For all the disagreements

the Coweta County Commission has had with the Georgia Regional Transportation

Authority, Tuesday's meeting between the two groups was quite civil.

GRTA Chairman Joel Cowan, who lives in Peachtree City, visited the

commission meeting Tuesday and emphasized that the board wants to

work with the commission to solve the region's transportation problems.

"We know there'll be many points of friction," Cowan said.

He added that the group is trying to protect the county's investment

in roads. He cited the MARTA expansion up Ga. Highway 400 and said

if the Fulton County Commission decided to implement five-acre zoning

around the station the $1 billion expansion would not be protected.

Commissioner Jim McGuffey asked about a possible expansion of HOV

lanes and Cowan said those lanes would be heading toward Coweta

down Interstate 85.

He also said the commuter vans and buses would play a part in helping

the county's transportation problems.

"You have to look at the entire picture," he said.

Commissioner Robert Wood said he believes that private or public

transportation companies will be the most amenable to residents.

"They'll just handle that better than carpooling," he

said.

Commission Chairman Vernon "Mutt" Hunter, who has known

Cowan for years, thanked Cowan for attending the meeting and said

he was welcome anytime.