Section 50-32-5. Transit Governance Study Commission; creation; members; report; funds

   (a) The State of Georgia, particularly the metropolitan Atlanta region, faces a number of critical issues relating to its transportation system and ever-increasing traffic congestion. In light of the dwindling resources available to help solve the problems, it is imperative that all available resources be used to maximum efficiency in order to alleviate the gridlock in and around the metropolitan Atlanta region. There exists a need for a thorough examination of our current transportation system and the methodical development of legislative proposals for a regional transit governing authority in Georgia.

(b) In order to find practical, workable solutions to these problems, there is created the Transit Governance Study Commission to be composed of: four Senators from the Atlanta Regional Commission area to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, four Representatives from the Atlanta Regional Commission area to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the chairperson of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Oversight Committee, the chairperson of the Atlanta Regional Commission, the chairperson of the Regional Transit Committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission, one staff member from the Atlanta Regional Commission to be selected by the chairperson of the Atlanta Regional Commission, the executive director of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, the general manager of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, and the directors of any other county transit systems operating in the Atlanta Regional Commission area.

(c) The commission shall elect, by a majority vote, one of its legislative members to serve as chairperson of the commission and such other officers as the commission deems appropriate. The commission shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the chairperson. The commission may conduct such meetings and hearings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish its objectives and purposes as contained in this Code section.

(d) All officers and agencies of the three branches of state government are directed to provide all appropriate information and assistance as requested by the commission.

(e) The commission shall undertake a study of the issues described in this Code section and recommend specific legislation which the commission deems necessary or appropriate. Specifically, the commission shall prepare a preliminary report on the feasibility of combining all of the regional public transportation entities into an integrated regional transit body. This preliminary report shall be completed on or before December 31, 2010, and be delivered to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The commission shall make a final report of its findings and recommendations, with specific language for proposed legislation, if any, on or before August 1, 2011, to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The commission shall stand abolished on August 1, 2011, unless extended by subsequent Act of the General Assembly.

(f) The Atlanta Regional Commission in conjunction with the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and the department's director of planning shall utilize federal and state planning funds to continue the development of the Atlanta region's Concept 3 transit proposal, including assessment of potential economic benefit to the region and the state, prioritization of corridors based on highest potential economic benefit and lowest environmental impact, and completion of environmental permitting. Any new transit management instrumentality created as a result of the Transit Governance Study Commission created pursuant to this Code section shall participate in the Concept 3 development activities that remain incomplete at the time of the creation of the new regional transit body.

Code 1981, § 50-32-5, enacted by Ga. L. 2010, p. 778, § 7/HB 277.