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