STOP Exit 14 NOW!

                                                    STOP Exit 14 NOW!

The Problem

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has a federal grant of 36 million dollars specifically for a diamond Exit 14 project off of I-985 (about 9 million already spent).  The GDOT has done a very poor job of informing citizens and asking for input.  While it seems that they may have done all required by their guidelines, very poor attendance at their public meetings clearly shows that few citizens were aware.  Most citizens were not aware of the GDOT’s intention to build a diamond exit that exits into an upscale residential area and years later widen Martin Road. 

The GDOT doesn’t seem to have allowed for the fact that many new houses and housing developments were built after the project was initiated.  Builders had local government approval to build and yet, new homeowners were not made aware of the GDOT’s intentions by the builders or by local government. Residents feel deceived and uninformed; they are very upset and concerned.  They are asking a good question, “Why were we not told before we bought our homes?”

The GDOT has recently approved Exit 14 in the face of strong opposition

At the GDOT’s public meeting on March 8, 2016; many were made aware for the first time of the intention to expand Martin Road after Exit 14 opens.  Even today, there are citizens who are not aware of GDOT’s plans to expand Martin Road after the exit is opened.  Residents found a notice attached to their mail box on March 4^th and the meeting was held on March 8^th.  Yet, the GDOT has recently approved the diamond Exit 14 in the face of strong public opposition from citizens to the project.  The GDOT seems to be moving at break neck speed before opposition grows.   

Many more citizens are becoming aware because of the efforts of the Martin Road Community contacting residents, posting signs on Martin Road and publishing our Online Petition; which has more than 550 citizen signatures:  “Save Our Residential Community! STOP I-985 Exit 14/Martin Rd Expansion”www.stopexit14.com  

Creates more problems than it solves

Building this diamond exit will create a need for an additional 46 million taxpayer dollars to expand Martin Road. This burden for an additional 46 million taxpayer dollars is not fair to the citizens of Hall County or the Hall County Board of Commissioners; who will be expected to come up with the funds.
It is especially not fair to the residents of the Martin Road area and the upscale residential developments.  This is wrong and the GDOT knows it.  We know that there is much pressure from special interest and the City of Oakwood to push this project forward.

In an action that admits this created problem, the GHMPO is now forming a citizens committee that will try to find an alternate route rather than use Martin Road.  They are suggesting expanding Atlanta Highway from Exit 14 to Highway 53 or possibly using JM Turk Road in some way.  Of course, none of these alternate routes make any sense.  Common sense tells us that the right thing to do is STOP Exit 14 NOW!  It needs to be stopped for many reasons; a diamond exit 14 is a very bad idea.

It must stop because it creates too many problems for citizens and government.  It will bring additional traffic to Martin Road no matter what or how it is done.  The result will be major taxpayer dollars having to be spent to clean up the mess created by the diamond Exit 14 project; dollars that are not available now and may not be available for many years. 

Most of all, Exit 14 will destroy our quiet two lane county road and make it a major thoroughfare instead of an upscale quiet residential area.  Martin Road residents do not believe that this is right and that it is being done for special interest, not the people’s interest.  There are many projects in the area that have greater need for these funds; like the Spout Springs Road expansion and others.

Special Interest 

The GDOT justification for Exit 14 is that it is needed for the “fast economic growth in the area”.  That is just not true and everyone knows it.  On the north side of I-985, there is an 80 acre industrial park that investors have been trying to develop for years.  Many years ago, Thurmond Tanner Road was built at the cost of millions of taxpayer dollars for the same reason.  Only recently, when Thurmond Tanner Road was extended to Highway 53, have we seen a few cars or trucks on it.  Thurmond Tanner Road has been a “bridge to nowhere” kind of project.  Now, they want to add a 36 million dollar diamond exit; another “bridge to nowhere” that will create many more problems. 

Officials also try to justify a diamond exit because it is a “longtime project”.  Being a longtime project does not make it a good project; it is still a very bad idea.  They say it began fifteen years ago or so and some now even say twenty-five years.  This is all very misleading. 

The project may have been initiated some years ago when Governor Deal was a congressman.  But the details of a diamond exit were not made public until a few years ago and it was done very quietly.  In fact, the details were only made public when the funds were made available. 

At a recent public meeting a resident testified that he attended a small meeting in 2006 and there was no mention of a diamond exit or expanding Martin Road.  All of the GDOT required public meetings had very poor attendance with very little citizen input.  It was the GDOT public meeting on March 8, 2016 where and when all details were made public. 

Also, that meeting revealed the ridiculous plan to expand Martin Road ten years after Exit 14 opens; if and when funds are available.  Meanwhile, Martin Road residents would experience total chaos because of Exit 14.  This may be the answer to our question: “Why were we not told before we bought our homes?”  It is because the GDOT didn’t know the details because the details were not complete. 

 

Not Needed

Exit 14 is not needed or wanted by citizens of the area.  We already have three major exits within five miles on I-985: Exit 12, 16 and 17.  There are two major roads (Thurmon Tanner Rd & Atlanta Hwy) that parallel I-985 with two bridges (Falcon Pkwy & Plainview Rd) over I-985, between Exit 12 & 16; that makes five bridges over I-985 within five miles.  There are more than enough roads and access to all points of the area.  We wonder if GDOT guidelines actually allow that many bridges and exits within five miles of one another. 

Read the comments of hundreds of citizens on our online petition; one can see what the people believe (www.stopexit14.com).  We believe that this project has little to do with traffic flow, area growth, access for emergency vehicles and much more to do with special interest. 

                         

Concern for Citizens

There seems to be very little concern for the well being of Hall County citizens on Martin Road, who will lose their homes and/or yards, residents under stress and inconvenienced, churches that will lose portions of their parking lots and property, and an elementary school endangered by heavier traffic. The school situation is especially dangerous when parents are dropping off and picking up children.  It backs up traffic now, what will it be like after the Exit 14 opens?  Hopefully, the Hall County School Board is aware of this situation. 

The Martin Road Community is aware that they are up against influential forces with the city of Oakwood, developers, government bureaucracy and other special interest.  It is a David and Goliath situation; but, they feel that they are right and the GDOT is wrong to build a diamond exit that exits into a two lane county road with private homes and upscale housing developments.  

We are not traffic engineers, but common sense tells us that a diamond exit that exits into a two lane county road off of an intrastate or interstate highway does not make sense.    

Government of the People

We are taught from kindergarten that we are a government of the people and for the people.  In recent years it has become very clear that we are no longer a government of the people, but one of BIG GOVERNMENT and bureaucracy that feeds on itself. 

When we write letters and emails to the GDOT to complain about Exit 14; a bureaucrat responses by telling us what they plan to do, ignoring our questions and complaints.  They then suggest that we contact Hall County and the GHMPO.  Elected officials and the Hall County Commissioners tell us that they can do nothing and send us back to the GDOT. The GHMPO allows us to vent at their committee meetings and then does little or nothing to help; in fact, they recommended a quick approval.  The GHMPO committees are filled with supporters of the diamond Exit 14 and have been for years.  In fact, members of the special interest individuals served and voted on these committees. 

Considering the hundreds of citizens complaining about this wasteful project; the GDOT should hold new public hearings.  More citizens are aware of GDOT’s intentions and it seems to be expediting the project so that citizens cannot be heard.  We call on Governor Deal, the GDOT, County officials, the GHMPO and all elected officials to initiate new public hearings on this project immediately. 

 

A Solution

Some Martin Road residents have suggested a solution that they believe is right and just for all involved. That is to revise the diamond exit project and build a one or two lane overpass from the north lane of
I-985 to HF Reed Industrial Pkwy with on and off ramps on the north side of I-985 only.  This would mean that there will be no need for an exit on the south side of I-985 onto Martin Road.  It would be much cheaper than the wasted 36 million dollar proposed diamond exit.  It would also mean that there would be no need for an additional 46 million taxpayer dollars to expand Martin Road ten years later.  

The developers and businesses on the north side of I-985 would be happy and the residents on Martin Road side would be happy.  Surely public officials would be happy not to have continued complaints from the citizens of the Martin Road area for years.  There will be many complaints because this project is going to result in creating many other problems for residents and government.

Hear our Plea

We understand that there are restrictions on federal funds and their use; however, rules and regulations can be changed.  Politicians do it all the time when they need to do it.  We encourage all state and local officials to initiate the necessary process today.  We do not want to see unused federal funds sent back to Washington; but, we had rather do that than to have a diamond Exit 14 as planned.  The funds and the project create more problems than they solve.   

It would be much wiser to return the federal funds and wait for new funding for an overpass.  The diamond Exit 14 is a bad idea; it already has created a big mess and will create chaos for residents and more problems in the future for local government.  It is not needed or wanted by citizens of Hall County.  There should be no rush to begin construction of this project. 

We ask the GDOT, GHMPO and all elected officials to take action today, to stop the diamond Exit 14 project or to revise the planned diamond exit to an overpass or at the very least, delay the project for more study and new public hearings with input by citizens and government. 

We have requested a meeting with state level GDOT officials and have not received a response.  

Sincerely,
Brad Farrow

Martin Road Community

GDOT To Martin Road Residents

What is the message from the GDOT?

Most people do not understand the message that our Georgia Department of Transportation is sending clearly to the residents of Martin Road.

The message is, we have a 36 million dollars grant in federal funds and we are going to spend it on a diamond exit in your area, no matter what you say or do.

AFTER Exit 14 is opened, if and when funds are available (estimated about ten years); we will widen Martin Road. Thank you for waiting for ten or more years for available funds. Yes, Spout Springs Road has been waiting for available funds for years and we hope to begin widening it in about five years, maybe.

The fact that Martin Road will be total chaos for about ten years is okay with us; because we just do not want to lose the 36 million dollars in taxpayer money. Oh, did we tell you that by accepting the 36 million in taxpayer money; it does create a need for 46 million more taxpayer dollars to widen Martin Road. In ten years, that figure will be more than 50 million dollars with inflation. Hopefully Hall County citizens will be willing to pass another special additional tax to help raise those funds for Martin Road.

Yeah, ten years is not too long to wait for Martin Road expansion; we waited for almost 15 years to get the grant of 36 million. So we have to spend it now even though it will bring a lot of traffic to your two lane county road and residential area. Awe shucks, there would be an increase anyway because of population growth. Just be very careful trying to get onto Martin Road from your residence. And, be patient and please don’t write complaint letters to us, we will not have time to hear your griping; we will be too busy spending this 36 million dollars.

Silly Martin Road Community, some of your people have suggested that we send the 36 million back to Washington and for the GDOT wait for funds to build a north side exit only (for much less than 36 mil). You want us to build a two lane overpass from the north lane of I-985 to HF Reed Industrial Pkwy, so that they can develop their 80 acre industrial park (their real purpose for Exit 14).

Yes, the overpass would please everyone, the developers, the city of Oakwood and the residents of Martin Road. There would be no exit on the south side into Martin Road and everyone would be happy.

Now, do you understand the message?  

Important Points about Martin Road Situation

Here are some important points to emphasize:

Our major concern is the fact that present GDOT plans call for Martin Road to be widened after Exit 14 is opened.  It could be five years or more before Martin Road is widened after Exit 14 opens.  This does not make sense and is just not acceptable. 

While we are not transportation experts or engineers, we believe that we do have good common sense.  Common sense tells us that we do not build Exit 14 and five years later, widen Martin Road.  Frankly, we are not convinced that Exit 14 is needed.  We do know that we do not want a major throughway through our residential neighborhood. 

In 2014, the GHMPO did a district survey about transportation construction priorities.  The published result of the survey showed Martin Road widening #7 and Exit 14 #9.  The Martin Road Association was relieved to know that it would be widened first.  However, at the public GDOT meeting on March 8, 2016 we discovered that the priorities to widen Martin Road first have now been reversed.  This is what has caused our opposition to Exit 14.

The city of Oakwood wants this exit to develop it tax base, not to improve traffic.  We have offered a suggestion to revise the Exit 14 project, which would resolve our issue and compromise with those who want to develop the area.  Our suggestion is to have a one lane over pass from the north lane of I-985 to HF Reed Industrial Pkwy with on/off ramps on the north side only.  It would cut the cost of Exit 14 and eliminate the need for the additional 46 million tax payer dollars to widen Martin Road.

If Exit 14 is constructed, it will be the only exit on I-985 that does not exit onto a highway.  Exit 14 would exit into a residential neighborhood with five housing developments, many private homes, a school, two churches, a county community center and some businesses. 

Exit 14 and Martin Road where originally one project.  Indeed, one without the other does not make sense.  It would be interesting to know why the two were separated; can anyone tell us why?  In any case, the Martin Road residents have come out on the short end.  It is our understanding that we have a government of the people and for the people; not one of big government for big government. 

We are also concerned about the priority of tax payer funds being used for this project when everyone in the area knows that there is a much greater need to widen Spout Spring Road.  Why spend 36 million for a diamond exit which is not needed and 46 million to widening Martin Road in our residential neighborhood that is not needed or wanted?  Shouldn’t common sense prevail? 

We will continue to pursue the suggestion from the GDOT that the GHMPO and our County Commissioners work to extend the project until funds can be made available to complete the widening of Martin Road first and then open Exit 14.  It is our understanding that it is up to our local Hall County Commission, locally elected officials and the GHMPO to make this adjustment. 

We call on the GHMPO and all public officials to help us find a solution to this situation.

Email us at martinroadfirst@yahoo.com for updates and/or more information. 
We assure you that we will not make your name or email address public.