June 2010: Hurdles Remain Before HB 277 is Passed

A penny sales tax for transportation could generate some $25 million for Hall County alone, but government leaders have a few hurdles to clear first. “We need to act fast here because there are a bunch of deadlines that we are looking at,” said Srikanth Yamala, transportation planning manager for the Gainesville-Hall County Metropolitan Planning Organization. Citing the Transportation Investment Act of 2010 passed by the Georgia legislature, Yamala said the first thing that needs to happen is two representatives from each of the 13 counties making up the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, including Hall, must form a regional transportation roundtable. That group must hold its first meeting after Nov. 15, Yamala said. The 26 members of the Northeast Georgia roundtable need to reach consensus on the final project list.