GDOT planning director outlines infrastructure bank, ATL changes and GRETA priorities
February 13, 2026 | Appropriations, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia
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Janine Miller, identified in the transcript as the director of planning at GDOT, told the Appropriations Transportation Subcommittee that the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank received $46 million in one‑time funds and is accepting roadway applications through the stated application deadline, with airport applications extended to next week and $7.5 million earmarked for airport hangars.
Miller said last year the bank received just over $62 million in requests and the fund was able to support roughly half of those proposals, prioritizing rural applications where possible. She described a base program budget (transportation trust fund) of about $16 million and said the agency awarded approximately $10 million of the $46 million one‑time allocation last cycle.
On transit policy, Miller described ATL’s operational changes: an FY27 base budget request of $9.2 million, a 37% reduction in express commuter trips and a near doubling in seat utilization (the presentation cited a 96% increase in utilization), achieved in part by ending some leased park‑and‑ride agreements and shifting to state‑owned park‑and‑ride lots. Miller attributed the initial ridership collapse to work‑from‑home shifts (boardings fell from about 7,700 to roughly 771 in FY21) but said ridership has steadily recovered and that top corridors now show utilization between about 50% and 62%.
Miller also explained GRETA and SERTA are combined in the appropriations process. She described GRETA’s role in approving the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for its 13‑county region, noted the prior TIP reflected roughly $10.5 billion in planned Metro Atlanta spend and said the next TIP (2027–2030) could reach about $18 billion with express‑lane and private financing components. When asked about contracted engineering support for TIP review, Miller said GRETA currently uses a contractor embedded in the SERTA contract and would evaluate reprocurement timing once funding certainty is known.
The presentation emphasized collaboration between GDOT, GRETA and ARC (Atlanta Regional Commission) to optimize funding sources and align federal and state planning requirements.
The meeting concluded with the subcommittee thanking Miller and adjourning.
Miller said last year the bank received just over $62 million in requests and the fund was able to support roughly half of those proposals, prioritizing rural applications where possible. She described a base program budget (transportation trust fund) of about $16 million and said the agency awarded approximately $10 million of the $46 million one‑time allocation last cycle.
On transit policy, Miller described ATL’s operational changes: an FY27 base budget request of $9.2 million, a 37% reduction in express commuter trips and a near doubling in seat utilization (the presentation cited a 96% increase in utilization), achieved in part by ending some leased park‑and‑ride agreements and shifting to state‑owned park‑and‑ride lots. Miller attributed the initial ridership collapse to work‑from‑home shifts (boardings fell from about 7,700 to roughly 771 in FY21) but said ridership has steadily recovered and that top corridors now show utilization between about 50% and 62%.
Miller also explained GRETA and SERTA are combined in the appropriations process. She described GRETA’s role in approving the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for its 13‑county region, noted the prior TIP reflected roughly $10.5 billion in planned Metro Atlanta spend and said the next TIP (2027–2030) could reach about $18 billion with express‑lane and private financing components. When asked about contracted engineering support for TIP review, Miller said GRETA currently uses a contractor embedded in the SERTA contract and would evaluate reprocurement timing once funding certainty is known.
The presentation emphasized collaboration between GDOT, GRETA and ARC (Atlanta Regional Commission) to optimize funding sources and align federal and state planning requirements.
The meeting concluded with the subcommittee thanking Miller and adjourning.
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