The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced this week the creation of a new transportation-focused affiliate, the Georgia Transportation Alliance.
“A quality, comprehensive transportation infrastructure is critical to Georgia’s current and future economic development,” President and CEO Chris Clark said. “This affiliate will allow us to bring key stakeholders together to focus on how we build and maintain a multi-modal network that moves both people and freight safely and efficiently. Our state has the opportunity to solidify its position as a transportation and logistics hub not only for the Southeast, but the entire nation. We cannot achieve that goal without proper planning, funding and commitment from the business community and our elected leaders.”
The Georgia Transportation Alliance will focus on transportation planning as it relates to economic development throughout the state. One of the first challenges for the new affiliate will be to work with leaders in each of Georgia’s 12 economic development regions to pass the one-cent TSPLOST on the ballot next year.
Long-term, GTA will work to, among other things, expand Georgia’s growing logistics industry, strengthen the state’s ports and regional airport system, mitigate congestion in the state’s metropolitan areas, identify needed improvements for rail and highway networks, improve connectivity for rural communities and support efforts to build and maintain quality, multi-modal transportation networks.
“We know that transportation is one of the key factors considered when companies are making location decisions. GTA will help make sure that we have the infrastructure necessary to attract and retain jobs and grow our economy,” Clark said.
An executive director will be hired to manage the Georgia Transportation Alliance later this spring.
For more information, go to www.georgiatransportation.org.
Chamber creates transportation affiliate
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