Feds baffled by DOT’s mass transit program, freeze funding
August 4, 2009 at 10:09 pm by Thomas Wheatley in NewsOh hey, Ariel Hart of the AJC, what good news do you have for us this evening?
At a moment when mass transit is taking center stage as a solution to transportation problems nationwide, a [Federal Transit Administration] report has concluded that the Georgia Department of Transportation’s transit program is riddled with financial management problems, according to a report obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The problems were so severe that the federal government has frozen DOT’s transit grants, which average about $28 million a year, including some from the federal stimulus program. The report cast doubt on whether DOT could manage grants for the commuter rail line proposed to go south through Lovejoy.
It’s that last sentence that really smarts. A GDOT spokesman tells Hart that the agency’s taken steps to fix the problems and unfreeze the funding. For a better idea of how behind the times Georgia is when it comes to rail, Hart’s full article is worth checking out.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Hopefully, CL readers will be as disgusted with State leadership as they always are about City leadership.
First Perdue cuts education funding in a state where education is ranked near the bottom in the nation. Now the Feds freeze funding for the gross mismanagement of GDOT.
For some reason, I doubt CL will get the same response for Perdue’s shortcomings. After all, this is still the South.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
For second, I thought I was about to agree with you, S Dekalb. Then I read your last paragraph.
CL has scrutinized Perdue and state govt more than it has Franklin and city govt.
Browse the paper’s archives. It’s not even close.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I’m not doubting CL. I agree you scrutinize all, not just the City.
I’m doubting the readers. For some reason people tend to give Federal and State politicians a pass and target the City folks. Probably because the City handles public safety and basic services that affect them more in their day-to-day life. Not really thinking about how things controlled by the Feds and State – education, health care, gun control, etc – create or exacerbate problems at the City level.
Also, some people on this blog characterize the city as being grossly mismanaged since Maynard Jackson took office. A criticism that speaks for itself.
S
August 5th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
poor south dekalb – still babbling on…
August 5th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I think that commentors on this blog consider themselves Atlantans more than Georgians. We are more critical of Atlanta leadership because it seems fixable. We will never be able to control what some hilljack in in conyers wants done with this state.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
That makes a lot of sense Edgewood. About as much sense as locking up street corner dealers to win the war on drugs.
Let’s target the low hanging fruit in an effort to make Atlanta better.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
SDV -re: your reply to Edgewood Adam ??????
August 6th, 2009 at 10:27 am
You are missing the point Dickhead. I am saying that Atlantans are so baffled by the state that we are not as appalled. Every day is a struggle to live in this state and hear about rednecks running it. So yes, commentors are critical of Sonny and his cronies but more let down when one of our own does not come through.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thanks for the kind words Edgewood.
However, I have to disagree. I was never taught to aim low because aiming high was frustrating.
The City has done good things the last eight years dealing with these “Rednecks”. Keep in mind, this is the first City Admin to deal with a Republican Gov/Legislature in history.
I think we should cut the City some slack. Imagine what could have been accomplished with cooperation from the State. Maybe water/sewer rates wouldn’t be so high. Maybe, like most other states, the state would contribute money to the City’s budget to help offset costs like public safety.
As important as this mayoral race is this year, I would argue the governor’s race next year is more important. State govt’s anti-Atlanta attitude has to stop if Atlanta is ever expected to be the world class city everybody on this blog wants it to be.