50% increase for Old US 41 North widening: now $12 million T-SPLOST

In addition to the Draft Constrained List for T-SPLOST draft constrained list of T-SPLOST projects, which doesn't even include dollar estimates, this longer report contains details for each project. And the cost to widen Old US 41 North from North Valdosta Road to Union Road has gone up from the previous estimate in June of $8 million to $12 million in August, for a 50% increase! I wonder if the County Commissioners know about this rapid cost inflation.

	Previous	Current	Difference	Increase%
PE	$650,000	$800,000	$150,000	23%
ROW	$850,000	$1,200,000	$350,000	41%
CST	$6,500,000	$10,000,000	$3,500,000	54%
Total	$8,000,000	$12,000,000	$4,000,000	50%

Curious how when the components went up by odd amounts, the total went up by exactly 50%. It's almost like the total was increased and then the components were arranged to add up to that.

Also curious how the biggest increase, percentage (54%) and total ($3,500,000) is for construction. I could see how Rights of Way (ROW) acquisition costs might go up because people might not want this boondoggle in their front yards, but why was it so hard to estimate construction costs the first time?

And curious how that construction increase is a bit more than

the $3 million for each of the Val Del Road or Cat Creek Road projects that were not approved.

Since costs went up by 50% from June to August, how much more cost inflation can we expect before this Old US 41 North widening project is completed?

Remember, that $12,000,000 comes out of your sales taxes. If it is approved.

Also remember, the purpose of this project is to widen the road. The project description claims:

This project would benefit the public by potentially reducing the incidence of crashes along this roadway segment, corridor, and/or intersection.

That despite research that shows that wider is not safer. Wider encourages drivers to go faster. Slower is safer.

Do we really want to spend $12 million for a project whose costs increase by 50% in 2 months and that it's not clear will actually make anybody safer?

The complete project description is appended, 83 page report.

-jsq

Project Sheet

Project Number: RC11-000095 Project Name: Old US 41 Widening from SR 7 to Union Road GDOT ID:   Project Description: Widen Old US 41 to a 5-lane urban section roadway from SR 7 to Union Road. Regional Commission: Southern Georgia County: Lowndes County Phase Total Project Cost Total TIA Amount PE $800,000 $800,000 ROW $1,200,000 $1,200,000 CST $10,000,000 $10,000,000 Total $12,000,000 $12,000,000 Comments: Old 41 is a major collector that extends from SR 7 or North Valdosta Road to SR 122 in Hahira. At SR 122 in Hahira, Old 41 turns into SR 7 again to travel north into Cook County. Old 41 is used as a main artery for residents to travel from Hahira, North Lowndes County, and Cook County into Lowndes County and Valdosta for school, work, and entertainment. Over the past 15 years with the installation of Lowndes County Water and Sewer in this area, nine residential subdivisions, a private K-12 school, and numerous commercial developments have developed throughout this corridor. Commercial development includes a restaurant, convenience stores, car dealership, numerous doctors` offices and a hospital. Lowndes County also has a fire department and solid waste collection facility located in this area. With the future plans for further development in this area both commercially and residentially, future traffic models indicate traffic counts will exceed 20,000 vehicles per day. The majority of the development has occurred in this area and the continued growth is also anticipated in this proximity. It is proposed to construct bike lanes and possibly sidewalks throughout the project for the residents of this area to use Public Benefit Notes Ensuring Safety and Security This project would benefit the public by potentially reducing the incidence of crashes along this roadway segment, corridor, and/or intersection. Maximizing the value of Georgia's Assets This project could potentially maximize the full utility of an existing transportation facility(s). In some cases, bypasses will be necessary. Example benefits could be: mitigating congestion (e.g. operational improvements) and optimizing capital asset management (e.g. resurfacing, rehabilitation). The impacts would apply to this roadway segment, corridor, and/or intersection. Supporting Economic Growth/Competitiveness This project could assist in having a positive impact on the economic vitality for this region, and in some cases possibly for the entire state. Its impact could also be observed along the roadway segment, corridor, and/or intersection. Example benefits could be: improved access to jobs; improved travel times for drivers; increased lane capacity; improved efficiency and reliability for freight cargo/goods movement; providing border to border and inter-regional connectivity; and improve local connectivity to statewide transportation network. Additional Benefits This project would benefit the traveling public, by mitigating congestion and enhancing safety. Future traffic counts for this area are in excess of 20,000 vehicles per day. There are currently many residential subdivisions, multiple commercial businesses, and a private K-12 school all which gain access by using Old US 41. Project Location

Comments

[Barbara Stratton]

Very conveniently servicing the Valwood area. Maybe the extra cost is so they can go all the way to the mosque site without having to state the inclusion at this time since everything is so hush hush on that subject.

[Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange]

Yep, right by Valwood.
There's going to be a mosque? Yay! I'm a fan of moorish architecture, as are many people who have seen Aladdin. As long as they don't follow the example of their Christian neighbors and try to impose religious laws on the rest of us that we have to repeal later,
http://lake.typepad.com/on-the-lake-front/2011/07/sunday-sales-of-alcohol-alexander-abell.html
I look forward to a mosque to spiff up the neighborhood.
-jsq

[Barbara Stratton]

Yo John- I too love Moorish architecture (& Spanish Moors). But if you go on their website the building they are planning looks more like a Murabitun design. Maybe they will sell us some gold Dinars before the price goes up too high. You will probably be close enough as the crow flies across the woods to hear the morning Azan. Too bad it can't be set like an alarm clock instead of always at dawn. I have a feeling we'll all be under Sharia law soon if we survive. Its a shame you & I don't communicate well on politics because we are all going to need each other very soon.

[Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange]

If I knew their website URL I might go there and see; why don't you post it?
But I'm pretty sure Agenda 21 will prevent me from viewing it. :-)
I think we all need each other all the time.
-jsq

[Barbara Stratton]

Here is the website: http://vicenter.us/

UN Agenda 21 will have no problem with you viewing it.