Georgia will need to spend at least $81 billion on transportation improvements by 2050 to keep people and freight moving on highways that otherwise will becoming increasingly congested, state Commissioner of Transportation Russell McMurry warned Wednesday.

“There’s a lot to be done,” McMurry told members of the State Transportation Board this week.

McMurry says that transportation will grow exponentially by the year 2050 in Georgia and the state DOT is expecting freight tonnage to double.

The cost for the needed transportation infrastructure over the next twenty-five years will be around $81 billion.  Right now, only about $26 billion is in the pipeline.

McMurry pointed out that other states in the region are spending more per capita for transportation projects and McMurry says business needs to join forces with the DOT to push lawmakers for more transportation funding.

Currently, Georgia has a $16 billion surplus and that includes $11 billion in undesignated funds.

Compiled Sources