Bill Text: GA SR31 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Transportation Dept. of; urged to prepare a list of contractors to be utilized during weather emergencies
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 6)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-02-15 - Senate Passed/Adopted [SR31 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2011-SR31-Enrolled.html
11 LC
34 2874S (SCS)
Senate
Resolution 31
By:
Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Rogers of the 21st, Williams of the 19th, Murphy of
the 27th, Shafer of the 48th and others
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
the Georgia Department of Transportation to prepare a list of contractors to be
utilized during weather emergencies and to preauthorize local governments to
clear state roads when necessary; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the weather emergency in the State of Georgia in January, 2011, which paralyzed
much of this state and the City of Atlanta has provided a learning opportunity
for preventing such gridlock in the future; and
WHEREAS,
the Georgia Department of Transportation does not have enough equipment and
personnel to efficiently clear the roadways in this state during a winter
weather emergency, and it would be impracticable for the department to maintain
such an inventory of snow and ice removal equipment; and
WHEREAS,
there are multiple private contractors in this state who own and operate
equipment that could easily be adapted for use in clearing the roadways in this
state; and
WHEREAS,
the department needs to update its weather emergency response plan to include an
early call to these private contractors to mobilize and assist the department
when needed; and
WHEREAS,
in addition, many local city and county governments have equipment and personnel
that are used to clear local roads during winter weather emergencies;
and
WHEREAS,
these local governments are already on site and could begin the cleanup of many
state routes prior to the arrival of crews from the Georgia Department of
Transportation; and
WHEREAS,
it is only prudent for the department to authorize these local governments to
begin clearing ice and snow from state routes when they are able to do so;
and
WHEREAS,
the department needs to develop and implement a procedure to preauthorize local
governments to participate in the removal of snow and ice from state routes when
an emergency exists in this state; and
WHEREAS,
the department needs to develop a list of qualified and responsible contractors
willing to assist with equipment and personnel when called upon by the
department.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the Georgia Department of
Transportation is urged to identify and qualify contractors willing to assist in
weather or other emergencies in order to prevent gridlock on the highways of
this state. These contractors should be financially responsible and able to
capably perform the duties assigned to them.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Georgia Department of Transportation is urged to
develop and implement a procedure to preauthorize local governments to clear
snow and ice from state routes during an emergency.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Georgia Department of Transportation is urged to
develop a multi-jurisdictional and intra-departmental integrated action plan
which coordinates state and local government efforts to remove snow and ice when
an emergency exists in this state and to safely direct the flow of
traffic.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the commissioner of
transportation and the members of the State Transportation Board.
