Committee scraps optional toll roads proposal

DOT Commissioner says may start 'from scratch' on toll idea.

The Associated Press

10/21/2008

ATLANTA — A state committee has quashed a $1.6 billion proposal by a private consortium to build optional toll lanes along Ga. 400. The lanes would have extended up to Ga. 20 in Cumming. Committee members who voted against the proposal Monday said they weren't opposed to privately funded toll lanes but thought this proposal was flawed.

No competing ideas were submitted when the consortium of engineering and road-building companies, Crossroads 400, made its proposal in 2004. The plan is in line with Georgia's "public-private" law that allows private companies to invest in public toll roads.

In January, DOT Commissioner said she was considering starting from scratch with the state's toll proposals.