Several major transportation-related developments were addressed at the January 4 regular meeting of the Henry County Board of Commissioners.
The Henry County Transportation Planning Department was authorized to accept $4.8 million of Congesting Mitigation and Air Quality funds to establish a fixed-route transit service, and an additional $2.2 million of Surface Transportation Block Grant funds to be used for the Hwy. 81 road widening project and the Mill Road widening project.
The board approved the $291,372 purchase of a pair of eight-passenger buses utilizing a Federal Transportation Administration Cares Act grant.
Commissioners also approved the purchase of one 30-passenger bus with $224,809 in Congesting Mitigation and Air Quality funds.
Formed in 1991, the CMAQ program is a federal program that provides funds to states for transportation projects designed to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.
The board also accepted $153,000 in CARES funding from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Emergency Solution Grants program. The funds will be used for emergency shelter in partnership with Connecting Henry, Inc. for delivery of those services.
In other business, the board approved the $123,635 purchase of new mobile radios for school resource officers from Loudoun Communications. The Henry County Police Department was also approved for five 2023 Chevrolet Tahoes to be utilized by the K-9 Unit, with the $188,215 purchase from Hardy Chevrolet made possible through funding generated by the Red Speed Camera initiative.
The board also approved the emergency purchase of four Ford Rangers costing $128,400 for the Tax Assessors Office. The purchase from Wade Ford constitutes an emergency due to the nationwide shortage of vehicles that are in stock and available, officials said. The vehicles are a part of the approved vehicle replacement plan for the county.
You wish to ease congestion QUIT building subdivisions and warehouses . Apparently the board of members don’t live in HENERY COUNTY.
I’m sorry but we need to be planning for our future transportation needs and not putting band aids over horrible planning.
Future planning needs to include totally REMOVAL of the I-75 South Metro Express Lanes! What a huge debacle that has intensified tenfold an already terrible traffic congestion issue in Henry County. It gets very little usage, and everyone bails off the Interstate to avoid the congestion caused by it which causes horrible traffic in neighborhoods and secondary roads. Most of the time it is going in the wrong direction or closed. Neighborhood roads are being torn up by tractor trailer trucks avoiding the backup on the Interstate starting in Henry County until you get to Locust Grove. The money used to build the I-75 South Metro Express Lanes (taxpayer or free govt funds) was a total waste, it made the situation far worse. A plan to add additional lanes would have been far more effecient and would actually help reduce the congestion. It’s embarrasing that travelers from other states complain about the traffic nightmare in Henry County. Another example of money ridiculously wasted and politicians who only care about themselves and not serving their constiutents and neighborhoods. Nothing will improve in Henry County until a new regime of politicans are elected, and that won’t happen due to demographics. Soon it will by Bye Bye Henry County for me, I’ll be joining the long list of others who have already left!
Greyhound used to go from Macon to Atlanta. It stoped in Jackson Locust Grove , Mcdonough . Stockbridge . It was convenient . It was great!!
Why not transportation like the fast trains .
Thanks
LYNN GILLESPIE