In amongst the boilerplate and the red herrings (“potentially reducing
the incidence of crashes”, “mitigating congestion”) is the real purpose
of this project:
Also as a part of the project, protected left turn lanes will be added at
various intersections along Cat Creek Road. The proposed intersections
include Pine Grove Road, Radar Site Road, New Bethel Road, and Hambrick
Road.
There’s a more long-term reason, too, which is hinted at with this
further unnecessary work:
This project will widen Cat Creek Road from
10.5′ lanes to 12′ travel lanes and add a two foot wide
paved shoulder with ground in place rumble strips. The entire
length of Cat Creek Road will be resurfaced as a part of
this project.
What is that more long-term reason?
“could potentially maximize the full utility of an existing transportation facility(s).”
Translation: promoting development in an area that,
according to the Comprehensive Plan,
is not supposed to be developed.
In plain language: sprawl.
That’s what Lowndes County wants your $3 million in tax dollars for.
Yes, I know, half of any SPLOST comes from outside Lowndes County.
But why is that any excuse to promote sprawl that will cost the county
money and end up increasing our property taxes while decreasing our
quality of life?
As I wrote in February 2010,
State highways 122 and 129 (Bemiss Road) make a nice fast route from
Hahira to Moody. A few improvements at Walker’s Crossing (where 122 and
129 intersect) would seem much more appropriate. The MPO could request
for the state to do that.
So why doesn’t Lowndes County do that, considering it would cost a lot
less to fix up one intersection than four plus widening a whole road?
Because it wouldn’t promote development, which trumps everything in
Lowndes County.
We didn’t know how much that boondoggle would cost back then.
Now we do.
$3 million dollars is far too much for a project to benefit developers at the expense of everybody else.
The complete project description is appended.
-jsq
Project Sheet
Project Number:
RC11-000069
Project Name:
Cat Creek Road Additional Lane Width and Turning Lanes
GDOT ID:
Project Description:
Cat Creek Road is classified as a major collector road that traverses from
Berrien County into Northern Lowndes County and terminates at
State Route 125. This project will widen Cat Creek Road from
10.5′ lanes to 12′ travel lanes and add a two foot wide
paved shoulder with ground in place rumble strips. The entire
length of Cat Creek Road will be resurfaced as a part of
this project. In some areas, drainage structures will have to
be extended. Also as a part of the project, protected
left turn lanes will be added at various intersections along Cat Creek
Road. The proposed intersections include Pine Grove Road,
Radar Site Road, New Bethel Road, and Hambrick Road. Finally,
deceleration lanes will be added at various intersections and
at entrances into major subdivisions. The proposed intersections
will include the four roads listed above and the proposed major
subdivisions will include Chandler Place Subdivision, Roswell
Subdivision, Pebble Creek Subdivision, Pebble Ridge Subdivision, and
Fairington Place Subdivision. Limited ROW will need to
be acquired in areas where deceleration lanes and left turn lanes are
built.
Regional Commission:
Southern Georgia
Unconstrained List:
Yes
County:
Lowndes County
Phase
Total Project Cost
Total Amt Requested
Comments:
PE
$150,000
$150,000
ROW
$100,000
$100,000
CST
$2,750,000
$2,750,000
Total
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
Public Benefit
Notes
Ensuring Safety and Security
This project would benefit the public by potentially reducing the incidence of crashes along this roadway segment,
corridor, and/or intersection.
Maximizing the value of
Georgia’s Assets
This project could potentially maximize the full utility of an existing transportation facility(s). In some cases, bypasses
will be necessary. Example benefits could be: mitigating congestion (e.g. operational improvements) and optimizing capital asset management (e.g. resurfacing, rehabilitation). The impacts would apply to this roadway segment, corridor, and/or intersection.
Also as a part of the project, protected left turn lanes will be added at various intersections along Cat Creek Road. The proposed intersections include Pine Grove Road, Radar Site Road, New Bethel Road, and Hambrick Road.
