Data from Georgia’s Transportation Investment Act (TIA) program highlights progress in the Southern Georgia region, showcasing improvements in economic and civic development through infrastructure projects. During a presentation to Georgia’s State Transportation Board on May 14, 2025, State TIA Administrator Kenneth Franks emphasized the success of project and financial outcomes due to careful management and cooperation between the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) and local officials.
In 2012, voters in three regions—Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), Heart of Georgia Altamaha (HOGA), and River Valley—approved funding 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 projects funded by additional ten-year terms.
For Southern Georgia’s current term (2018–2026), $446.7 million has been collected through the penny sales tax. Of this, $335 million is allocated to infrastructure improvement projects, while $111.7 million is used as discretionary funds for additional transportation projects. So far, 104 HOGA TIA 1 projects are completed with 17 more under construction.
Officials anticipate reaching revenue collection goals by 2026, two years ahead of schedule. This will lead to a second decade termed TIA 2 with plans for an additional list of 209 transportation projects focused mainly on resurfacing roadways but also including paving dirt roads, new sidewalks, and airport improvements.
Franks attributed cost consistency despite economic challenges like COVID-19 and rising material costs to transparency and collaboration: “TIA staff work in conjunction with each region as the local officials build their project investment lists… Together, we’ve been able to actively manage all aspects and keep project delivery on pace with the forecasts.”
Across four participating regions during their TIA 1 terms, there have been a total of 1,022 projects tackled with a budget of $1.9 billion. As Southern Georgia prepares for its TIA 2 term along with other regions already started since 2023, they will collectively undertake a total of 996 projects costing $2.14 billion.
Recent TIA-funded completions include replacing the SR520/US82 bridge at Satilla River Overflow in Brantley County and improving Johnson Lake Road in Bacon County—projects aimed at enhancing traffic safety selected by local officials.
