TIP Amendment has $600 Million for Henry County

Map shows TIP amendment 3 projects in Henry County (Clayton Carte / The Henry Reporter map created with Datawrapper).
(Clayton Carte / The Henry Reporter map created with Datawrapper)

A proposed amendment to the Atlanta transportation improvement program (TIP) incorporates about $600 million in new funding for Henry County transportation projects. This includes not only funds to expand I-75, but also new federal dollars for local projects.

The Atlanta Regional Commission is accepting public comments through the end of January. Residents may share their feedback online or by phone.

TIP Amendment 3

First, a little background, what is the TIP? “The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the mechanism by which federal, state and local funds are approved for all significant surface transportation projects and programs in the region” (Atlanta Regional Commission). Projects must be within the TIP to receive federal transportation dollars. The ARC, acting in its capacity as the Atlanta metro planning organization (MPO), maintains the TIP for metro Atlanta.

When existing projects require a major cost-change or to add new projects, the Atlanta Regional Commission must carry-out a TIP amendment. The ARC is proposing TIP amendment 3 to complete the following:

  1. To incorporate federal discretionary grant awards,
  2. To program projects awarded funding from the 2024 TIP Solicitation,
  3. Addition of new planning studies and new bridge projects, and
  4. Address project cost estimate and programmatic changes that are of a time sensitive nature or cannot be handled administratively.

The public comment period is open until January 31. The ARC board will consider approving the TIP amendment in February. Typically, the ARC receives little to no public comments on TIP amendments.

Henry County Projects

TIP amendment 3 includes several Henry County projects. The amendment consists of the following:

  • State Route 42 bridge replacement, near Harris Drive in Locust Grove, increase the project’s total cost from $14.8 million to $60.6 million. The project is scheduled to begin construction in 2026.
  • I-75 express lanes, from I-675 to SR 155, add $548 million for a new project to expand the I-75 express lanes. This is to align the TIP with Georgia DOT’s previous announcement about the express lanes project.
  • Jonesboro Road resurfacing, from I-75 to Doris Street, add $4 million in federal funds for resurfacing. Henry County and McDonough will provide $1 million as a local match.
  • State Route 42 widening, from SR 155 to Locust Grove, award $750,000 in federal funds for scoping / preliminary design work for a road widening project. Henry County and Locust Grove will share in the local match of $187,500.
  • Camp Creek Greenway Trail, from Henry County Admin Building to McDonough Square, add $1.5 million in federal funds for preliminary engineering / design for a future trail project. Henry County and McDonough will share the $375,000 local match.
  • West King Connector Overpass, award $640 thousand in federal funds to the city of Hampton for design work on a pedestrian overpass over Georgia 20. The city will contribute $160 thousand as a local match.

The last four projects are the result of the 2024 TIP solicitation. Henry County had two other applications which ARC did not select for funding. Those were Eagles Landing Parkway resurfacing and Oak Grove Road widening.

Featured image shows a map of TIP amendment 3 projects. Clayton Carte / The Henry Reporter map created with Datawrapper.

About Clayton 1746 Articles
Clayton Carte is the founder and owner of The Henry Reporter. He founded the site in 2017 to highlight transportation projects. Over time, he began covering other topics like new development so residents can best know what’s happening in our community.