ITS Georgia President's Message from Georgia Engineer Magazine

Scott Mohler
ITS Georgia President

Congratulations to newly appointed Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Keith Golden and new Northeast Georgia District Engineer Bayne Smith. Georgia is indeed fortunate to have these two professionals in top leadership positions within the department. Both are uniquely qualified to successfully manage the mobility challenges we face in Georgia.

Commissioner Golden rose through the ranks of the department serving in planning and operations. He was Director of Operations before becoming Deputy Commissioner and Interim Commissioner last year. He knows the value intelligent transportation solutions bring to address issues of safety, efficiency and congestion mitigation in our surface transportation system.

Commissioner Golden said that he has personal experience with benefits of ITS solutions and will continue to support its deployment.

“Having worked in traffic operations during my career, I have firsthand experience with many of the benefits Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) can offer in a transportation system. Georgia DOT consistently analyzes potential uses of ITS throughout our network of roadways. Many aspects of ITS – ramp meters, video detection devices and coordinated traffic signalization – can be successfully utilized on a daily basis to help manage traffic and congestion and keep motorists informed, Commissioner Golden told ITS Georgia shortly after being formally appointed by the state transportation board.”

New District One Engineer Bayne Smith is one of only three GDOT employees to hold both a PE and PTOE (Professional Traffic Operations Engineer) license.He is also on the board of directors of your ITS Georgia Chapter.

Bayne began his career working in Traffic Operations at GDOT and was instrumental in developing the NaviGAtor intelligent transportation management system. He also served as state traffic signal engineer until joining URS Corporation in 2001. At URS, Bayne led the national ITS practice and was instrumental in capturing best practices in ITS, and then bringing those best practices and cutting edge ITS ideas to Georgia and other clients all over the U.S.

We asked District Engineer Smith his thoughts for implementing new ITS solutions in his district.

“I am very excited at the opportunity to rejoin GDOT and help further the implementation of Intelligent Transportation Systems throughout the State of Georgia. GDOT has done an exceptional job at constructing, operating and maintaining a successful ITS system and I am excited that future advances in technology will allow us to continue to enhance the system and provide valuable benefits to the motoring public.”

We appreciate Commissioner Golden’s and District Engineer Smith’s commitment to progress and stand ready with them to meet the challenges ahead. 

 
Take time to learn about and vote on the TSPLOST in July

On Tuesday, July 31, voters will decide if 12 designated districts across Georgia will be authorized to collect a one-cent sales tax for the next 10 years to be devoted exclusively to local and regional transportation projects.

Doug Callaway of the Georgia Transportation Alliance told a chapter meeting of ITS Georgia the impact of the TSPLOST, if passed, would be to generate almost 28,000 jobs for every $1 billion of revenue generated. The resulting improvements would enhance the safety and efficiency of the transportation system all while under local control. Funds collected in each district could only be spent in the district where they are collected and only to move forward projects chosen by local elected officials. Additionally, watch dog groups in each district would monitor and report to the public how funds are spent.

More than 1,600 local projects throughout the state have been selected by city and county leaders. To learn more about the Transportation Investment Act (TIA) referendum and to review proposed projects in your area, please visit: http://www.it3.ga.gov/Pages/default.aspx. Pass this information along to your friends and neighbors, too.

To keep up with the latest ITS Georgia news, please visit our web site (www.ITSGA.org) or follow us on twitter @ITSGA.