Georgia looks to change the face of its transportation department

Georgia’s transportation division may be getting a new set of wheels.

The state Senate, by a 30-25 vote, approved a measure that would strip the power of the State Transportation Board and give it to a new authority, which would consist of 11 members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House.

Republican’s are unhappy with the State Transportation Board, which oversees the Georgia Department of Transportation. The Georgia DOT has consistently failed to deliver needed transportation projects on time. The state’s GOP has complained that the DOT board members have been unresponsive to the General Assembly.

“[Money is not] the whole problem when we can’t even turn out projects in a timely manner,” Sen. Ross Tolleson (R-Perry) told the Atlanta Business Chronicle. “We’ve got to get more efficient.”

Democrats opposed to the measure question the leadership of the new system. The concern is allowing three elected officials sole authority over who would be appointed to the State Transportation Authority.

“We’re not addressing the problem of funding the needs we have in transportation,” Sen. Steve Thompson (D-Marietta) told the Chronicle. “We’re changing the politics.”

The bill will now move to the House.