Study: Traffic congestion could cost state jobs

Transportation woes could cost Georgia 320,000 potential jobs and $515 billion in economic benefits over the next 20 years if the state sticks to "business as usual," according to a new state report released Thursday.

Traffic jams and the lack of access to reliable transportation in metro Atlanta will increasingly limit the number of jobs people can commute to, and the number of potential workers an employer can expect to attract, according to the study presented to the state Transportation Board.

That, in turn, could make Atlanta a less attractive market for employers. And as bad as freight congestion is now, commercial hauling in the state will get even worse from places like the Savannah port.

To reap that $515 billion in benefits, the state would have to invest up to $250.7 billion over 20 years in transportation. That's $49.2 billion to $161.9 billion short of money government officials currently expect to have to spend.

The study's authors, in a presentation to the state Transportation Board Thursday, didn't get specific about possible money sources. Instead, they concentrated on the possible benefits of different types of transportation investments. By building innovative projects and trying to coordinate projects better with Atlanta's development patterns, the metro area could reap 230,000 jobs over 30 years, and up to $345 billion in benefits, the study said.

"Over the last 10 to 20 years, Georgia has under-managed and under-invested in its assets," according to the report.

But it's not too late. The study, by private consultants McKinsey & Co., suggested a three-pronged strategy to relieve congestion in metro Atlanta and other metro areas in Georgia, help economic development in rural areas, and improve freight transportation.

It includes a range of possibilities, from congestion-priced fluctuating tolls on HOV lanes to express bus systems and local street cars, and, of course, road expansion.

As a possible example - not specific recommendations, officials said - the report mentioned tunnels between I-675 and Ga. 400 or parallel to the northern part of I-285, or one along the Downtown Connector.

Study officials have emphasized that they have no power to enact any of their findings, but are just getting information to the policy makers so they can consider it.

The state hired McKinsey to put together a "strategy" after Gov. Sonny Perdue announced in June his intention to develop a "business case" for transportation investment. The idea, state officials said, was to have legal or funding proposals ready for the legislative session that begins in January.