Friday, November 8, 2002

Northern Arc dead following Tuesday's election?

Buoyed by the stunning outcome of Tuesday's election, officials with the Northern Arc Task Force (NATF) ­ the nonprofit grassroots citizens' organization fighting to stop construction of the Northern Arc ­ are optimistic that Georgia's critical transportation initiatives now may have a chance to move forward in a positive direction without the inclusion of the controversial superhighway.

The Northern Arc is the proposed $2.4 billion east-to-west superhighway that would connect I-75 in Bartow County with I-85 in Gwinnett.

"We feel confident that with true, responsible leadership governing the State house that the right transportation initiatives will be championed for the right reasons with money spent in the right places to help us manage our city's unbearable traffic gridlock and poor air quality standards," said Jeff Anderson, NATF President and co-chair.

Since January 2002, NATF has swelled from a group of less than 50 individuals fighting to stop the controversial 59-mile road to a membership of more than 5,500 citizens across the state.

The grassroots organization was formed following Governor Barnes' decision in late 2001 to accelerate the Northern Arc project in the Atlanta Regional Commission's (ARC) 25-year regional transportation improvement program (TIP).

Governor Barnes also held the Northern Arc as an important pet project in his Governors' Transportation Choices Initiative, also known as the (GTIC).

On the heels of Tuesday's sweeping changes in Georgia's political landscape, NATF officials admit their efforts may have played a role in the election outcome.

But they stop short of declaring a complete victory in their quest to stop the Northern Arc project.

"There's no question that Georgia's transportation impasse and the Northern Arc controversy played a significant role in yesterday's election results," said Bob Charles, NATF co-chair and Engineering Director.

"In our opinion, the road is virtually 90 percent dead. However, we still need to work very closely with Governor-elect Purdue and his team of transportation chiefs to ensure that the Northern Arc is permanently removed from the ARC's long-term transportation plans and that solutions to our region's most pressing north-south transportation challenges are addressed in a timely and expeditious manner."

From the first public information meeting held in Forsyth County in January 2002, NATF has relied on a three-pronged strategy in their efforts to educate all Georgians on the controversial road, including: political, legal and grassroots awareness.

Dozens of public information meetings were held throughout the first part of this year with standing-room only crowds ­ many citizens anxious to learn more about the proposed plans for the road and its impact on their homes, local communities and businesses.

In April 2002, NATF retained former, four-time Georgia Attorney General Mike Bowers and his firm, Meadows, Ichter & Bowers, to represent their interests in the courts. A legal intervention was filed on behalf of NATF in late August of this year, challenging the constitutionality of the state's funding scheme in issuing more than $820 million in bonds ­ the largest in the Georgia's history.

An appeal to the initial ruling in that case has been filed in Georgia's State Supreme Court. An expedited request to hear the case was filed by NATF due to the urgency of this matter and great significance of these transportation projects to the citizens of the state of Georgia. Despite the expedited requests, the case will likely not be heard until January 2003.

"We still plan to move forward in our legal appeal of the state's controversial bond funding package," said Anderson. "Although we are thrilled beyond measure that our political grassroots efforts to help Sonny get elected may have played a part in the election upset, we won't give up our fight until the road is a 100 percent, unquestionably, dead project."

The Northern Arc Task Force, Inc. (www.NATF.com) is a non-profit grassroots concerned citizens' organization founded in January 2002 that opposes construction of the controversial Northern Arc ­ a proposed 59-mile limited access east/west superhighway planned to connect I-75 in Bartow County with Georgia Hwy. 316 in Gwinnett County. NATF is dedicated to preserving the quality of life for all Georgians by promoting proper planning and responsible use of taxpayer dollars for transportation improvements.