DARREL EALUM: Transportation bill remains center stage

Our pace in legislative week five increased as the Transportation Bill (HB 170) continued to take center stage. The Transportation Committee passed HB 170 with near unanimous support; a few Republicans dissented. Several notable education bills were also brought to the floor.

Consensus appears to build throughout the General Assembly for formulating additional revenue streams of $1 billion to $1.5 billion to address transportation infrastructure and transportation expansion projects. Inflation coupled with reduced transportation revenue has generated a call to action by the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House.

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) presented us a compelling story of infrastructure degradation and a need for urgent transportation expansion. According to their brief, $1 million dollars would have resurfaced 64 miles of a rural highway in 1971, while that same million dollars would resurface less than seven miles today. Compounding this inflationary impact is the reduction of motor fuel revenue created by the mixed blessing of newer vehicles getting more miles per gallon.

Pressure will build as the deepening of the Savannah Port approaches completion in 2020 and as traffic congestion increases in the Atlanta area. Movement of imports and exports through Savannah and solving Atlanta congestion will become major concerns; however, we must continually strive to keep transportation concerns for Southwest Georgia in the mix.

GDOT reported 1,622 bridge structures that need to be replaced over the next 20 years. In order to replace those structures within a 75-year life cycle, 89 structures should be replaced each year. In 2014, only 60 bridges were replaced. Their analysis also showed road maintenance languishing as the percentage of roads in fair or better condition dropped from over 90 percent in 2002 to less than 75 percent in 2014.

Three education bills of notable interest passed out of committee this week. Now that previous legislation deems that end-of-course tests are the barometer for determining a student’s qualification for graduation, and High School Graduation Tests are no longer required, House Bill 91 establishes a process for former students who met previous graduation requirements but did not pass one or more of the graduation tests to petition their local school boards to obtain a high school diploma.

House Bill 62 would wave certain residency requirements so children of active-duty military personnel in Georgia have the ability to receive special needs scholarships. Military families are often required to relocate across the country, and these children should not be denied certain educational opportunities as a result. HB 62 honors our men and women in uniform by allowing their children the educational opportunities they deserve.

Our colleagues in the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 2 that would provide high school students with alternative ways to earn their high school diplomas. SB 2 would allow students who have met the necessary requirements to enroll in college courses upon completion of their high school freshman and sophomore years. Under this bill, students can earn their high school diplomas and start their postsecondary degrees simultaneously. We in the House are reviewing the details, and I strongly support initiatives that will allow dedicated students with desire and commitment to advance rapidly within our educational system.

Lunch with Speaker Ralston and a small group of representatives was informative. The speaker reached out to us for feedback and suggestions. Breakfast at the governor’s mansion with a group of new representatives was also helpful. Gov. Deal restated a shortened script of his State of the State priorities, and the first lady shared her excitement about new initiatives she is taking at the mansion. She extended an open invitation for our constituents to visit the mansion, and I will be honored to facilitate a trip for any person who wishes to visit. Always remember, the mansion is not a Republican mansion or a Democrat mansion; it is the People’s Mansion where our governor and first lady live.

Please contact me about issues of your concern and stop by and visit me at the Capitol if you are in Atlanta during the legislative session.

State Rep. Darrel Bush Ealum, D-Albany, represents Georgia House District 153. He can be contacted at [email protected] or call (404) 656-0116.