STIP Public Meeting on Pending Road Projects Set for Thursday

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

Two upcoming meetings in Northeast Georgia will give the public a chance to review the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP.

Meetings are set for this Thursday in Helen and next Tuesday, October 29, in Jefferson. 

According to G-DOT spokesperson Teri Pope, the STIP lists federally funded transportation projects for rural areas in Georgia for the next four years.

 “Every year, we meet with the local city and county officials to let them know the upcoming projects that are planned in their communities for the next four years,” said Pope.  “We have already held those meetings with staff and local officials and now we are bringing that information to the public.  It is broken down by county, so you can see what projects are planned over the next four years in your area.”

Northeast Georgia counties included in the STIP are Stephens, Franklin, Habersham, Banks, and And Hart among others. 

STIP projects can include, but are not limited to, new construction, improvements and maintenance for interstate highways, state routes, and bridges, bicycle and pedestrian projects, transportation enhancement projects, and public transit projects. 

Pope says during the open house meetings, the public can view the STIP, ask questions, and offer comments. 

The Thursday meeting in Helen will be at Helen city hall, while next Tuesday’s meeting in Jefferson will be at the Jefferson civic center and clubhouse.  Both meetings will run from 5 to 7 p.m. 

Pope says that the draft STIP is also available online at www.dot.ga.gov/stip.