They have not been as visible lately as when the group formed last year, but the newly re-named Tri-County Alliance is back and determined to find a way to alleviate the growing traffic concerns in South Fulton, Fayette and Coweta counties.

The formed in 2005 as the Highway 74 Corridor and have taken a new name that more accurately reflects the traffic infrastructure concerns that directly affect all three counties. Friday’s meeting at Chaps restaurant in Tyrone was attended by nearly three-dozen alliance members and a host of state elected officials from the three-county area. Collaborative members believe the combined cooperation of multiple jurisdictions will form a dynamic approach to resolving current and future transportation infrastructure needs in the three-county area, one that transcends partisan politics and geographical boundaries. South Fulton, Fayette and Coweta continue to experience exponential growth, a phenomenon that is projected to continue in coming decades.

A significant portion of the meeting was used to update legislators on the history of South Fulton Community Improvement District (CID) and the current alliance that sprang from it. During the overview, CID Chair Tom Flanagan acknowledged the historic contribution of South Fulton Concerned Citizens Steering Committee member Sandra Hardy with the CID and beyond.

“It was her efforts that provided the impetus for getting the CID off the ground,” Flanagan said. “Her efforts started this at the grass roots level. That’s the reason we’re here today.”

Tri-County Alliance provides strategic planning, government relations and conceptual planning for roadway and congestion relief projects. Current alliance projects include the Ga. Highway 74/I-85 interchange, the study of all I-85 interchanges and the need for others in the area from Flat Shoals Road south into Coweta County and implementation of Park and Ride lots.

Elected officials attending the meeting included Rep. Dan Lakly, Rep. Virgil Fludd, Sen. Ronnie Chance, Rep. Sharon Beasley-Teague, Sen. Mitch Seabaugh and Coweta County Commissioner Greg Tarbutton, Peachtree City Mayor Harold Logsdon and representatives from Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards office.

Six of the eight area jurisdictions affected by growing traffic adopted a Memorandum of Understanding in 2005. Those included Coweta County, Fairburn, Senoia, Union City, Peachtree City and South Fulton Community Improvement District. Only Fayette County and Tyrone have yet to join the collaborative effort.