The Coastal Region roundtable has become the first of the 12 in the state to approve its projects list for the 2010 Transportation Investment Act.

The five projects approved for Effingham County include all four phases of the Effingham Parkway/Georgia Portway, with anticipated funding of $106.25 million from the TIA. The final list also includes improvements to the Interstate 16-Old River Road interchange with nearly $2.65 million allotted from TIA proceeds, if approved by voters.

“It has been an honor to work closely with the Coastal Region Roundtable and the Coastal Regional Commission staff this summer as they developed their project list for the Transportation Investment Act,” said Todd Long, director of planning for the state Department of Transportation. “All of those involved have been very professional. They have developed a project list that is strategic, deliverable, and appealing to the public.”

The TIA creates 12 special tax districts based on regional commission boundaries and proposes a 1-percent regional sales and use tax to fund all modes of transportation for a period of 10 years. Under the law, a regional transportation roundtable consisting of every county chairman and one mayor from each county was organized. 

From this group, a five-member executive committee was chosen and tasked with developing a constrained list of projects that would be presented to the full committee for their vote.

Bryan County Commission Chairman Jimmy Burnsed was elected by the roundtable and the executive committee members to serve as chairman for both of these groups. The final list of projects was presented to the full roundtable on Sept. 7. After a few minor changes, the list was officially approved by the roundtable.