Hearn: curtail West Fayetteville Bypass
Sunday, May 13, 2012 - 2:38pm
Submitted by John Munford
Submitted by John Munford
Plan would ditch new road path, intersection improvements
A procedural move to halt the third and final phase of the West Fayetteville Bypass failed again Thursday night.
Yet major changes could be coming to the project, as Commissioner Lee Hearn suggested the county stick to the existing road path from Redwine Road all the way up to Huiet Road and Ga. Highway 54.
Doing so would eliminate the previously-planned continuous road path, causing motorists to navigate several intersections before reaching the northern segment of the bypass on the other side of Ga. Highway 54. That would be far less convenient for motorists compared to a traditional bypass road path.
Hearn’s proposal would involve intersection improvements to handle the additional traffic, Hearn said, adding that it also might make the project far more “palatable” to residents in the area.
Such a plan would have significant cost savings, Hearn said, adding that the segment which would connect Harp Road to Redwine would remain undone.
The third phase of the bypass was initially planned to stretch from Ga. Highway 85 at Harp Road, connecting with Ebenezer Church Road at Redwine Road, then following Lester Road and Huiet Road up to Ga. Highway 54. From there, the first two phases of the bypass will take motorists up to Ga. Highway 92 at Westbridge Road close to the Fulton-Fayette County line.
Another question in play is whether the county can cancel the third phase of the bypass altogether and legally be allowed to fund the replacement of a bridge on Ebenezer Church Road that has fallen into disrepair. The bridge has long been considered a part of the third phase of the bypass.
County Attorney Scott Bennett said he would have to look into the matter, but he has been told that bridge was not listed on the 2003 county transportation plan as an individual project. If that is the case, the county couldn’t spend the transportation sales tax dollars on the badly-needed bridge replacement, Bennett said.
Hearn noted that if the sales tax funds weren’t available, the county could not afford to replace the bridge, which has scored poorly on recent tests.
Commissioner Allen McCarty has been arguing for the commission to cancel the third phase of the bypass and divert the money to the East Fayetteville Bypass. His motion to do so failed on a 2-2 tie, with Commission Chairman Herb Frady absent for the graduation of one of his grandsons.
McCarty and Commissioner Steve Brown were in favor of canceling the third phase of the west bypass, but Commissioners Hearn and Robert Horgan voted against it. The tie means that the matter will be put forward on a future agenda.
McCarty said the west bypass isn’t a real bypass because it doesn’t start and end at Ga. Highway 85. The East Fayetteville Bypass, which McCarty favors, has a similar problem because it would start at Ga. Highway 85 north but end well short of Hwy. 85 south, stopping in the middle of a rural area of Fayette County at the intersection of South Jeff Davis Drive, County Line Road and Inman Road.
McCarty noted that he won 31 of 36 precincts when he was elected, adding that halting the west bypass was one of his two main election promises.
Commissioner Steve Brown argued that the east bypass was the top-rated project prior to the sales tax being approved by voters. But Commissioner Robert Horgan noted that the county commission never voted to rank the east bypass as the top project.
The east bypass would stretch from Ga. Highway 85 North at Corinth Road to Ga. Highway 54 East, then going south to McDonough Road, also known as Truett Cathy Highway and continuing on County Line Road to the intersection of South Jeff Davis Drive and Inman Road, where the bypass would halt.
Hearn said he still believes in the East Fayetteville Bypass, but he thinks the decision on the west bypass should wait until after the regional transportation sales tax referendum on July 31. If the sales tax is approved, the east bypass will be fully funded, Hearn noted.
Fri, 05/18/2012 - 9:20pm
#2
Don't read the Citzentoo often
Probably I do not read the citizen too often.
Really? by the way. What law did Gov. Deal sign ? Is is subject to voter approval by simple majority ?
I am interested to check it.
It is interesting because for TSPLOST which is planned to go 10 years, it means it can be tampered with after the fact right? Either skewed for transit or against it. After the fact right ?
If what you say is true, It makes approving any SPLOST a must riskier proposition in some ways, doesn't it ?
Sun, 05/20/2012 - 1:48pm
#3
condition55 and A "Gazillion Times"
I know a lot of folks are tired of hearing the same old stuff here over and over again. To be perfectly honest, I am tired of having to say the same old stuff repeatedly.
However, condition55's need for clarification is one of the many reasons we continue to repeat the same information.
Some have accused us of throwing the East Fayetteville Bypass folks "under the bus." As I have said before, we started, in 2008, inviting East Bypass residents to join in our efforts against both Bypasses. None of our invitations were acknowledged. I'm not sure why.
Everything we've said about the East Bypass has been true. In fact, from the beginning we decided that we wouldn't write or say anything that could not be documented through public records.
The East Bypass has been an ongoing, viable project with more than a few Fayette County administrations. Like the West Bypass, the East Bypass rode-in on the coat tails of our local 2004 SPLOST. I say rode-in on the coat tails because none of the projects covered by that SPLOST appeared on the ballot. Therefore, the highly uninformed voters did not know which projects would receive funding. The ballot only stated that the SPLOST was for "road, street, and bridge purposes."
Even though I knew it was very unlikely, I hoped that we could stop all or some portion of the West Bypass. I was determined, however, and dedicated to exposing all the facts behind the construction of the West Bypass. We have never wanted to personally hurt anyone, but we have most assuredly wanted to expose all of the facts. We have worked very hard to make sure that anything we have said or written could be backed-up with documentation. I can only remember one instance in the last four years where we failed to do that.
In an effort to make sure that as many East Bypass residents as possible are fully informed, I am asking that if you know of anyone who lives along that route please tell them that the East Bypass project is included within the 2012 Regional Transportation SPLOST (Mr. Drake's Transportation Investment Act -TIA). IF the Transportation Investment Act (TIA - 2012 Regional Transportation SPLOST) is passed, the East Fayetteville Bypass is included in a Fayette County project list. Once that happens, I don't think there is any hope of stopping it.
Sat, 05/19/2012 - 8:53am
#4
SPLOST approval has always been risky
If what you say is true, It makes approving any SPLOST a must riskier proposition in some ways, doesn't it ?
I think what this does is point out that laws can be adjusted and/or changed by politicians at will. So yes voting for a SPLOST is risky. Always has been. Remember the promise that the toll booths would come down on GA 400 after the road was paid for? Did they? As for the law itself I don't know the bill number. My knowledge of it comes mostly from reading the Citizen.
Sat, 05/19/2012 - 9:50am
#5
Here is the Bill
Below is a link to the bill you are discussing. The bill talks about projects becoming infeasible which, in my opinion, is not the case with the West Fayetteville Bypass. It is simply unwanted by a very vocal minority and subsequently demagogued by a politician, Steve Brown, who I doubt cares anything at all about the bypass but does an excellent job taking advantage of the political winds blowing at the time. I think you will also see that modifying projects is a little more cumbersome than politicians changing them at will. Finally, and I need to confirm this, I don't believe that this bill applies to the Transportation Investment Act. The TIA is technically not a SPLOST, people just call it that for convenience.
Mon, 07/23/2012 - 10:37pm
#6
Bingo and I do not get it
I cannot understand the irrational opposition to the west by pass. You'd think it was a commuter rail line or something.
East and West by passes will relieve congestion on F'ville town square. And that is good. We can get a real nice area for restaurants, shops and maybe some town homes and other homes. It is step one to assure F'ville does not end up like RiverDale. Make down town a show piece.
Does any one know what the real story is ?
I propose strict building guidlines to define and maintain the historical nature of F'ville town square.
Sat, 05/19/2012 - 10:38pm
#7
Transportation Investment Act - Mr. Drake?
A Tax is a tax no matter how you paint it.
Got Concrete?
Sat, 05/19/2012 - 11:11pm
#8
Not the Question
The TIA is clearly a tax, nobody is disputing that. The question was whether it falls under the same guidelines as a SPLOST. I know it's difficult for you but try to keep up.
And yes, I do have concrete. And with any luck, you're going to have more of it as well. See you at the polls!!
Sat, 05/19/2012 - 11:39pm
#9
Mr. Drake - Keeping up
with the likes of you is not difficult....you're always very close to the public trough.
Polls? You've got to be kidding, you'll get this one passed pal and you know it. It won't be luck either....really you're too much. Some of us weren't born yesterday.
Sat, 05/19/2012 - 5:43pm
#10
Mr Drake?
The TIA is technically not a SPLOST, people just call it that for convenience.
Then the SPLOST laws that protect us against misuse don't apply? What is the TIA?
Sat, 05/19/2012 - 11:07pm
#11
TIA
The TIA is the Transportation Investment Act of 2010. It is a very detailed law which I suspect has much more protection than SPLOST laws. Read it for yourself.
http://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/versions/hb277_HB_277_AP_10.htm
Sat, 05/19/2012 - 12:04pm
#12
What's Good about the WFB?
Mr. Drake: you say that WFB opponents are a "vocal minority." Yet, both Steve Brown and Allen McCarty were elected Commissioners on an anti-SPLOST, anti-mass transit, and an anti-WFB platform. They represent the majority of those who voted in the 2010 election. This means that they are standing up for those who exercised their civic duty to vote as the majority.
Commissioner Brown has been criticized by some for his performance as Mayor of PTC, yet, he was the preferred Commissioner candidate not only for most all of the Fayette precincts, but those of PTC, as well.
You seem to be the only blogger who speaks in favor of the WFB. Would you please do us a favor nobody else has done, and illustrate exactly how the WFB will reduce traffic in Fayetteville? Former Fayetteville Mayor Ken Steele has said that the road is for future development. At the last mayoral forum, he said that the WFB would not reduce traffic in Fayetteville.
From what you've said, Commissioner Brown should follow the transportation policies of the Jack Smith Administration rather than trying to represent his constituents.
People have ducked the need question by saying the road is for future development, and have not specificically illustrated any impending traffic demand or practical traffic flow that would reduce traffic in Fayetteville, three miles to the East. To the North, the road will end up at a convenience store corner, many miles, turns, stop lights and stop signs away from civilization.
If you will review a complete 6.2 alignment map of the WFB's Phase II, you will see how generous our former commissioners have been with curb cuts into developers' huge acreage properties via confiscating private homeowners'land.
And finally, don't you think it's somewhat less than expected that no public comments or local newspaper articles from private citizens have publicly endorsed the WFB?
Sun, 05/20/2012 - 6:15pm
#13
WFB
Pips - I am a frequent contributor to this blog but I can't recall ever opining for or against the WFB. I do believe that traffic through Fayetteville is an issue that needs to be addressed and, from what I can see of the alignment, folks like me living on or around Redwine Road could save significant time on a commute to Atlanta. I suspect that there are a lot of us and that savings really adds up. Having said that, I don't claim to have any particular insight into whether the EFB or WFB is best or if their proposed alignments are as good as they can be. I do think that a vocal minority has caused an enormous uproar but I'll give you credit for being involved and steadfast in support of your position. I also think that Steve Brown is an opportunistic politician who really doesn't have much conviction (re: his position on district voting) but will take the politically popular position that will advance his career. What I don't want now is for the politicians, either Brown or Hearn, to make a decision on the WFB based on garnering votes. They need to do what is in the best interest of the county. You all like to call the WFB "the road to nowhere" but my fear is that if they curtail it now for political expediency, it really will be the road to nowhere and go from imperfect to just plain bad.
I think if you look at my posts, I am almost always providing information via links to legislation, studies, etc and not necessarily advocating for a particular position but also not letting people demagogue with misinformation either. I do support the TIA but I have often acknowledged that good people will disagree. It is not a perfect list of projects but I think it's pretty good and I'm not willing to let perfect be the enemy of good.
Sat, 05/19/2012 - 7:59pm
#14
Zzzzzzzz.......heard this a gazillion times already
Mr. Drake: you say that WFB opponents are a "vocal minority." Yet, both Steve Brown and Allen McCarty were elected Commissioners on an anti-SPLOST, anti-mass transit, and an anti-WFB platform. They represent the majority of those who voted in the 2010 election. This means that they are standing up for those who exercised their civic duty to vote as the majority.
Yes, and commissioners Horgan, Frady and Hearn were all duly elected also and are standing up for whoever elected them too I suppose. This means what, exactly? Only election results that you like are significant and others aren't?
The fact that both the WFB and EFB are total wastes of money and the fact that voters approved this SPLOST in the first place are all history and the horse stopped moving a long time ago; stop beating on it. Oh wait, you're the one who wanted the WFB stopped so the EFB can be fully funded and screw the other people! You and Lee Hearn agree on something I guess, congrats.
Sat, 05/19/2012 - 4:51pm
#15
"What's Good about the WFB?--- good question
"What's Good about the WFB?--- good question, Pips.
Unfortunately the only answer we have received is "it's been part of our Master Plan for 30 years, that should be enough !!!"
Government far too seldom asks the question "Why are we spending tax dollars on this project or this program ?"
Good question !
Wed, 05/16/2012 - 1:12pm
#16
SLOST Project List is Fixed
My understanding is that for the proposed TSPLOST to be voted on in July, The project list is fixed. Cannot be changed. I think it ii Georgia state law. Why? To avoid the bait and switch flim flam of the voter. The idea is the voters vote the SPLOST up or down based on its merits. The project list. I say yes or no because it has not enough transport and too much roads or too much transport and not enough roads. But if accepted, the project list does not change. SO that the people are not scammed.
Isn't that why they built Rivers school. They were legally bound to do so. It is not a discretionary thing. It is decided up front. Not after the fact.
Isn't it the same for the WF bypass ? There is no option to change the project as the SPLOST was approved based on a documented project.
The council for sure knows this well and previously the Citizen mentioned the county attorney was investigating options. If it had turned out in WF bypass opponents favor, it would have surely been reported. Right ?
Wed, 05/16/2012 - 1:35pm
#17
SPLOST can be changed
Isn't it the same for the WF bypass ? There is no option to change the project as the SPLOST was approved based on a documented project.
You must not read the Citizen very often. Governor Deal and the state legislature passed a law last year stating that money dedicated to a SPLOST can be redirected to other purposes if the voters approve it. Steve Brown proposed that this be put on the ballot for voters to have the option of doing this with the Bypass money. Frady, Hearn, and Horgan refused to allow it to be put on the ballot.
Mon, 05/14/2012 - 4:38pm
#18
Commissioner Horgan Says My Comment is Incorrect
I received an email today from Commissioner Horgan. According to Mr. Horgan, "the Fayette Commissioners did not have a vote that enacted a priority list for projects on the SPLOST ballot."
The following is what I received from Commissioner Horgan:
"It was brought to my attention that you made a comment about me in the news paper, I was told it was under the Lee Hearn article that Mondford released on May 12th.
I was not wrong in what I said; The minuets of the meeting that you are referring to was an AFCG meeting. That stands for Association of Fayette County Governments.
That is when all the cites and the county get together and discuss issues between all the governing bodies in Fayette County.
What I had said at our meeting the other night, was that the Board of Commissioner did not have a vote that enacted a priority list for projects on the SPLOST ballet.
The AFCG meetings are not a binding, regulatory group at all. All matters discussed at AFCG meetings, requiring any type of official votes, would be required to bring the item back to its
respective boards, for a legal and official vote.
Mrs Smithfield, I have read the minuets of the AFCG meeting held October 28th. Again, what I said at our Thursday meeting was that the Fayette County Board of Commissioners did not vote
on a priority list for the SPLOST projects that the Fayette County Citizens voted on.
I can under stand your confusion regarding the actions taken and what goes on at a AFCG meetings. We have maybe, two to three a year, depending on issues at hand. It is the only time that all of us elected
officials from the cities and county can get together and discuss items freely. Just as you stated in your comment, that "Councilman Paul Letourneau (Town of Tyrone) made a motion and County Commissioner Peter Pfeifer seconded the motion. That is a councilman from Tyrone and a County Commissioner. They can not intermix their jurisdictions.
May be you can correct your post and remove "Horgan is Wrong" That would be appreciated."
Thank You
Robert Horgan
As indicated in my original comment, the meeting was conducted by then Commission Chairman Greg Dunn.
Fayette County representatives in attendance were Commission Chairman Greg Dunn, Herb Frady, Peter Pfeifer, A.G. VanLandingham, Chris Cofty, and Lee Hearn
In my original comment, I quoted from the minutes how the East Bypass was voted on and "carried unanimously."
In reading Commissioner Horgan's email to me, the Fayette Commissioners never have had their own vote on 2004 SPLOST transportation priorities. That makes me wonder why the findings of the AFCG were ignored.
Since Commissioner Horgan said in his email to me, "that Councilman Paul Letourneau (Town of Tyrone) made a motion and County Commissioner Peter Pfeifer seconded the motion. That is a councilman from Tyrone and a County Commissioner. They can not intermix their jurisdictions," I wonder why Councilman Letourneau's motion, Commissioner Pfeifer's second was "carried unanimously" and allowed to stand.
In addition, the last page of the document says:
"County-Wide Road Priority Projects (Approved By County And City Officials On October 28, 2003)
Top 3 in Priority Order
1. East Fayetteville By-Pass
2. State Route Highway 54 Widening (to Clayton County)
3. West Fayetteville By-Pass"
Mon, 05/14/2012 - 10:52am
#19
Commissioner Horgan Is Wrong!
John Munford's article said, "Commissioner Steve Brown argued that the east bypass was the top-rated project prior to the sales tax being approved by voters. But Commissioner Robert Horgan noted that the county commission never voted to rank the east bypass as the top project."
I have a copy of the minutes from a meeting that "was held on Tuesday, October 28, 2003 at 6:00 p.m., in the public meeting room of the Fayette County Administrative Complex, 140 Stonewall Avenue, Fayetteville, Georgia."
It was "A Joint Meeting to discuss the Transportation Plan Update."
The meeting was attended by the Fayette County Commissioners and municipal officials from the City of Fayetteville, the City of Peachtree City, the Town of Tyrone, and the Town of Woolsey.
Fayette County Commission Chairman Greg Dunn said at the beginning of the meeting that, "There was one top priority tonight and that was to choose the county's top three priorities for the next transportation improvement program."
On page 6 of the minutes it says, "Mayor Ken Steele of Fayetteville remarked that historically for the last decade the East Fayetteville Bypass was number three in the priority and he felt it had worked its way to the top of the list."
On page 13 of the minutes from the October 28, 2003, Transportation Meeting it says, "Councilman Paul Letourneau (Town of Tyrone) said he wanted to make a motion that the East Fayetteville Bypass be the number one priority."
"Commissioner Peter Pfeifer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously."
I can foresee that I will, once again, be accused of throwing East Bypass folks "under the bus." However, the minutes from that meeting don't lie.
Hopefully, Commissioner Horgan will read the minutes from the October 28, 2003, Transportation Meeting and re-evaluate his statement
Condition, as one of the many home and property owners who has had their property condemned through eminent domain for the West Fayetteville Bypass, I am one of the people Mr. Drake has referred to as "a very vocal minority" with respect to our local 2004 Transportation SPLOST.
The West Fayetteville Bypass (WFB) has been a very controversial issue since 1985. There are voters all over the county who are against the WFB and have repeatedly spoken against the project.
In fact, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) stated that the project was too expensive and would not relieve traffic. Therefore, the ARC denied funding based on those two parameters.
It is also a fact that the voters of Fayette County were so concerned about the manner in which the West Fayetteville Bypass was initiated, they voted out former Commission Chairman Jack Smith and Commissioner Eric Maxwell. The voters elected Steve Brown and Allen McCarty because they were completely against the WFB. Current Commissioner Steve Brown has been opposed to the West Fayetteville Bypass since 2003. I have a County document that verifies that statement. If the WFB had not been such a questionable issue with Fayette voters, Mr. Brown and Mr. McCarty would not have won the last county election.
I am enclosing several links pertaining to HB-240. The first link is a site authored by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG): www.ciclt.net/sn/leg/l_detail.aspx?ClientCode...ga...2011...
This next link provides videos of a Fayette County Commission Meeting where the usage of HB-240 was discussed: www.longlist.org/hb240
By the way, Mr. Drake has failed to disclose that he is the Executive Director of the Georgia Concrete Paving Association, and as such would most assuredly be in favor of ALL PAVING PROJECTS in Georgia. Mr. Drake has, quite openly, lobbied for the Transportation Investment Act (Regional T-SPLOST) here in this newspaper and at the Fayette County Commission meetings. Whether or not Mr. Drake wants to refer to the Transportation Investment Act as a SPLOST, it has all the characteristics, plus some, of a SPLOST. It is a 1% sales tax that will be in effect for 10 years with the potential of being renewed repeatedly.