Now in its 13th year, data from Georgia’s Transportation Investment Act (TIA) program demonstrates how the four participating regions and their counties are improving their economic and civic development by tackling extensive lists of infrastructure projects, in both year-to-year and long-term comparisons.

In his annual presentation to Georgia’s State Transportation Board on May 14, 2025, State TIA Administrator Kenneth Franks revealed that successful project and financial outcomes for the four regions and the TIA program to date are the result of careful management and continuous cooperation between the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) program administrators and local officials in participating regions.

In 2012, voters in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), River Valley and Heart of Georgia Altamaha (HOGA) regions approved 10-year terms using the unique TIA process in funding community-selected transportation improvement projects through a one-cent sales tax. In 2018, the Southern Georgia region joined the program. Since 2020, voters in all four participating regions have opted to continue their progress with new lists of projects to be funded and completed in additional ten-year terms.

For the four regions’ first decade terms, now called TIA 1 (2013 – 2022 for CSRA, River Valley and HOGA, 2018 – 2026 for Southern Georgia), 2.04 B has been collected through the penny sales tax. With a total of 1,022 transportation projects selected by regional and local officials to be funded through TIA, so far 951 have been completed and 38 are in construction.

The CSRA, River Valley and HOGA regions are currently in their second decade of participation, called TIA 2 (2023 – 2032). Local officials within those regions selected a total of 787 transportation projects to be funded through TIA, and to date 115 have already been completed and 127 are in construction. When Southern Georgia begins its TIA 2 term, possibly as early as 2026, the four regions will be undertaking a total 996 projects with a budget of $2.14 B

When asked how TIA is able to keep costs consistent with projections despite economic challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and rising costs of construction materials, equipment and labor, Franks explained that the key involves transparency and collaboration.

“TIA staff work in conjunction with each region as the local officials build their project investment lists. When we calculate the anticipated budget, a percentage of the pot is held back to account for inflation as we deliver the projects,” said Franks. “Originally, we counted on dealing with three percent inflation annually and it can sometimes be a struggle as we work with the counties and cities to keep costs consistent with our plans. Together, we’ve been able to actively manage all aspects and keep project delivery on pace with the forecasts.”

To date, the four participating Georgia regions have collected a combined $2.55 B in revenues, with 75%, or $1.91 B, funding the project lists and 25%, or $638.1 M, divided among the TIA counties and municipalities as discretionary funds for additional transportation needs.

Since 2023, when the three original TIA regions started their TIA 2 term, revenue collections program-wide have been collected at 31% ahead of forecast. According to the program’s referendum, when a region collects the projected amount necessary to cover a TIA term’s costs, tax collections for that region’s term must stop. Program administrators anticipate that this will occur in Southern Georgia in 2026, allowing that region to start its TIA 2 project list at least two years ahead of schedule. As the years pass, if any participating region expects to collect enough revenue to cover its TIA 2 budget before the end of its term, local officials may choose to hold an election for a possible TIA 3 term earlier than originally planned.

In the past 12 months, contractors completed a variety of TIA-funded projects throughout the state including the widening and improvements on 27 miles of SR 30/US 280 in Crisp County, the rehabilitation of runway 8-26 and expansion of the concrete apron at Augusta Regional Airport, the replacement of the old, outdated SR 520/US 82 bridge at the Satilla River Overflow in Brantley County and upgrades and improvements made at the intersections of US 84 and West Orange Street, West Cherry Street and West Pine Street in Jesup.

For more information about the Transportation Investment Act (TIA) program, check out the website at www.ga-tia.com.