Weekly Legislative Update – Week Nine

Final Days of 2013 Legislative Session Scheduled

This week the legislature completed its 34^th legislative day, with only 6 legislative days remaining.  The legislature has set the final six days to meet next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with the final three days of the 2013 session scheduled for the following Monday, Tuesday and Thursday March 28^th.

State Road and Toll Authority Updates Legislature on Closing of GA 400 Toll

This week State Road and Toll Authority (SRTA) management met with the Senate Transportation committee and gave an update on the progress of closing the Ga. 400 toll plaza.  The director reaffirmed the toll would no longer be collected by December and work to tear down the toll booths will actually begin over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  All work to remove the toll booths will be completed within six months.

SRTA also stated that increased traffic estimates of the impact of removing the toll range from 12 to almost 20 percent.  Ga. 400 vehicle traffic counts at the toll already exceed 110,000 vehicles per day.

Hearings and Meetings Planned to Discuss Construction of Gwinnett’s I-85 and Henry/Clayton’s I-75 New Express Toll Lanes

Public hearings are scheduled for March 21 and 28 on the construction of new capacity Express Toll Lanes in Gwinnett County.  In late April, GDOT officials will be meeting with Henry County Chamber of Commerce Board members to discuss the planned I-75 reversible Express Toll Lanes planned for Henry and Clayton counties.

Water Legislation Moving Through the Legislature

Legislation initiated in an effort to better manage the drought conditions in the Flint River basin has been amended to potentially have consequences impacting more than just the Flint River basin.  The RBC is working with other interested organizations to make certain the bill continues to focus on its original intent.

Legislation introduced to date:

House Bills –                    620

House Resolutions –        754

Senate Bills –                   253

Senate Resolutions –       546

Total                               2,173