Will build more HOV/toll lanes
Nathan Deal
Supports High Occupancy Toll lanes for NEW construction to give commuters greater choice and to expand capacity.
Deal-O-Meter
Not yet rated
Problems with traffic congestion have been threatening economic development efforts in metro Atlanta in recent years.
During the 2010 race for governor, Nathan Deal announced his transportation plan, "Real Mobility," which called for construction of new toll lanes to give commuters greater choice and to expand interstate capacity.
They're expensive, time-consuming and works in progress.
The first high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes opened along I-85 in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties in 2011. They were developed using existing lanes, rather than new construction. Since then, other projects have been announced that involve new construction.
Here are the details of toll lane activity in metro Atlanta:
The Northwest Corridor and I-75 South express lanes would be new capacity, reversible toll lanes. They would not be HOT lanes because only registered transit and emergency vehicles would be exempt from the tolls.
Our conclusion
Gov. Nathan Deal promised in his first campaign that the state would build more HOV/toll lanes to give commuters greater choice and to expand interstate capacity. We see that has happened or is in the works for the northeast, northwest and south sides of Atlanta.
As the governor prepares to assume a second term in office, we rate this a Promise Kept.
Deal for Governor campaign press release, Oct. 18, 2010
Georgia State Road & Tollway Authority, information on I-85 express lanes
Georgia State Road & Tollway Authority, information on future toll projects
Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Express Lanes information
Henry Herald, "Gov. Deal, GDOT bring toll lanes to Henry County," Oct. 7, 2014
Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch, "Gov. Nathan Deal on Break Ground on Northwest Corridor Project," Sept. 16, 2014