30+ groups from across Georgia launched the state's most diverse transportation coalition to push for funding solutions in the 2008 legislative session. The coalition includes business leaders, government organizations, transit advocates, road builders, and environmentalists who all recognize that transportation funding is critical to Georgia's future economic growth given the state's rapid population increase. They are calling on legislators to pursue a variety of solutions like a new sales tax, optimizing existing revenue sources, investing in transit, and innovative funding programs to address the state's growing transportation needs.

2. 30+ Groups Launch State’s Most Diverse Transportation Coalition
by Julie Evans | Sep 25, 2007
For Immediate Release
Sept. 25, 2007
Contact: Matt Hicks
404-522-5022
mhicks@accg.org
30+ Groups Launch State’s Most Diverse Transportation Coalition
Business Leaders, Transit Advocates, Road Builders and Environmentalists Band Together To
Push For Transportation Funding Solutions In 2008 Legislative Session
ATLANTA – More than 30 groups in Georgia -- including business leaders, government leaders,
transit advocates, road builders and environmentalists -- today launched the most diverse
statewide transportation coalition pushing for transportation funding solutions in the 2008
legislative session.
“What you’re witnessing today is an issue so critical to Georgia’s future that folks who don’t
always stand together on issues are doing just that,” said Jerry Griffin, executive director of the
Association County Commissioners of Georgia, which represents all 159 counties in Georgia.
"Georgia has grown faster than any of us thought was possible and we have all benefited from
this growth," said George M. Israel, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
"One unwelcome result of rapid growth is traffic congestion and a growing list of transportation
needs around the state. The time is now for us to work together to find solutions, so we can
take advantage of our success and not be hobbled by it.”
The coalition includes the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of
Commerce, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Business Coalition, MARTA, the
Atlanta Regional Commission, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, the Georgia
Transit Association, the Georgia Highway Contractors Association, Central Atlanta Progress, the
Sierra Club and others.
“Our coalition is bringing together road builders, transit advocates, business leaders and
environmentalists,” said Steve Parks of the Georgia Highway Contractors Association. “We all
agree that something has to get done in the 2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly.”
During testimony before a joint House/Senate committee on transportation in Atlanta today,
Griffin and Israel today laid out four major recommendations developed by the coalition:
 allow a new sales tax funding mechanism to relieve congestion and promote economic
development across Georgia
 optimize current revenue sources, in part by dedicating a percentage of certain existing
taxes and fees to transportation

3.  invest in transit and transportation options -- including tax credits for certain public
transit expenses; donating state land to the Beltline; adequately funding rail; and
promoting commute alternatives, teleworking credits, flex work hours and congestion
pricing
 support innovative funding programs, including aggressively pursuing private
investment to complement other funding sources and improving the ability of
Community Improvement Districts to leverage state and federal dollars
“We are staking out issues of common ground – for instance, recognizing that funding transit
for capital and operational purposes is an important component in a sustainable transportation
system,” said Robert Hiett, president of the Georgia Transit Association. “We know that there is
no silver bullet solution. We’ll need a variety of solutions working together.”
“We are willing to consider any solution that addresses the needs of the state as well as fast-
growing urban regions,” said Bill Linginfelter, Georgia State CEO of Wachovia Bank and
chairman of the transportation committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
“Georgia is the fourth-fastest-growing state, yet we are fourth from the bottom in
transportation funding. The situation is difficult, and this coalition is pushing for action in the
2008 session of the Georgia General Assembly.”
“It’s important to remember that traffic is an unintended consequence of our success,” said
David Gill, president of First State Bank and chairman of the Regional Business Coalition. “We’re
in this situation because of our incredible growth. It’s not anyone’s fault that we slipped
behind. We just grew faster than anyone could anticipate. But now we’ve got 20 years of
catching up to do, and we have to anticipate the growth in the next 20 years.”
Participants in the coalition include:
• Association County Commissioners of Georgia
• Atlanta Regional Commission
• Central Atlanta Progress
• Civic League for Metro Atlanta
• Clean Air Campaign
• Community Improvement District Alliance
• Council for Quality Growth
• CSX
• Evermore – Hwy 78 CID
• Georgia Asphalt Pavement Association
• Georgia Association of Regional Development Centers
• Georgia Automobile Dealers Association
• Georgia Chamber of Commerce
• Georgia Construction Aggregate Association
• Georgia Department of Transportation
• Georgia Engineering Alliance

4. • Georgia Highway Contractors Association
• Georgia Motor Trucking Association
• Georgia Municipal Association
• Georgia Policy and Budget Institute
• Georgia Power Company
• Georgia Public Policy Foundation
• Georgia Railroad Association
• Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
• Georgia Transit Association
• Georgians for Better Transportation
• Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
• Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
• Livable Communities Coalition
• Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
• Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transit Authority
• Norfolk Southern
• Regional Business Coalition
• Sierra Club, Georgia Chapter
• Transit Planning Board
For more information, visit www.GetGeorgiaMoving.com.