Here and There

• A study released yesterday by the Knight Commission has stirred interest among the editorial writers at the mighty AJC (even though they no longer distribute their paper to Athens). Jmac at Beyond the Trestle does a great job of dismantling the criticism. My point: even if the UGA Athletic Association and high end college sports disappeared tomorrow at UGA, would it do anything to improve the situation at UGA in terms of academics, revenues, budget challenges, etc.? Absolutely not -- in fact, it might make them worse.
  
• Both Oconee County Public Schools were named to the Newsweek honor roll. Great news for our school system.
• The bear is still around.

Caviar Please?

Pretty neat story out of UGA this week about caviar farming. So far, coverage has landed in the AJC and in The Wall Street Journal (scroll down once you click the link), mostly with a tailgate hook.

While a clever hook, I would imagine most of the uses won't be at high end tailgates. But that doesn't really matter. What is important is that this is another example of how the research enterprise at UGA produces a tremendous amount of ideas with economic and environmental value (full disclosure -- my company has done some project work for the UGA Research Foundation, which is part of this research enterprise, so I have more than a passing familiarity with what they do).

The sturgeon effort is a great example of a project that helps preserve a population of rare native species and provides a commercial product. Other products you may have heard about include a number of leading commercial trees pioneered by Tree Introductions of Oconee County and other types of shrubs and flowers, various types of turfgrass, Watkinsville's Electrostatic Spraying Systems, and many other commercial enterprises. Other UGA research enterprises focus on biotech, cancer research, and diverse areas of research in keeping with the University's broad focus.

For Oconee County and Northeast Georgia, these are also the types of companies and enterprises that have strong potential to spur innovation and create jobs in industries we haven't even thought about. As the Federal government ups its spending on higher education and research, we need to be sure our leaders understand its importance for our present and future economic well being, and fight for every last dollar that can come to UGA.

Quick Hits

• Over at the Athens Inbox, I posted about an Athenian being considered for an ambassadorship to Germany. As one commenter said, Germany and Athens both have a lot of beer and a lot of bars -- so sending one of our own over there makes a lot of sense. Would be very good news for our region.
  
• Maria Saporta and others are right -- Gena Abraham's ouster just makes Georgia's transportation mess that much worse. I think the odds are high that nothing of significance happens with transportation this year, and that will be terrible news for our state. One bright spot: interim GDOT commissioner Gerald Ross was heavily involved in the Mars Hill widening project in Oconee, so that project may move up the priority ladder, if such a ladder still exists at GDOT.
  
• Love the idea of using sheep to kill privet in the OC. Can they kill bamboo too? If so, sign me up.
• For all my hiking/outdoorsy friends: check out this story from the Athens Banner-Herald. Trail food in the dining hall. Great idea. UGA's food services operation is ridiculously innovative (and good).
  

My Valentine's Present: Georgia Beats Florida Twice on TV

Be forewarned: I'm going way off topic here.

Last night I was watching Tivo and caught the end of the Tyson Invitational, a track meet that was held on Valentine's Day. Now those of you who aren't old friends might not know I used to be a big time runner and track and field junkie. I still record track meets and watch the events that interest me. In fact, I believe that Tivo is God's gift to televised track and field.

Anyway, as I fast forwarded through, I caught the familiar Red and Black of the Georgia Bulldogs. I tuned in and saw a remarkable performance. Georgia's Torrin Lawrence, fresh off a world leading 46.18 in the individual race, ran a 45.1 split to make up a 10 meter gap and crush Florida's Calvin Smith, a U.S. Olympian, on the anchor leg of the race. Georgia's vaunted sports information department may just need to give a little media training to that relay team, as they might be getting some more air time on TV if they keep running nation-leading times. Keep in mind that this was the same day the Dawgs beat the Gators at home in hoops. A double dose of victory to be savored.

Anyway, track and field doesn't get nearly enough coverage, and from time to time we have some remarkable track athletes at Georgia. Torrin looks to be the latest. Kudos to Chip Towers for writing a story for the AJC, and check out the You Tube video of his anchor leg below -- even if you don't like track, seeing UGA beat Florida at anything right now is a big positive. Especially in the most exciting race in track and field, the 4 x 400 meter relay (and no, the Gator track was not handicapped by competing in jean shorts).

P.S. And in a thinly-veiled effort to further "localize" this post and not just write about a favorite sport, I will report that former Oconee County pole vaulter Jordan Scott continues to re-write the record books at the University of Kansas, vaulting over 18 feet this season.

My Dad and Tom Friedman on GM: No Bailout

It's not often that my Dad and Tom Friedman focus on the same topics, but it happened this weekend. While riding to the Oconee County Landfill to haul off some brush (it's time to prune for all you gardeners out there!), Dad and I talked about the waste of trying to bailout American automakers, who have been making worse products that the competition for the better part of 30 years.

Friedman tackled the same issue and cuts to the core in his latest column.

Reading the news that General Motors and Chrysler are now lining up for another $20 billion or so in government aid — on top of the billions they’ve already received or requested — leaves me with the sick feeling that we are subsidizing the losers and for only one reason: because they claim that their funerals would cost more than keeping them on life support. Sorry, friends, but this is not the American way. Bailing out the losers is not how we got rich as a country, and it is not how we’ll get out of this crisis.

Friedman continues on to characterize GM as a wealth destruction machine, and proposes that instead of giving another $20 billion to automakers, that we invest it in companies that might actually help prepare our nation for the future. He's absolutely right, you know. Not only would the returns would be much higher, but the cathartic process for America's automakers could move ahead, and this is a positive.

Friedman's column also made me think about our state's investments in science and technology. Some of the programs we run in Georgia are easy targets for axe wielding budget writers, particularly those programs not easily understood by legislators or with long pay-off horizons. They shouldn't be.

In conversations with State Rep. Bob Smith (R - Watkinsville), he expressed that he has plans to staunchly defend any Georgia investments in research and technology. Since he is the chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education Appropriations in the House, this carries some weight. I absolutely applaud him for that.

As I told him, I think investments in higher education at all levels are critical in Georgia, and should be prioritized over most other needs in state government. We are working to fix our secondary education schools, we cannot risk damaging our higher education system through silly cuts to core programs or failing to invest in our most promising areas of research and technology.

While locally, our investments focus on agriculture, biotechnology, infectious diseases and various related disciplines, Friedman makes a strong case for investments in alternative energy, where apparently the financing has locked up along with the financial markets.

That is how taxpayer money should be used to stimulate: limited financing, for a limited time, targeted on an industry bristling with new technology start-ups that, with a little push from Uncle Sam, won’t just survive this crisis but help us thrive when it is over. We need, and the world needs, an America that is thriving not just surviving.

Wherever our dollars go, they need to go somewhere that has strong potential for moving our country forward, not keeping us tied to the hidebound, oil dependent ways of the past. Given our research expertise in Athens and statewide, Georgia can make a similar contribution by continuing to improve agricultural production and discovering new ways to fight disease and improve the lives of the world's citizens.

P.S. For all the readers who were no doubt wondering, Dad and I had a successful trip to the Oconee Landfill, where he seems to be on a first name basis with the guy who manages the scales. For a mere $5, our overstuffed family pick-up full of Crepe Myrtle and Water Oak branches was deposited and will be either buried and recycled or mulched and given away. The OC landfill is best deal in town, unless you live in the city. If you live in the city, the minimal taxes you pay to cover your trash pick up, safety, and curbside leaf and limb pick-up are the best deal in town.

South Milledge Makeover?

Flagpole has initiated an interesting community conversation with its recent two-part series on the University's future plans for the South Milledge corridor and elsewhere. The author of the piece asks a thoughtful question: "Why, we should ask, is state government encouraging and financing local communities to preserve lands while allowing its flagship institution of higher education to opt out?"

But with all due respect, I don't think that's the right question. It's really not even a question: it's a statement that implies the university is not preserving land, and that the state is actually encouraging and financing green space acquisition in other communities in a meaningful way. Neither implication is accurate; according to the most recent data, the University owns 42,000+ acres all over the state, much of it used for forestry and agriculture. According to sources, UGA's land assets have been growing in recent years. And the state's support for greenspace acquisition is half-hearted, at best, especially in tough budget times (perhaps we can tackle that another day).

UGA's land holdings further its mission as a land grant institution; I think it is fair to say it has done its part to preserve land. UGA land holdings include extensive acreage in Oconee County, including new acreage for its national champion equestrian team and horticulture and crop experiment farms. It has significant holdings in Griffin, Tift County, Jackson County, Morgan county and elsewhere. However, the article's main thrust -- that there needs to be a conversation and plan for South Milledge, does resonate.

In part one of the Flagpole piece, the author takes a look at how other institutions manage their land uses. He even invokes my alma mater as an example of using (and marketing) its land resources differently than UGA. While I love Berry and its landholdings, and applaud the way it is (finally) using its land assets to better educate students, the author failed to mention a key point. Berry aggressively harvests timber from its 26,000 acres to generate revenue and allows extensive hunting on its campus under an agreement with DNR. I can't imagine hunting and logging going over well on UGA owned land in Athens-Clarke County.

One also has to wonder how much of this conversation has emerged because of the opposition of Athens FAQ to the location of NBAF along South Milledge. To me, it always seemed that opposition to the facility was driven as much by its potential location as it was by scientific reasons (although to be fair, FAQ did bring up plenty of those as well).

The South Milledge site was never the favored choice by UGA and others for NBAF -- they wanted a site adjacent to the Richard B. Russell center, where NBAF would be tucked away behind another large government building, hopefully out of sight and largely out of mind. But the controversy that emerged shows how emotional the community is about the pastoral acreage along South Milledge.

I understand why. For many in Watkinsville, south Oconee and parts of Clarke, this corridor offers a great transition from "Urban Athens" to the more pastoral Oconee County. For cyclists, it is the primary "escape route" from Athens to the rural roads of Oconee, Walton, and Morgan counties. It is a breath of fresh air at the end of a long day.

But is it realistic to expect this corridor to stay completely rural forever? Probably not. Already, "light recreational uses" have been added with new intramural and athletic fields, and more are planned (see picture). The agricultural operations that do exist out there can be relatively intense and I would imagine are not environmentally neutral. A sewage treatment plant along the corridor often adds its own special scent to the area on warm summer days.

In a conversation with Kevin Kirsche from the University Architect's office, he confirms that he is supportive of an inclusive planning effort for the corridor, which was not addressed in the University's 1998 master planning.

"In truth, I thought there were a lot of good points in [the Flagpole] articles," said Kirsche. He's right. There were.

A planning process that engages and educates the community is a positive and necessary step. However, as we learned on NBAF, it is likely that the loudest cries will come from those who want nothing to change.

Kirsche has obviously done some thinking in that regard. While he stresses that no large scale changes are planned in the immediate future for the corridor, he allows that over time, as the University grows, some change will occur.

"One thing we have discussed [at the University Architect's office] is that it is perhaps not realistic to think that as the University continues to grow over time that South Milledge will remain rural or agricultural. But we love the rural experience out there," said Kirsche. "We have talked about ways to maintain that character."

He went on, discussing the protection of view lines into natural areas, designating areas that should be preserved, analyzing "viewsheds", identifying nodes for development, and using linked landscape corridors. Heady stuff.

So, what does all this mean? In short, expect more discussion about the future of the corridor, especially in years ahead once UGA is further along with its ongoing efforts to densify and redevelop its core campus area, as outlined by the 1998 master plan.

Here's my idea. How about activating the rail line that links Whitehall Village with UGA and the multi-modal center as a double-tracked light rail system with a running and biking trail alongside?

This sort of usage might allow for small "village" type development to be built, or event better, the re-establishment of Whitehall Village (the old part, not the new subdivision) as a student and educational community. Whitehall Village includes the old mill homes and brick structures that sprang up around the old Factory on the banks of the Oconee River now known as the Whitehall Mill lofts; these homes and some older factories line Whitehall Road up and down the hill between the railroad tracks and Barnett Shoals Road. By using UGA's transit expertise and an old rail line, a car-free way for students to get to and from main campus would be created and an old town re-established.

Facilitating the redevelopment and preservation of Whitehall Mill Village as a cultural and historical -- but living -- resource for learning and student housing, all within the footprint of a historic community, would be an amazing service to the state and the community. And imagine if this village was linked to campus with light rail and a paved cycling and running trail that eventually continued to Watkinsville?

One other plus: the addition of a rail and transit corridor to the mix suddenly allows for this to happen without pressure to four-lane Milledge or Whitehall, which almost no one wants.

On-campus rail does not appear to be a new concept for UGA. In doing some research on an unrelated project, I found a web page with decades worth of campus planning maps. Interestingly, the one from 1967 (pictured) calls for a looping rail line running through campus in what is now the intramural fields and around North Campus and Sanford Stadium. According to Kirsche, this concept was designed in an effort to secure a federally funded monorail, which eventually went to West Virginia University.

While this sort of monorail is out of vogue today, the existing infrastructure is arguably better. The existing underutilized freight line runs within 1/4 mile of almost all campus assets. Even without Whitehall Village in play, one has to wonder if the community and UGA could partner to to put this rail line to work to remove cars and buses from our streets and offer a unique marketing and lifestyle option not found on many southern campuses, while preserving it as a cargo route for a few key customers.

As a final note, I would be in remiss if I didn't add that if South Milledge is going to be developed in any form or fashion, I think it is a positive that the University would be handling it. While one can disagree with the style and/or substance of what is built at UGA these days, no one can question the commitment to quality construction, aggressive and impactful landscaping, inclusion of green space, and thoughtful planning.

As someone who has lived in this area for the better part of 30 years, the gracious landscaping, additions of green spaces like the D.W. Brooks mall, and the re-greening of campus in the past 15 years is an impressive accomplishment, and continues a legacy of horticultural passion that helped initiate a campus arboretum years ago. According to Kirsche, 34 acres of greenspace have been added to UGA's main campus alone in the past 1o years. Those of us who remember Herty Field as a parking lot and the less than impressive entry corridors to campus from years past certainly appreciate the University's efforts to "green up" all parts of campus today.

Kirsche's final thought on South Milledge is this: "We would like to have a logical, well constructed plan for conservation of land as well as potential development in the future."

Agreed -- so what are your thoughts on the future of South Milledge? And Kudos to Flagpole for kicking off the conversation.

Biotech Future

The Athens Banner-Herald included a fascinating round table discussion on the future of biotech in the Northeast Georgia region in Sunday's paper.

First of all, a pat on the back for what is a very substantive article; these kinds of roundtables on a variety of key industries in Athens would be great for readers. I also think it is great that they included the perspective of Mike Wanner and Frank Milward, who both offer valuable private sector perspectives from both the small and large corporate sectors.

I thought Milward's point about agriculture being a key towards the end was particularly salient. Given our state's history and our continuing reliance on agriculture (both plant and animal) I often wonder why we don't focus our biotech investments more aggressively into those areas. Indeed, one of our most unique local biotech start-ups involves genetic crop modification. Our state is a leading exporter of poultry and pork, as well as other row crops.

It just so happens that we have a fading federal institution in Oconee County called the "Experiment Station." Its original purpose was agricultural innovation and experimentation, but some in Washington believe its work is done. We can't defend the status quo forever, especially with a congressman who does not believe in earmarks. This area needs to articulate a future vision for this space.

Since those in the article and elsewhere are decrying the need for laboratory and incubator space, wouldn't it make sense to have an agricultural innovation incubator/biotech hub atop the hill on "Experiment Station" road adjacent to Highway 441? Preserve the surrounding greenspace for experimentation. Across the street you'll find Gainesville College and adjacent is UGA's horticulture farm. How about we take the buildings -- or add new ones -- and create a 21st century complex that could revitalize the mission of the station and accomplish its original goal -- to provide better crops and agricultural products to Americans through cutting edge research through a joint public-private investment in research.

NBAF

Yesterday I attended the NBAF Public Hearing and spoke in favor of the project. In my opinion, the risks are few and are far outweighed by the need for stronger national and economic security in the agricultural area.

One of the fundamental localized disagreements is over the impact of jobs -- however many would come with NBAF -- and their importance to our community. Given the new data that emerged yesterday, the economic case for NBAF is incredibly strong. Among the lower paying jobs are $43,500 for administrative assistants. Given the comments of homeland security officials and veterinary experts yesterday, the security need for NBAF is also incredibly strong, and Athens and UGA have the right mix of researchers and location to serve our country.

I agree with many that the Milledge Avenue location is less than ideal -- it will certainly change the character of that cherished stretch of road forever. I do not believe it will have a notable effect on the Botanical Gardens, certainly no more than the aroma of the sewage treatment plant just down the river from the Garden on a hot summer day. All that said, sometimes we all have to give up a little bit of what we enjoy about our community for the greater good. In my opinion, this is one of those times.

At the afternoon session, those speaking in favor of the project outnumbered opponents 25-12; I would say the overall crowd was evenly divided. For whatever reason, I was the one speaker at the afternoon session who got to engage in a bit of debate with an audience member (details here and here). From what I hear, the evening session was a bit more energetic and more opposition was there. Apparently there were a few more speaking against the project than for it, but not by a large margin.

Conservation Center Likely Earns a Reprieve

Some good news in this morning's paper -- it looks as if the J. Phil Campbell Natural Resource Conservation Center will make it another year. While the paper attributes the reprieve to a congressional rejection of the President's plan to close the Watkinsville "experiment station" and other similar facilities, Voice of Moderation's D.C. sources say that nearly everything is "on hold" until November and that without an appropriations bill passing, everything was set to remain status quo, anyway. Bottom line: not a lot happens in D.C. while everyone waits to see who the next president is.

However, long-term it doesn't look like the Experiment Station is going to be with us as the undersecretary of agriculture essentially told our Senators that the station's "work is done." Hopefully this is not the case, but if it is, station administrators will hopefully shift the focus so they are making the wisest use of our tax dollars.

If this can't be done, the time is now for Oconee's leaders and perhaps officials at UGA or with the state department of agriculture to begin collaboratively planning "BRAC-style" for the future of this facility and its 1,100+ acres of greenspace in the heart of Oconee. The Campbell Center and its research heritage should remain an asset for Oconee County as we seek to preserve our agricultural roots and manage our future growth.

NBAF EIS Released

The draft environmental impact study for NBAF is out. At a quick glance, it looks like UGA's South Milledge site is taking the most hits for its visual impact and proximity to the Oconee River, although in fairness most impacts are listed as "moderate," "minor" or "negligible." Some of the other issues relate to distance from civilization (piping, infrastructure, etc.) -- not sure if DHS sees that as a positive or negative.

Details follow from DHS, and include links to the executive summary and the full report (large file warning). As I have stated repeatedly, this is a project that could be beneficial for our area given the quality of the jobs that it would provide and the critical mass it might provide in a growing industry. I have also said that we need to base the local debate on facts (not rhetoric); hopefully this document will help provide some of those facts for those who want to make an honest assessment. Either way, am sure this release will light up the local blogosphere over the weekend....

Dear Interested Party:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces the availability of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Draft Environmental Impact Statement (NBAF DEIS). A copy of the Executive Summary is attached for your information and review. The NBAF DEIS and Executive Summary are also available online at http://www.dhs.gov/nbaf (click on Environmental Impact Statement) and in reading rooms as listed on the website. If you requested a hard copy of the document or a CD these will be sent in the mail to you. Please let us know if you do not receive a copy in the next week so we can ensure you receive the material.

The NBAF DEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of taking no action, as well as siting, constructing, and operating the proposed NBAF at the six site alternatives: 1) South Milledge Avenue Site, Athens, Georgia; 2) Manhattan Campus Site, Manhattan, Kansas; 3) Flora Industrial Park Site, Flora, Mississippi; 4) Plum Island Site, Plum Island, New York; 5) Umstead Research Farm Site, Butner, North Carolina; and 6) Texas Research Park Site; San Antonio, Texas.

In preparing the NBAF DEIS, DHS considered comments received from the public during the scoping period (July 31 through September 28, 2007). During the 60-day public comment period commencing on June 27, 2008 for the NBAF DEIS, DHS will hold public meetings to present the results of the environmental impact analyses and give the public the opportunity to provide its comments. The public meetings will be held in the vicinity of each proposed NBAF site alternative and in Washington, D.C. Meeting dates, times, and locations will be announced in the Federal Register, via local news media, through direct mail, and posted on the NBAF Web page (www.dhs.gov/nbaf).

Comments may be submitted orally, in writing at the public meetings or by using one of the following mechanisms:

U.S. MAIL U.S. Department of Homeland Security James V. Johnson Mail Stop #2100 245 Murray Lane, SW, Building 410 Washington, DC 20528	TOLL-FREE FAX 1-866-508-NBAF (6223) TOLL-FREE VOICE MAIL 1-866-501-NBAF (6223)
ONLINE: http://www.dhs.gov/nbaf (click on Public Involvement)

All comments (oral and written) received during the public comment period, which commences on June 27, 2008 and ends on August 25, 2008, will be given equal consideration and addressed in the final NBAF EIS. Individual names and addresses (including e-mail addresses) received as part of comment documents on the NBAF DEIS normally are part of the public record. DHS plans to reproduce comment documents in their entirety in the final NBAF EIS. Any person wishing to have his/her name, address, or other identifying information withheld from the public record of comment documents must state this request prominently at the beginning of any comment document. DHS will honor the request to the extent allowable by law. All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be included in the public record and open to public inspection in their entirety.

I look forward to your participation in this important process. Thank you for your interest in the proposed NBAF.

Thank you,

NBAF Program Management Office

Transportation Ideas

I've had several questions and comments regarding my earlier post on the legislative meeting and transportation needs in the region in particular. The big point is this: Northeast Georgia has major transportation needs, and we can't say that transportation is an "Atlanta problem" and ignore it during the session. Here is my "top 7 list" of transportation ideas that would help Oconee County, Watkinsville, and in some cases the greater region.



1) Upgrade University Parkway (316) to limited access. Without this investment -- sooner rather than later -- an upgrade could become cost prohibitive as land costs increase. Why is this important? Easy, consistent access to Metro Atlanta and Gwinnett is increasingly important to many businesses in our region, especially if we want to recruit businesses who rely on the Atlanta airport or biotech companies that will work closely with researchers at Emory and Georgia Tech. Also, without the upgrade, we run the risk of the highway becoming another version of Highway 78 -- featuring backups at each light and an ugly Snellville-style streetscape that ruins the entry into Athens. If we don't get this road fixed, we all may be looking back wishing we had taken the "toll road" deal years ago rather than sitting in traffic today.

2) Get the train on track. I have long said that Athens to Atlanta is the place to start with commuter rail in Georgia. You have strong two-way traffic at all times of day. Destinations at both ends of the track, and strong stops in between who go to job centers in Atlanta, Gwinnett and Athens. Special events that can support weekend (and weekday) travel. If the Lovejoy line is put in place (the bird in hand approach given the federal funds allotted), I have no doubt it will fail, and probably put the nail in the coffin of commuter rail in Georgia. Commuter rail in this corridor could also partially mitigate the need for an upgraded 316, although both still need to be done.

3) Improve the Epps Bridge "Village" area. Some plans are underway, but this area is crying out for stronger streetscapes, an integrated street grid, and stronger urban planning guidelines. Plans to bridge the loop at Jennings Mill and perhaps from Daniell's Bridge Road to behind Home Depot are important, but to ensure the health of this commercial node long-term we need to bury utility lines, dress up the streetscape, put strong urban planning guidelines in place that ensure quality buildings and signage, and brand the area as a destination. Without strong planning and focus, this area will go through the boom-bust cycle common in many strip retail centers, and we will be looking at empty or recycled storefronts by 2015 as stores leave for the new shopping center down the street. Fiscally, if we can increase the taxes generated from this area rather than spreading development up and down University Parkway, everyone is a winner. Oconee and Clarke also need to consider some joint planning on this area as it spills back across county lines and other development occurs.

4) Continue to invest in our town centers. Downtown Watkinsville, Bogart, Bishop and other small regional communites are logical places to focus transportation dollars and denser housing and structures. These communities -- if they plan and execute correctly -- could become models, and if local counties will cooperate, could become receiving zones for TDRs and/or density bonuses that will help preserve rural land. For this model to work, these communities will need more than wide roads -- they will need sidewalks, bikelanes, and other infrastructure. Watkinsville's recent funding for streetscape is a great example of this kind of investment.

5) Get the train on track part II: The rail line from downtown Athens to Watkinsville is underutilized and could be an incredible resource on many levels. On campus and in Athens, it could be double tracked and serve as an incredible people mover (much of campus is an easy walk from the rail line as it runs along East Campus Road and Milledge) from the Classic Center to Whitehall Forest. Further south, one could add a hike-bike rail trail next to it and you could have an easy bike route or incredible recreational amenity for commuters and others and still allow rail traffic adjacent. Eventually (I know, it is hard to believe now, but look 20 years ahead) commuter rail between Watkinsville and Athens could preclude the need to widen roads like Simonton Bridge, Milledge, etc. which are unique gateways to Watkinsville and Oconee County as they currently sit. There has been considerable excitement about this concept in the past, but one roadblock or another has always emerged. Real estate and rail companies are becoming more sophisticated (see here and here for examples) about the value of rail easements -- we need to secure this corridor (and lease it back to the rail company short term, if need be) sooner rather than later.

6) Get better air service. I was truly excited about the possibility of a regional airport in Barrow County. Unfortunately, it looks like it has been shot down by local opposition and a lack of vision in Atlanta. But the bottom line is that if we want to recruit big business out here, we have to have respectable air service. Right now, you can't get here without a private jet, and even some of them can't land in Athens. A regional passenger airport in Barrow could handle the North Metro market, and serve as a catalyst for accomplishing items 1 and 2 by bringing more federal dollars to this region.

7) Get unified. Our legislators at the state and federal level need to encourage our local leaders to come up with some priorities and go to work for them. I have no doubt Sen. Cowsert, Rep. Smith and U.S. Rep. Broun could deliver some goods, or at least get things started for the region. But without a concerted, focused push from business and government leaders in Barrow, Clarke, and Oconee (as well as the Univeristy), we can't expect our elected leaders to make transportation a priority.

Watkinsville Gets Funds for Streetscape II

We received official word today that Watkinsville has been awarded $442,000 to extend its streetscape project towards OCAF, Rocket Field and the Board of Education and along Highway 15. This new effort will likely include new street trees, landscaping, street lamps, and sidewalks in these areas. Along Highway 15, the improvements will run from Barnett Shoals Rd. to Depot Street (in front of Krimson, Athens Seed, etc.)

This is huge news for our little city, as the funds are equal to roughly 1/3 of our annual budget. As visitors to Watkinsville know, our last round of streetscape improvements -- completed last spring -- made a tremendous impact on the beauty and walkability of the city, and were on full display at Saturday's highly successful Christmas Parade. The map below shows the completed Phase I area and what is proposed for phase II.



Most of these funds are federal dollars (distributed by the state) that require a match from the city. Many thanks to State Rep. Bob Smith and State Sen. Bill Cowsert for their support and tireless advocacy on our behalf. Thanks also to the Jaeger Co. for their technical assistance on the plans, and for the images shared here.

Before and after renderings of Rocket Field are followed by similar renderings showing the area in front of the Krimson Cafe. These will be very nice changes for these areas.



Athens and UGA also got $440,000 for the extension of the Greenway. This is exciting news, as an extended Greenway will do nothing but increase use, especially with a closer link to the residential areas of campus. I run with a group of guys who enjoy the Greenway for our Saturday long runs. Full press release follows.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 3, 2007

GDOT Announces Transportation Enhancement Funding Awards

ATLANTA – State Transportation Board member Bill Kuhlke, Jr., of Augusta, today announced the recipients of Transportation Enhancement (TE) program funds for Fiscal Year 2008 & Fiscal Year 2009 for the 10th Congressional District.

The TE program is federally-funded and was originally established in 1991 by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). The program was continued by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA-LU) in 2005. The Georgia DOT’s Planning Office manages the TE program in Georgia.

“I’m delighted to announce these grants,” Kuhlke said. “We received a great many excellent applications from communities and organizations in the 10th District. Unfortunately, we could not fund them all in this grant phase. These which are being funded showed great local government commitment to improving their community’s quality of life and their local elected leaders and state legislators are to be commended.”

The TE program’s goal is to enrich the transportation experience of Georgians through specific types of enhancement projects. The kinds of projects funded by the TE program include multi-use facilities such as walking and biking trails and paths; streetscaping and landscaping projects in cities and towns; historic preservation of transportation-related facilities like railroad depots; and scenic preservation of views and scenic byways.

This year, the Georgia DOT received a total of 285 eligible applications representing combined requests for more than $176 in federal funds from all 13 congressional districts. In this selection round, $54.6 million in federal funds are available for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009 for distribution statewide.

Up to 80 percent of the funds being used for these projects have been provided by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with the local government funding the remainder of the total project cost. The local government project sponsor is responsible for implementing the TE project and obtaining federal reimbursement from Georgia DOT.

To aid in the project selection, the Georgia DOT relies on an extensive in-house technical review and the Transportation Enhancement Advisory Panel, which was formed in 1992. The advisory panel group of professionals, representing statewide expertise in the various TE project categories, evaluated each application and forwarded its recommendations to the State Transportation Board for final selection of the funded projects.

The selected projects in the 10th Congressional District are:

• $440,000 to the University of Georgia Board of Regents for a greenway connector in Clarke County – a pedestrian/bike trail across the North Oconee River linking the University of Georgia’s River Trail with Athens/Clarke County’s Oconee River Greenway, advocated by State Senators Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, and Ralph Hudgens, R-Hull, as well as State Representatives Bob Smith, R-Watkinsville, Keith Heard, D-Athens, and Doug McKillip, D-Athens;

• $500,000 to the Town of Grovetown in Columbia County for a one-mile extension of the Euchee Creek Trail from Harlem-Grovetown Road to Reynolds Farm Road, advanced by State Senator Bill Jackson, R-Appling, and State Representatives Barry Fleming, R-Harlem, and Ben Harbin, R-Evans;

• $500,000 to Elbert County for interior renovation of the Rock Gym/Armory which is being converted to a regional conference and welcome center, promoted by Sens. Jackson and Hudgens, as well as State Representative Tom McCall, R-Elberton;

• $238,880 to the Town of Union Point in Greene County for the rehabilitation of a 1962 gasoline station to be used as a welcome center, supported by State Senator Johnny Grant, R-Milledgeville, and State Representative Mickey Channell, R-Greensboro;

• $500,000 to the Town of Demorest in Habersham County for a pedestrian network streetscape project in the vicinity of US Highway 441/Central Avenue and Georgia Street, advocated by State Senator Nancy Schaefer, R-Turnerville, and State Representative Ben Bridges, R-Cleveland;

• $500,000 to the town of Braselton in Jackson County for a streetscape project on State Route 53 through the downtown area, advanced by Sen. Hudgens and State Senator Lee Hawkins, R-Gainesville, as well as Rep. McCall and State Representative Tommy Benton, R-Jefferson;

• $400,000 to the Town of Thomson in McDuffie County for the rehabilitation of the circa 1860-Thomson Depot for use as a community center, promoted by Sen. Jackson and State Representative Sistie Hudson, D-Sparta;

• $442,000 to the City of Watkinsville in Oconee County for the extension of its pedestrian network to link the central business district with the commercial and arts&park districts, supported by Sen. Cowsert and Rep. Smith;

• $600,000 to Augusta State University in Richmond County for the development of a multi-use trail and historical and archaeological interpretative displays through the school’s campus, advocated by State Senator Ed Tarver, D-Augusta, and State Representative Barbara Sims, R-Augusta; and

• $80,000 to the City of Tignall in Wilkes County for the construction of sidewalks and recreation areas being lost as the result of an economic development expansion, advanced by Sen. Jackson and Reps. Channell and Fleming.

Kuhlke said the support of the various legislators listed above was key to their respective projects’ successful funding.

More information on the TE program and applications are available on the Georgia DOT Web site. --- http://www.dot.state.ga.us/dot/plan-prog/planning/projects/te/index.shtml

CONTACT: David Spear – 404) 657-6952