The Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) Transportation Investment Act (TIA) program has completed 849 transportation projects in the Heart of Georgia Altamaha (HOGA) region. The program, now in its 13th year, aims to improve economic and civic development through infrastructure projects.
State TIA Administrator Kenneth Franks presented data to Georgia’s State Transportation Board on May 14, 2025, highlighting the success of HOGA and TIA overall. He attributed these outcomes to effective management and cooperation between GDOT administrators and local officials.
In 2012, voters in HOGA and two other regions approved a unique funding process for transportation projects via a one-cent sales tax. The Southern Georgia region joined in 2018. Since 2020, all four regions have continued with new project lists funded by additional ten-year terms.
During HOGA’s first decade term (2013-2022), $335.4 million was collected from the sales tax, with $251.5 million allocated to infrastructure projects and $83.8 million used as discretionary funds by counties. Of the 764 planned projects, 759 were completed.
Currently in their second decade term (2023-2032), HOGA has completed 90 out of an additional list of 580 projects. The region has collected $111.9 million in tax revenues so far, with $83.9 million allocated to project lists and $28 million disbursed as discretionary funds.
Franks explained that transparency and collaboration help maintain cost projections despite challenges like rising construction costs due to economic factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic. “TIA staff work in conjunction with each region as the local officials build their project investment lists,” he said.
Across four participating regions, a total of 1,022 projects were tackled during their TIA 1 terms with a budget of $1.9 billion. When Southern Georgia begins its TIA 2 term possibly by 2026, these regions will manage nearly a thousand projects with a combined budget of $2.14 billion.
Since starting its second decade in the program, HOGA’s revenue collection is ahead by 38% compared to forecasts. If collections cover TIA 2 costs early, local officials may hold an election for a potential TIA 3 term sooner than anticipated.
Recent notable TIA-funded projects include intersection upgrades at US 84 and West Orange Street in Jesup and paving improvements on Tuckers Grove Church Road in Johnson County aimed at enhancing traffic safety and efficiency according to local priorities.
