HR130.html

Creating the Joint Study Committee on Urban Road Building Guidelines; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, the policy of the State of Georgia is to create and maintain more pedestrian-friendly roadways while maintaining the necessary goals and standards for less developed areas; and

WHEREAS, currently, the Department of Transportation uses "A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets" as its guidelines for the building of state highways in urban, suburban, and rural areas; and

WHEREAS, the policy guidelines focus primarily on accommodating motor vehicles; and

WHEREAS, the policy guidelines emphasize mobility between and through towns over accessibility within a town; and

WHEREAS, this emphasis on mobility over accessibility has often resulted in the decline of urban commercial areas and in vehicle speeds that are inappropriate in areas with high pedestrian traffic; and

WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration recommends flexibility in road design; and

WHEREAS, there is now a need to take into account recent developments in pedestrian facilities and designs; and

WHEREAS, pedestrian fatalities in metro Atlanta increased 13 percent from 1994 to 1998 at the same time that they declined nearly 10 percent nationwide; and
WHEREAS, the Atlanta region is ranked nationally as one of the nation´s most dangerous for pedestrians and is therefore focusing more and more on accommodating pedestrians; and

WHEREAS, a thorough study of all the criteria used could produce more flexible urban standards and bring the urban, suburban, and rural areas closer to the ultimate goal of building roads which are in harmony with community values.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

There is created the Joint Study Committee on Urban Road Building Guidelines to be composed of 11 members. The President of the Senate shall appoint three members of the Senate, one each from Augusta, Albany, and Macon. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members, one each from Atlanta, Savannah, and Columbus. The committee members shall also include the Chief of Planning for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA); the Chief of Planning for the Department of Transportation (DOT); one member from the Board of Transportation; the chairperson of the House Transportation Committee; the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Transportation.

The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any actions or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the O.C.G.A. but shall receive the same for not more than five days unless additional days are authorized. The state officials shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee, but they shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members of the committee. The members of the committee who are not legislative members or state officials or their designees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee. The funds necessary for the reimbursement of the expenses of the state officials or their designees shall come from funds appropriated or otherwise available to their respective departments. All other funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to or otherwise available to the House of Representatives and Senate. In the event the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations, with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or before December 1, 2002. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2002.