ATLANTA (Mar. 5, 2009) – The Transforming Transportation Investment Act passed in the Senate today. President Pro Tempore Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) led the effort in the Senate and spoke to the accountability and transparency of the new authority.
“Today the Senate has exercised solid leadership in making much needed reforms to Georgia’s transportation governance through the passage of SB 200,” said Williams. “This bill was put forward by Senate and House leadership in concert with the Governor and we look forward to the House now carrying the momentum forward and getting this important legislation through the General Assembly. I was pleased to carry this bill and I believe it is a strong step toward success in solving Georgia’s transportation challenges.”
Under Senate Bill 200, the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) will be merged and all functions, duties, responsibilities, and obligations of the authorities will be transferred to a newly created State Transportation Authority (STA). The bill allows for a new, transparent model for funding decisions that gives the General Assembly and the Governor direct appropriation powers, much like the way other agencies in Georgia are funded and governed.
For more information on SB 200, go to the Georgia General Assembly web site at www.legis.ga.gov.
Sen. Tommie Williams serves as President Pro Tempore. He represents the 19th Senate District, which includes Appling, Jeff Davis, Long, Montgomery, Toombs, Wayne, and Wheeler counties and a portion of Liberty and Tattnall counties. He can be reached at 404.656.0089 or by email at tommie.williams@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
March 5, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
raegan.weber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028