Latest news with #TSPLOST
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Columbus is working on $1.2 billion in construction. See the project updates
City officials provided an update on $1.2 billion infrastructure projects, ranging from transportation to the Judicial Center, at the Columbus Council work session Tuesday. Funding for these projects has come from various sources, including: 2012 and 2022 Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) TSPLOST Discretionary Funds Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) 2021 Other Local Option Sales Tax (OLOST) Infrastructure Fund Stormwater Fund Paving Fund Georgia Department of Transportation Private donations and public-private partnerships Columbus Building Authority bonds The projects already were budgeted between 2010-2024 or will be budgeted, according to the presentation by deputy city manager Pam Hodge, inspections and code director Ryan Pruett, engineering director Vance Beck and planning director Will Johnson. 'I don't care where you go in this city, there's construction,' said city manager Isaiah Hugley. 'And when people drive into a city where they see construction work like that, they know there's growth and opportunity coming.' Some of the construction may be inconvenient and disruptive, but 'progress is on the way,' he said. Hugley and other city officials visited businesses impacted by road closures and detours related to the Spiderweb project after a resident complained about the negative impacts on his business. Here's an update on infrastructure and quality-of-life projects ongoing throughout Columbus. Williams Road/Fortson Road roundabout: A detour is in place and crews are working on grading, drainage and earthwork. The project began in April 2024 and is expected to be completed in September 2025. It has a budget of about $5 million and is about 31% complete. Mott's Green Plaza enhancement: The project included a Chattahoochee Riverwalk realignment and re-use of existing donor brick and began in May. It is about 96% complete and expected to be finished by June. This project has a budget of over $1.4 million. Flood abatement: This projects will install a new box culvert and flood basin to reduce flooding issues. It will run on the west side of Veterans Parkway from Apex Road to the flood basin near 29th Street. Earthwork and culvert installation is in progress, and it's expected to be completed in November. The project has a budget of over $13.5 million. I-185/Buena Vista Road interchange: This GDOT-managed project, with a budget of $47.7 million, is about 75% complete and has funding from the 2012 TSPLOST. The decks on the north side of the bridge are complete, Beck said. Crews previously shut down the interstate to demolish the old bridge and build half of the new one. Although the perception is that the project has been dragging, Beck said, crews have been working. It is estimated to be completed this fall. I-185/Cusseta Road interchange: GDOT also is managing this project, which is 56% complete. It has a budget of $58 million and also has funds from the 2012 TSPLOST. The project is expected to be completed by Spring 2026. SR1/US27 widening: With a $40 million budget, GDOT also is managing this $40 million project funded by the 2012 TSPLOST. The project is 31% complete and expected to be finished by Summer 2026. Spiderweb Phase II: This project began in April and is estimated to be completed in 2027 with a 24-month intersection closure. The closure will save about $5 million in the $45.8 million project Bradley Park at J.R. Allen diverging diamond: This another GDOT project. It's about 59% complete. Infantry Road and Follow-Me Trail: This will add a new road from South Lumpkin Road to Fort Benning Road and a new trail along Fort Benning Road. Officials are waiting on GDOT to provide a revised construction agreement. It is anticipated to begin this summer and end next summer. Steam Mill Road: This will include road improvements from Buena Vista Road to Pinecrest Drive with a pedestrian bridge over I-185 and roundabouts at Dogwood Drive, McCartha Drive and Northstar Drive. Design for this project is expected to be completed by August with an estimated cost of $22.5 million to $26 million. It's funded by the 2022 TSPLOST. Whitesville Road: The road will be widened starting on the north side of the bridge over J.R. Allen Parkway and ending at the intersection of Williams Road. This design will change the road from two lanes to three lanes with intersection improvements or roundabouts, a sidewalk and a multiuse trail. The project has an estimated cost of $14.3 million. South Lumpkin Road: This project will provide road improvements from Victory Drive to the proposed Infantry Road. Officials are collecting public opinions for a three-lane option with an estimated cost of $9.6 million and a five-lane option with an estimated cost of $11.9 million. 13th Avenue, 17th Street and Linwood Boulevard roundabout: This creates a new roundabout at 13th Avenue, 17th Street and Linwood Boulevard. Design is expected to be completed in December with an estimated cost of $6.65 million. It will be funded by the 2022 TSPLOST. Construction continues on the $207.5 million Columbus Judicial Center. The cast is in place and concrete activities are ongoing. Interior and exterior framing for the eight-story building has started as the structure is to be completed this summer. Construction workers have begun working on the sixth floor, and the project is on schedule to be completed by next summer. Other upcoming infrastructure projects include Chattahoochee Riverwalk repaving and maintenance, Buena Vista Road corridor improvements, Liberty Theatre block enhancement, Morris Road improvements and Columbus Airport improvements.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buena Vista Interchange project update
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — In Columbus, a major interchange project is nearing completion. State leaders and transportation officials gathered to discuss updates on the Buena Vista Interchange project. The $47 million project aims to reconstruct the interchange at Buena Vista Road and I-185. Now, it is almost 80% complete. State Representatives, Carolyn Hugley and Teddy Reese joined Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) officials to walk the site and share project details. The project's concept report was approved in late 2016, and a bidder was selected in 2020. However, the pandemic caused some delays. The construction challenges laid out by GDOT's project update include, 'Contractor and Utility owners faced delays in sourcing materials following pandemic supply shortages. Smaller work crews or delayed activities due to smaller labor market.' as well as the interchange being open to traffic for the entirety of construction, 'Challenges and risks are inherent when keeping a project site open while undertaking a large-scale construction project. ' State Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Administrator for the GDOT, Kenneth Franks, said, 'We definitely experienced supply chain issues on multiple facets of the projects from just construction materials for the actual roadway and utility supplies.' Despite pandemic delays and utility relocations, the GDOT says the project now remains on schedule. The project replaces an existing bridge with a wider and modified to accommodate a Diverging Diamond, a sidewalk on the south side, and a multi-use trail on the north side. Representatives believe the project will serve as a transportation upgrade as well as an economic draw for the area. Rep. Teddy Reese, (D-Columbus) said, 'A few years back, the citizens of this area were wise enough to pass a TSPLOST, and what that did was that contributed funds so that we could… build the bridges and the roads and do the special projects that we needed to accommodate the growth that we have here in Columbus.' Reese continued, 'One thing I think everyone is going to appreciate is this beautiful new bridge when it's done, and how well it's going to look in this area, how well it's going to help bring up this area. When you think about economic development, you have to think about the ability to move people, the ability of folks to get around, and also just the aesthetics of the community.' Representatives Hugley and Reese both thanked the community for their patience and said this transformation will be worth the wait. Hugley said, 'You know, we have construction going on here as well as down at the spider web, citizens in my community are being inconvenienced. I get that. It's important to really thank our citizens for, number one, having the vision to vote for the TSPLOST and invest in our community. And two, to encourage them to be patient as we move through this process. We are in what we want to call the messy middle. And the end result is going to be a beautiful interchange here.' Leaders announced that when construction is finished, the bridge will be known as the Maretta Mitchell Taylor Interchange. Hugley said, 'We're so excited that we are standing on what will be the Maretta Mitchell Taylor interchange to honor the first African-American representative that was a female from this area… this was part of her district while she was in the legislature. I'm encouraged that this is going to be a wonderful tribute to her, and it's going to make traveling in this area a lot more convenient for our citizens.' Official estimate substantial completion by fall of this year and final completion of the project in 2026. Community members can track the progress of this and other projects on the GDOT website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Where is the money going to help ‘Atlanta Move Forward?' Here's what we found
Atlanta council members grilled the Atlanta DOT after an audit showed some concerning findings about a major infrastructure package. In May 2022, Atlanta voters approved a set of ballot measures to make big investments in the city's infrastructure. But only a fraction of that has been spent, according to a report by the city auditor. 'The sentiments that went through me were anger, embarrassment, but then, more importantly, a feeling of defeat,' Councilman Alex Wan said. Councilmembers expressed frustration and concern at a meeting Wednesday that the Moving Atlanta Forward Plan may seem to be falling behind. 'This is a city of Atlanta problem that has stretched on for decades,' Councilman Amir Farokhi said. Councilmembers brought up 'Renew Atlanta,' which was an infrastructure package from 2015 that ran behind schedule. Voters approved the Move Atlanta Forward proposal back in 2022. Atlanta officials said at the time that the measures approved by voters included two bonds and a special sales tax renewal, greenlighting a $750 million funding effort for transportation, recreation, public safety, and the arts. TRENDING STORIES: Truck spills piles of 'undeliverable' mail on side of I-285 in Cobb County DoorDash driver vanishes after making delivery in Clayton County Man who refills vending machines at GA high school accused of using AI to create nude images of kids Funds were split between a $400 million infrastructure bond and a $350 million TSPLOST extension, effectively a $0.04 tax on every $10 purchase for retail transactions in Atlanta, according to city officials. Now, the Atlanta City Auditor's Office reports less than 10% has been spent. The auditor's report found that 'as of August 2024, $47 million had been spent on Moving Atlanta Forward projects, less than 10% of project funds.' The Atlanta Department of Transportation says they have spent more money since then. However, the dashboard shows the program has since paid $69 million on projects, or 9.3% of the approved funds. In their examination of the funding package, the auditor's office found that projects were slow to progress and that districts with the least amount of spending had higher poverty levels than the others. 'That was eye-opening but not shocking,' Councilman Antonio Lewis said. The Atlanta Department of Transportation says some projects have not made it to construction because they are more complex than others and need additional community input. The mayor's office indicated weather may have caused some delays, and emergency repairs forced some projects to be prioritized over others. The report also found that there was not a central oversight mechanism, and having one 'may improve consistency across the three project delivery departments.' Those departments are Transportation, Enterprise Asset Management, and Parks and Recreation. Due to the audit's findings, the office made several recommendations to help the programs get back on track, for oversight, spending tracking, and overall project management. According to the audit's highlights, the recommendations were either agreed to or partially agreed to, with completion dates set for June 2025 at the latest. However, Council members expressed apprehension about if the projects would be completed. 'I've heard from a number of constituents that they are giving up, we are just giving up that we are actually going to get these projects,' Wan said.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Atlanta voters approved $750M in infrastructure improvement spending, audit says less than 10% used
In May 2022, Atlanta voters approved a set of ballot measures to make big investments in the city's infrastructure. But only a fraction of that has been spent, according to a report by the city auditor. Atlanta officials said at the time that the measures approved by voters included two bonds and a special sales tax renewal, greenlighting a $750 million funding effort for transportation, recreation, public safety and the arts. Funds were split between a $400 million infrastructure bond and a $350 million TSPLOST extension, effectively a $0.04 tax on every $10 purchase for retail transactions in Atlanta, according to city officials. Officials said those needs included sidewalks, streets, parks, recreation centers and public safety facilities, with funding to be spent over five years. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Goals for the program were 'built on four pillars,' including: One Safe City A City of Opportunity for All A City Built for the Future Effective & Ethical Government Now, the Atlanta City Auditor's Office reports less than 10% has been spent. TRENDING STORIES: Tin Roof Cantina to close after nearly 20 years of business in DeKalb County 1 hospitalized after falling into elevator shaft, becoming pinned inside Alpharetta preschool's license revoked after 1-year-old boy choked on a piece of mango, died The auditor's report found that 'as of August 2024, $47 million had been spent on Moving Atlanta Forward projects, less than 10% of project funds.' In their examination of the funding package, the auditor's office found that projects were slow to progress and that districts with the least amount of spending had higher poverty levels than the others. The report also found that there was not a central oversight mechanism, and having one 'may improve consistency across the three project delivery departments.' Those departments are Transportation, Enterprise Asset Management and Parks and Recreation. Due to the audit's findings, the office made several recommendations to help the programs get back on track, for oversight, spending tracking and overall project management. According to the audit's highlights, the recommendations were either agreed to or partially agreed to, with completion dates set for June 2025 at the latest. Channel 2 Action News reached out to the mayor's office for comment on the audit's findings and was directed to the city auditor's office. We have reached out to them for additional comment. A full list of the projects approved in 2022 by the Atlanta City Council can be found here. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
