DOT: Brown wrong on Hwy. 54 allegations

DOT: Brown wrong

on Hwy. 54 allegations

Recently several articles and

editorials have been printed in your newspaper regarding Georgia Department

of Transportation's involvement in the State Route 54/Wal-Mart development

project in Peachtree City. Our department understands concerns that the

public has regarding new developments in their community, including traffic

congestion, overcrowding and poor air quality, among others. However,

there seems to be some misconception regarding the Georgia DOT's role

in this issue.

Peachtree City is a thriving

and progressive city. The city leaders recognize this and have a very

thorough and sophisticated zoning process in place as a means to prevent

overdevelopment. RAM Development initiated zoning on State Route 54 and

the Wal-Mart development, and the Peachtree City Planning Commission approved

this plan.

RAM Development sent this plan

to our department for review and approval of access to the state route.

The Georgia DOT has a process that we follow for commercial development.

RAM Development's plan met all of our regulations; therefore, we have

no grounds on which to deny their request.

Often when people hear about

a road project in their neighborhood, they automatically assume that it

is the Georgia DOT's baby. Many times Georgia DOT only plays a small role

in city projects, such as in this case. Peachtree City approved the development

of this project, not the Georgia DOT. The Peachtree City Council would

better answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding the proposed

State Route 54 development.

Furthermore, I want to address

the references to Mr. Keith Rohling, traffic operations engineer for our

Thomaston district. On Dec. 6 you published a letter from Steve Brown

titled "Questions raised about DOT approval of Hwy. 54Wal-Mart traffic

plans." In it the writer indicated that he had spoken with Mr. Rohling

on Nov. 30 about this situation.

His words were strong and his

allegations were wrong. We responded to him but feel that your readers

deserve to hear the facts as well.

The truth of the matter is

that Mr. Rohling was on official leave on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. The leave

records are on file at the district office. So, Mr. Brown never spoke

with Mr. Rohling. He did speak with Steve Blackston, district signal engineer,

who explained that Steve Daniel, district access management engineer,

was unavailable, but he would gladly take his questions and forward them

when he returned. Mr. Brown is right in that Mr. Rohling is the person

in the district office to speak with only he never did on Nov. 30.

Without belaboring the point,

I want to be clear that we are open to citizen input, questions, and concerns

about transportation matters. As a matter of fact, we recently responded

to a request for information and correspondence about this very development

in Peachtree City. Our staff is made up of skilled, dedicated, knowledgeable

engineers who take pride in the work they do. Many of them are your neighbors

and friends. All of them are just doing their job. To infer otherwise

is both unfair and unwarranted.

Bottom line, folks, is that

the Georgia DOT's role in this development project is minimal. Our primary

concern is that any alterations or tie-ins to our state highway system

be safe, up to standards, and in accordance with our policies and regulations.

Using the Georgia DOT as the stopgap in this instance is pointless. The

issue lies with local zoning and planning.

Harold Linnenkohl

Deputy Commissioner

Georgia Department of Transportation

Atlanta

[Editor's note: For the record, the Peachtree City Planning Commission

disapproved the Wal-Mart-Hwy. 54 traffic plan. On appeal, the Peachtree

City Council approved the project.]