Attachment
to News Release
Mission
Statement
It is the mission of GRTA/GDC
to improve
Georgia
's mobility, air quality and land use practices.
Guiding Principles
*
GRTA will operate
as an open, accountable, efficient and effective public authority.
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GRTA will operate
within a decision-making framework that values public participation.
*
GRTA decisions
shall be based upon fact-based analysis that provides the greatest public
benefit for the resources invested.
*
GRTA will work for
the best interest of the region in cooperation with federal, state,
regional and local partners.
*
GRTA will advocate
and implement a transportation system that is multi-modal, seamless, and
accessible to all.
Roles
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GRTA will assist
the Governor's office to develop transportation policies.
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GRTA will partner
with state and regional agencies to prioritize transportation plans and
programs and will cooperatively establish investment priorities and
resource allocations to accomplish GRTA's mission.
*
GRTA/GDC will
measure effectiveness in improving air quality, mobility, accessibility
and land use practices, and in reducing congestion.
*
GRTA/GDC will
encourage land use practices that promote efficient use of transportation
investments.
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GRTA will
cooperatively develop transit plans for areas within its jurisdiction.
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GRTA will
coordinate transit services to provide seamless and accessible connections
within the areas of its jurisdiction.
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GRTA will implement
transit services through a combination of entities including local transit
authorities, cities, counties and private operators.
Principles for Selecting
Transportation Investments
Desired
Outcomes from Transportation Investments:
1.
Improve
Personal Mobility and Decrease Time Spent in Traffic Congestion
Transportation
investments should focus on reducing traffic congestion and improving
mobility. The investments should result in a minimization of the time
travelers spend in congested conditions. The best projects will lead to
the greatest reduction in travel delay.
2.
Attain
and Maintain Conformity with Federal Air Quality Standards
Reducing
the amount of pollutants emitted by the transportation sector must be
considered in transportation investments so that the region attains and
maintains conformity with federal air quality standards.
3.
Improve
Safety
Transportation
system safety improvements can lead to reduced human health impacts from
traffic crashes. Safety improvements can also lead to fewer highway
incidents and the resultant traffic congestion during the clearing of
incidents. Transportation projects that lead to improved motor vehicle,
bicycle and pedestrian safety should receive additional emphasis in the
prioritization of transportation improvements.
4.
Increase
Transportation Choices in Congested Corridors
In
comprehensively planning for corridors, HOV facilities and increased
transit choices should be considered. Transit choices must be high quality
and time competitive and accessible.
5.
Support
for Economic Development and Re-development
Transportation
investments should support the regional and local plans consistent with
the adopted regional development plan and encourage economic development
and redevelopment. Investments should be targeted to promote land use
investments that are compatible with the capacity of the transportation
system.
6.
Improve
Freight Delivery Speed and Reliability
The
economic vitality of
Georgia
is based upon the efficient delivery of goods and services utilizing our
ports, airways, highways and railroads. Transportation investments in our
highways and railroads that improve freight transit times and reliability
should be considered in the establishment of transportation priorities.
7.
Protection
of Existing Infrastructure
Efficient
operation of the transportation infrastructure requires that it be kept in
good operating condition. Investments in infrastructure maintenance and
rehabilitation are essential to maintaining the capacity of transportation
facilities.
Values to Guide Transportation
Infrastructure Choices:
1.
Fact-Based
Decision Making
Transportation
decisions should be based upon fact-based analysis that provides the
greatest public benefit for the resources invested.
2.
Cost
Effectively Increase Transportation System Capacity and Reduce Traffic
Congestion
Project
choices should be first made based upon cost effectiveness in meeting the
primary transportation system objective of reducing traffic congestion and
maintaining air quality conformity. Measures of such projects should
include cost effectiveness of improving mobility and air quality and the
capital costs of each hour of traffic delay reduced and/or the annualized
cost for each new transit rider.
3.
Utilize the Power of the
Economic Marketplace to Improve Mobility
The
economic marketplace should be utilized in permitting individuals to
maximize transportation choices and to improve mobility. Where
appropriate, value pricing mechanisms should be integrated into the design
of transportation investments. Revenues generated by value pricing
mechanisms can be used to implement transit services that provide for
equitable distribution of transportation system benefits.
4.
Minimize
Adverse Neighborhood and Environmental Impacts
Preservation
and restoration of our neighborhoods and natural environment is a
fundamental value that must be respected in the planning and
implementation of transportation investments.
5.
Expeditious
Delivery of Transportation Investments
Transportation
projects that have immediate impact and can be cost effectively
implemented should be emphasized, while being balanced, with projects that
provide future system capacity
6.
Truth
in Project Programming
The
metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program and the Statewide
Transportation Improvement Program should be programs that can be
reasonably and reliably delivered within the time frames and budgets
provided. Construction and right-of-way should not be placed in the
fiscally constrained transportation plan and programmed in the
Transportation Improvement Program until there is a high probability that
the project can obtain the necessary right-of-way and overcome
neighborhood and environmental issues
7.
Equity
Transportation
investments should be fairly distributed so that the benefits and burdens
are equitably distributed. Investments choices should be made to
accommodate both regional and local needs.
GRTA's
Role in Land Use
Recognize
Private Property Rights: GRTA
will recognize and respect private property rights.
Local
Government Planning and Implementation:
GRTA will encourage local governments to plan comprehensively in a
way that accommodates the needs of the community, offers flexibility,
provides choices to its citizens, and plans for the impacts of new
development.
Maximize
Market Opportunities: GRTA
will encourage local governments to adopt local ordinances that allow the
development market to provide choices for citizens in terms of live, work,
and play opportunities.
Best
Practices: GRTA
will work with state and local governments to develop a set of Best
Practices that can be used by local governments as they adopt
comprehensive plans, including support for the Atlanta Regional
Commission's Regional Development Plan.
Removal
of Barriers: GRTA will identify land use practices that
restrict choices for citizens to live, work, and play with fewer and
shorter trips; and facilitate regional and local discussions for reducing
or eliminating the barriers.
Connect
Transportation with Land Use: GRTA will identify corridors or
development opportunities that are well suited to transportation
investment based on existing or planned land uses, and find ways to
facilitate the investment.
Begin
to Measure Progress: GRTA will create and implement a system of
measurements that serve as benchmarks for implementing Best Practices,
removing barriers, and maximizing the investment in transportation.
Regional
Discussion of Innovative Practices: GRTA will work with the
region to identify practices, regulations, incentives, projects and other
ideas that hold promise or potential as mechanisms to connect land use
with transportation. Provide resources and a forum to evaluate the
effectiveness of these options.
Station
Area Planning: For New
Start transit investments that GRTA is developing, GRTA will assist
local governments to develop station area plans that enable the local
government and the development market to derive the greatest public
benefit and highest private value from the New Start
transit investment.
Development Review: GRTA
will continue to work with state, regional, local, and private interests
in reviewing Developments of Regional Impact in order to maximize the
transportation infrastructure investment.
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