Includes CONNECTOR...of particular interest to GDOT employees Spring/Summer 2014 New I-85/400 Flyover Ramps offer relief for Buckhead community Keeping Georgia’s Waterways Clean Meet GDOT’s District Communications Officers Stardina Wyche Holds GDOT History in her Hands Spring/Summer 2014 Georgia Milepost 21 Commissioner’s Column 6 The Road Ahead Contents he Department celebrated a long- 2 Across the Board awaited transportation project in May, ADMINISTRATION 4 GDOT reorganizes Districts with the opening of the new flyover Keith Golden, P.E. Tramps connecting Interstate 85 and Georgia 400. LMIG. The focus is local Commissioner The ramps, pictured on the cover and featured in 5 Georgia highway fatalities down this issue, are expected to relieve congestion and Todd Long, P.E. 7 18 significantly improve travel through and around Deputy Commissioner 2014 6 GDOT Briefs the Buckhead community. The completed Russell McMurry, P.E. AMERICAN 8 Interstate 85, Georgia 400 Flyover ramps open project represents another strong partnership Chief Engineer INHOUSE between Georgia DOT’s team of professionals, 12 GDOT TidBits Angela Whitworth local governments and our contractors. See the story on page 8. DESIGN Keeping Georgia’s waterways clean Treasurer 13 Additionally, Georgia DOT continues to support local governments AWARDS Meet GDOT’s District Communications Officers through the Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) program, 14 which this fiscal year allocated $120 million. The Department received News for and about Employees of OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS 15 585 applications for improvements on roads and bridges in cities and Georgia Department of Transportation counties across the state. Over the past 10 years, the LMIG program and its Karlene Barron Letters of Praise predecessors (State Aid and Local Assistance Road Program) have awarded Director 8 nearly $950 million in grants to locals. Read more about the LMIG program on David Spear 18 Stardina Wyche holds GDOT history in her hands page 4. Press Secretary 19 Employee Advocacy Team While one of two severe winter storms left us somewhat bruised, the Department and the state recovered well thanks in large part to our statewide 20 Above & Beyond: Commissioner’s Commendation staff and the many partners who contributed to clearing interstates and state CREATIVE & DESIGN SERVICES for Excellence routes, removing debris and ensuring the safety of citizens and motorists. Carla Murphy 21 Our GDOT Challenge Winners! Governor Nathan Deal appeared before the State Transportation Board Program Manager Connector Shorts to share a “thank you” to GDOT staff on behalf of Georgians. Read the 22 Governor’s comments on page 2. Cedric Mohr 23 Retirees and Service Anniversaries Finally, Congress continues to discuss the solvency of the Highway Project Manager Trust Fund (HTF) that faces a shortfall this summer, as well as long-term Liz Rothman reauthorization of the surface transportation bill (MAP-21) that ends on Public Affairs Writer September 30. Until Congress provides some certainty about the future of federal transportation funding, starting July 1, GDOT will authorize Ron Battle few, if any, federal aid projects. Projects already under construction should Electronic Information not be affected. The Department remains focused on our core business; Design Coordinator Includes CONNECTOR...of particular interest to GDOT employees Spring/Summer 2014 and our legislative staff and senior leadership will continue to monitor and What is TravelSmart? report progress on funding legislation as information becomes available. Georgia DOT is engaged in all aspects of mobility. In addition to roads and bridges, CONTRIBUTING WRITERS So, stay tuned. we’re involved in public transit, general aviation, rail, waterways, and bike and Julette Carter pedestrian programs. To reflect the larger picture, we’ve launched TravelSmart - GDOT’s umbrella of Mark McKinnon transportation services and programs. TravelSmart embodies GDOT’s approach to New I-85/400 Flyover applying innovative engineering, customer-friendly design and cost-effective solutions Ramps offer relief for Buckhead community Rick Parham to all facets of our transportation system. Keith Golden, P.E. The TravelSmart tag is a reminder that Georgia DOT works to keep Georgia moving - on all modes of transportation and in all parts of Georgia. DISTRICT COMMUNICATIONS Teri Pope, District One Keeping Georgia’s Waterways Clean Cissy McNure, District Two Meet GDOT’s District Communications Officers Kimberly Larson, District Three Stardina Wyche Holds GDOT History in her Hands Nita Birmingham, District Four Jill Nagel, District Five Representatives of the I-85/GA 400 project management Spring/Summer 2014 Georgia Milepost 21 On the cover: Mohamed Arafa, District Six team showcase the just-opened ramps. Mark McKinnon, District Seven Spring/Summer 2014 Georgia Milepost 1 ACROSS THE BOARD Gov. Deal addresses employees at Board Meeting services committee as a county commissioner gave me an opportunity to Moody, Grantham Re-Elected Getting personal with interact with the DOT. This position is elected by delegates from your own to STB “…on behalf of the citizens of the State Transportation Board congressional district, so you have to do a little politicking. They put their State of Georgia, thank you for a Vice Chairman Don Grantham confidence in you and they want someone who can perform. ormer State Senator Dan Moody of job well done.” Johns Creek and former Augusta/ Role of the STB We are a supporting unit of GDOT staff, the By Liz Rothman Richmond County Commissioner governor and state officials. We are a sounding board; we discuss issues with FDon Grantham were re-elected to five-year our constituents. We contact congressional leaders in D.C. to make sure we hen terms on the State Transportation Board have the financial support of the federal government. Photo: you (STB). Moody, representing the Sixth meet Congressional District, and Grantham, MOHR CEDRIC TIA, ports & storms Grantham’s region includes 13 counties that StateW Transportation representing the 12th Congressional voted for the TIA program. I call it the People’s Bill. They voted for it, Board Vice Chair District, were each affirmed by a caucus of Georgia General Assembly Photo: they pay for it and they identified the projects. Even in the second year, Don Grantham, members from their respective congressional district. [email protected] TIA has had a positive impact. We’re showing we mean business. We do CEDRIC MOHR CEDRIC the impressions are Moody serves as chair of the STB’s Communications Committee, what we say and we spend the people’s money wisely. stunning. There’s and is a member of the Legislative, Intermodal and Program Delivery/ Then-Gov. Jimmy Carter originally appointed Grantham to the the broad smile, the Consultant Services committees. GPA board in 1972 I was a very young man. The GPA exposed me to [email protected] warm handshake, He served in the State Senate for eight years (2002-2010) before things I had never envisioned. I realized that Georgia was a Cinderella the relaxed and retiring from that body. He was elected to the STB a year ago to fill a state that would be recognized in the future for water transportation special guest was on hand at February’s STB meeting. confident—yet vacant seat. Moody is an electrical engineer, businessman and a retired and for international growth. Take the dredging of the Port of Savannah Governor Nathan Deal came by to personally thank Georgia unassuming— United States Army Reserves officer. channel - Gov. Deal has made a concentrated effort to make it happen, DOT employees for their efforts during the January and demeanor. “It is an honor to be chosen to represent the residents of the 6th FebruaryA winter storms. and I am optimistic that it will. Current vessels carry 4,500 containers. The afternoon of our talk, Mr. Grantham, who has served for three Congressional District on the Board. A solid transportation system is Soon they will carry double that amount. GDOT and GPA are working “In the recent inclement weather crises…you have responded under years on the STB, was looking forward to a vote at the Capitol that key to the quality of life for those that not only reside in my district, to ensure that critical infrastructure is in place to move the additional difficult circumstances,” Deal told employees in the audience and those would elect him to five more years. He got it. but who use it to reach the many employment centers offered in the who watched the district feed. “You have worked long hours. You have Grantham represents east central Georgia’s Congressional District cargo into and out of the Port. metro area,” Moody said. worked under difficult conditions. The response I’m receiving from the 12, including Richmond County and the city of Augusta. The native At the peak of the February winter storm, 85 percent of households Grantham is vice chairman of the State last storm we had is exceptional. I think we have, in fact, set a model Augustan is president and CEO of Forest Sales Corporation. He was in the Augusta area had no power. You can’t imagine the cooperation Transportation Board, chairs the Finance for the rest of the country.” an Augusta/Richmond County Commissioner for seven years and - from the utility companies and the community. People were out with Committee, and serves on six other served 12 years on the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). His extensive chain saws removing fallen trees. Our District Engineer Jimmy Smith and committees. community and civic activities range from university and museum GDOT did an outstanding job. I appreciate the help from GDOT’s Jesup He served on the Augusta/Richmond Board Resolution Commends boards to over 35 years on the Boy Scouts of America Advisory Board and Tifton offices. We take so much for granted. When we’re without, we go County Commission for seven years (2003- of Augusta.