Conservation Impacts of Corridor K

I-3 Maps — Potential Routes & Areas of Impact

Environmental Impacts in Southern Appalachians

Economic Effects of Interstate Highways, Part 1: The Study's Already Been Done!

Economic Effects of Interstate Highways, Part 2: Rural Counties Would Lose

"What's the Big Idea?" — GDOT website detailing Georgia's transportation funding crisis

The Nuclear Connection

Interstate 3, Background of Legislative Initiatives

Interstate 3
Background of Legislative Initiatives

Presentation to Interstate 3 Informational Meeting
May 24, 2005 — 10:30am — Ga. Mountain Fairground
W. Blumreich III

(Addendum updated Aug 14, 2005)

July 22, 2004

• Concept of I3 and I14 introduced to the US House of Representatives during the 108th Congress by Congressman Max Burns (Ga) under the bill HR 4926. Co-Sponsor was Rep Charles Norwood . The Bill called for the initiation of a study and report on the construction of I3 /I14.
• A similar bill was introduced to the US Senate at the same time by Senators Saxby Chambliss and Zell Miller of Georgia.
• The defeat of Rep Max Burns in the November 2004 elections lead to concerns that the specific routing might be changed.
• Congressional funding was considered necessary due to the anticipated high cost of the project.

January 25, 2005

• Congressman Norwood introduced Bill HR 301during the 109th Congress. This bill requires the US Department of Transportation to perform a study and complete a report regarding construction and designation of a new Interstate highway from Savannah, Ga. to Knoxville, Tenn.
  
• Reasoning :
1. There is a need for interstate linkage between military hospitals and facilities in the interest of the strategic defense of the Nation.
2. E Georgia , W North Carolina and E Tennessee are underserved by N-S Interstate Interstate would bring economic benefits and increase public safety.
3. Interstate would be named in honor of the US Army 3rd Infantry Division, "tip of the spear" during the Iraq war.
• Bill requires that no later than December 31, 2005 the US Secretary of Transportation will report steps and estimated funding requirements for construction of I3 / I14 to the Congressional Committee.

March 10, 2005

• Legislation initiating the I3/I14 study and report passed the House of Representatives by a 419 to 7 margin, as part of HR3, the Transportation Equity Act.
  
• The House approved $400,000 for the initiation study and report for each proposed Interstate, with orders to report back to Congress by December 31, 2005.
  
• Identical Legislation, with similar wording, was introduced into the US Senate by Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson of Georgia as bill S459.
  
• Congressman Norwood is quoted as saying " It is critical that we begin these projects as quickly as possible, while many sections of existing highway can be incorporated into the routes of both new Interstates. Every day of delay runs the risk of development cropping up that will require a great deal more money to accommodate"
  
• The House measure will be conferenced with the Senate measure upon its passage in the Senate and a final Congressional bill requiring final Congressional approval will be prepared. President Bush has indicated he will sign the bill.

April 26th 2005

• Residents in N. Georgia receive Rep Norwood's March 2005 Legislative Update. Included in the Update was a written outline of the I3 proposal, and a small map showing the proposed routing.

May 17, 2005

• The US Senate passed the Transportation bill and the provision seeking money to fund the I3 / I14 study.

Interstate 3 Legislative History Update

Addendum to “ Background of Legislative Initiatives” document updated 08-14-05

July 29, 2005

The “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users” or “SAFETEA-LU” bill emerges from House-Senate Conference Committee and is passed by the House and Senate. Funding for I-3 and I-14 Feasibility Studies has been increased to 1.32 million dollars each. Specific routing guidelines have been removed from the bill. Interstate 3 is specified only as “extending from Savannah, Georgia, to Knoxville, Tennessee, by way of Augusta, Georgia (formerly the Savannah River Parkway in the State of Georgia)”.

August 10, 2005

Transportation Equity Act with 286 billion dollars in spending is signed by President Bush.

Text of the legislation is as follows:
(Source: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c109:7:./temp/~c109BsJgA9:J)

SEC. 1927. 14TH AMENDMENT HIGHWAY AND 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION HIGHWAY.

Not later than December 31, 2005, any funds made available to commission studies and reports regarding construction of a route linking Augusta, Georgia, Macon, Georgia, Columbus, Georgia, Montgomery, Alabama, and Natchez, Mississippi and a route linking through Savannah, Georgia, Augusta, Georgia, and Knoxville, Tennessee, shall be provided to the Secretary to—

1. carry out a study and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes the steps and estimated funding necessary to construct a route for the 14th Amendment Highway, from Augusta, Georgia, to Natchez, Mississippi (formerly designated the Fall Line Freeway in the State of Georgia); and
2. carry out a study and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes the steps and estimated funding necessary to designate and construct a route for the 3rd Infantry Division Highway, extending from Savannah, Georgia, to Knoxville, Tennessee, by way of Augusta, Georgia (formerly the Savannah River Parkway in the State of Georgia).