG Facebook page. One of the recent posts is an Athens Banner-Herald editorial regarding Georgia's speed limits.

Apparently, there's been some talk under the "Gold Dome" to increase Georgia's maximum speed limits in the name of "economic development".

Here is what current Georgia law dictates on this subject...

§ 40-6-181.  Maximum limits

   (a) The limits specified in this Code section or established as authorized in this article shall be the maximum lawful vehicle speeds, except when a special hazard exists that requires a lower speed for compliance with Code Section 40-6-180.

(b) Consistent with the provision of engineering and traffic investigations regarding maximum speed limits as provided in Code Section 40-6-182, no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of the following maximum limits:

   (1) Thirty miles (30) per hour in any urban or residential district;

   (1.1) Thirty-five (35) miles per hour on an unpaved county road unless designated otherwise by appropriate signs;

   (2) Seventy (70) miles per hour on a highway on the federal interstate system and on physically divided highways with full control of access which are outside of an urbanized area of 50,000 population or more, provided that such speed limit is designated by appropriate signs;

   (3) Sixty-five (65) miles per hour on a highway on the federal interstate system which is inside of an urbanized area of 50,000 population or more, provided that such speed limit is designated by appropriate signs;

   (4) Sixty-five (65) miles per hour on those sections of physically divided highways without full access control on the state highway system, provided that such speed limit is designated by appropriate signs; and

   (5) Fifty-five (55) miles per hour in other locations.

(c) The maximum speed limits set forth in this Code section may be altered as authorized in Code Sections 40-6-182, 40-6-183, and 40-6-188.

Forgive me for stating the obvious, dear readers, but while my beloved Georgia does have fairly significant stretches of rural Interstates and non-limited access divided highways, we do not have anywhere near the wide open spaces as you'd find in western states (e.g. Texas). If we did, then I'd be alright with increasing maximum speed limits up to 75, 80, or 85 MPH for rural Interstates.

As for Georgia's speed limits, I'm quite content with the current speed limit law and strongly urge our lawmakers to leave them alone.

Speaking of rural Interstates, I filmed parts of I-75 southbound in Tifton and Valdosta on our way to St. Augustine. Here's the Tifton video...

What do you think of Georgia's speed limits? Please feel free to post your comments and thanks in advance for doing so. In the meantime, that's it for now. I'll be working on the Valdosta videos and post them to the GRG YouTube channel as soon as I can.

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend, and please come back often.

No Tolls On GA 400... But Not For Long.

2011-06-25T01:40:31Z

This weekend, Georgia DOT (GDOT) and State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) have closed the GA 400 cruise lanes to upgrade the toll reader system to accept both the Cruise Card and Peach Pass transponders.

While the upgrade is being done, the tolls have been suspended and the cash lanes will be opened to allow traffic to proceed accordingly.

If you've been reading my prior blogs on the 400 tolls, then you know my total disdain for this broken promise. But to hear our dear friends at SRTA tell it, they have discontinued the "old" toll and will be implementing the "new" toll. Since I refuse to beat this dead horse any further, I'll drop it for now.

Speaking of Peach Pass, I've been thinking about some possible new places for the use of this (plus Cruise Cards).

First, I'd look into implementing SRTA's toll readers at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport parking areas.

This particular concept is not exactly new. Orlando International Airport has designated on-site parking areas that accept the E-PASS (Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority) and Florida SunPass transponders.

Second, I'd look at implementing the readers at Jekyll Island, Lake Lanier Islands, and Stone Mountain Park.

To prevent potential gate crashers, I wouldn't implement any tollway-style cruise lanes, but instead would install the devices at the existing gates. Once a vehicle with a valid Cruise Card or Peach Pass pulls up, a special dispenser would produce a ticket, the arm would raise, and in they go!

Third, I'd look at installing toll transponder readers at Georgia's state parks, choosing some of the parks within 60 miles of Downtown Atlanta, including, but not limted to, Amicalola Falls, Chattahoochee Bend, and Fort Yargo State Parks.

In each of these cases, I would look into installing a special lane(s) where a motorist pulls up to a specially marked gate with a setup similar to a pay-parking deck where a ticket is dispensed upon reading a valid transponder.

What are your thoughts regarding these possible non-tollway applications of toll transponders? Please feel free to share them by posting comments on the blog or on the GRG Facebook page.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading, thanks in advance for your comments, and please visit often.

So Did We Really Need To Extend The GA 400 Tolls?

2011-06-10T23:50:33Z

Last Friday, the Georgia DOT awarded the contract to build 2 new "flyover" ramps to allow free flow of traffic from GA 400 southbound to I-85 northbound (and I-85 southbound to GA 400 northbound) to Archer Western Contractors Ltd. for $21,423,500. (GDOT Project ID 762380)

Georgia's State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) estimated that the cost would be $40,000,000 and used that for their justification for extending the GA 400 toll collection to 2020.

Even if the contract were awarded for the $40,000,000 price, there was already approximately $46,000,000 in toll proceeds that could have paid for it without having to extend the tolls, so that alone IMHO debunked any reason SRTA gave for extending the tolls. For that matter, it was extremely shortsighted on the part of GDOT and SRTA not to build those ramps in the first place... and Buckhead paid for it with crappy traffic as drivers have to use surface streets to make their way from I-85 southbound to GA 400 northbound.

Furthermore, SRTA director Gena Evans had told a legislative panel that if the tolls were not extended, then it "could impair the state's bond rating as well as confidence with investors in public-private toll projects". GIMME A BREAK!!!

Forgive me for sounding like a "broken record", but our politicians here in Georgia don't give a rat's butt about promises made to their fellow Georgians, who BTW pay their salaries. If GA 400 were to be a toll road in perpetuity (e.g. Florida's Turnpike), that would be one thing. But the fact is that those tolls were put into place first and foremost to pay off the bond indebtedness incurred to build the GA 400 extension in the first place. Our illustrious former governor Sonny Perdue snubbed his nose at us. I guess it's a lot more important to him to get business from the Port of Savannah for his trucking business during his time as governor than it was to work for his constituents.

In the meantime, SRTA is getting ready to renovate the GA 400 toll plazas, installing new equipment for the Peach Pass transponders. During that time, the toll will be briefly suspended, but then "reactivated' as the "new" toll. If I had it my way, I would have ordered those plazas torn down to fully satisfy the 20-year-old promise of dropping the GA 400 toll, but those "snake-in-the-grass" pols of ours, in cahoots with SRTA, decided different.

Speaking of tollways, there is now a proposal to build a 113-mile (181 km) Western Commercial Connector tollway from I-75 in Cartersville to Dallas, Villa Rica, Newnan, Griffin, and ending at I-75 near Barnesville. Now I'm not sure that this would be a good idea at this point, but at least if it were built as a permanently toll-funded highway, at least our pols and SRTA would be telling us the truth. However, I expect to see pigs fly or for Hell to freeze over before SRTA gets a single ounce of integrity.

As for GA 400, did the toll really need to be increased, after all? I don't think so. I've given up any sliver of hope that SRTA will ever get better... or better yet be eliminated altogether. Thank you, Sonny, thank you, Gina, and thank you SRTA for giving us the shaft!!!

Before I get my blood pressure too much higher, that's it for now. Thank you all for reading and please come back often.

SOURCES:
- "Ga. 400/I-85 to be rebuilt, but was new toll needed?", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 6, 2011
- "Construction at Ga. 400 plaza could suspend toll", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 10, 2011
- "Local officials consider tolls to pay for road projects", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 2, 2011