If you live or work in the ATL, then you know: traffic is our worst quality here in the city. It’s gotten so bad that a 1-2 hour commute is considered normal for most people, and longer commutes aren’t even unheard of. To help alleviate some of the traffic, Georgia Governor, Brian Kemp has proposed a $2 billion plan. Keep scrolling to learn more.
WSB-TV Atlanta reported,
Gov. Brian Kemp’s proposal aims to get people moving, including changes to Highway 316 between Athens and Gwinnett County, as well as express lanes in Henry County
The biggest part of this plan is the addition of a new express lane on interstate 75, close to Henry County, which is just 30 miles south of Atlanta, and is one of the “fastest-growing counties in the country,” according to Go Henry County.
The new express lane plan would cost around $1.8 billion and would attempt to free up bottle necks and congestion on the interstate by adding express lanes on both the north and south-bound sides.
Governor Kemp stated,
By [a recent Texas A&M study] estimates, commuters into and out of our capital city lost at least 75 hours to traffic at a cost of over $1,400 per person.
As a part of his statement, Kemp says that with the proposed express lanes, “as much as 70 percent more vehicles will be able to pass through that corridor during rush hours.”
If true, this would definitely cut down on commuting times to and from Henry County. Some Georgians wish to invest in more public transit, while others believe in more lanes / decreasing traffic congestion. Others still believe in a combination of the two.
As we know more updates about this proposal, we’ll be sure to keep you in the loop.