"For us to believe we can continue to build ourselves with roads and bridges out of this transportation issue is just not a realistic expectation any longer. We can't just keep adding lanes to all our interstates."

That quote is from Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Gena Abraham, who spoke at a Georgia Public Policy Foundation policy briefing luncheon. Benita M. Dodd, GPPF Vice President, says Abraham "proffers hope for the future of transportation ... The DOT is in a heap of trouble, much of it made public since Abraham took over in January."

According to Abraham, 8,476 projects are on the books at GDOT but just 1,345 actually have someone actively assigned to them. The budget shortfall looks better than earlier projections but still the summation is: "We are facing a transportation funding crisis ... We need more funds for transportation."

With traffic issues number one on the complaint list for citizens, Barrow County cannot sit and wait for GDOT to provide transportation solutions - we must in concert with GDOT and Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) craft our own answers to the traffic questions.

That is what Tuesday's presentation of the Barrow County Comprehensive Transportation Plan is all about. The plan was put together in conjunction with the Comprehensive Master Plan and involved community input over the past 18 months.

You could - and should - take in the final presentation at the commissioners' meeting starting at 7 p.m.

Originally published Sunday, July 20, 2008