By Ashley Speagle
Correspondent
PDF: Federal money bill PDF: Bill to get federal money
ATLANTA -- The Georgia Senate on Wednesday passed a bill by Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, that he said may help the state qualify for more federal transportation funds.
Senate Bill 305 would double the share of transportation projects, from 15 percent to 30 percent, that could be contracted using the design-build concept.
The concept allows one contractor to design and build a project rather than splitting the work into portions and parceling them out to two or more contractors.
"It comes in cheaper and earlier, which is a money-saving technique and opportunity for transportation," Sen. Mullis said Wednesday during debate on the bill.
That would help the state qualify for more federal money because projects would have shorter timeframes, he said.
President Barack Obama's bill for small businesses, which he referred to as a second stimulus bill, could include additional funds for transportation projects, he said.
"In 'Stimulus 2,' we'll have 90 days to get projects out," Sen. Mullis said. "This will help us get projects out quicker and create jobs."
Sen. Doug Stoner, D-Smyrna, said the public bidding process encourages competition but requires more time to select contractors.
"It's an issue we need to deal with in particular if we're going to get federal stimulus dollars," Sen. Stoner said.
Sen. Mullis said the Joint Study Committee on Transportation Funding in 2007 originally recommended the design-build method now used by 28 other states.
"Several years ago, you (created) a study committee that allowed several of us to travel the state and talk to Georgians about improving transportation," Sen. Mullis told legislators. "We learned that several states were doing design-build projects."
BY THE NUMBERS* $20.6 billion: Total transportation funds invested from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act* $632 million: Total federal funds invested in Georgia* 3 percent: Georgia's share of total stimulus funds available* 243: Georgia transportation projects funded by stimulus* 9,200: Stimulus-funded transportation projects nationwideSource: Georgia Department of Transportation
Sen. Steve Thompson, D-Marietta, said the design-build method also allows the state to use experts who can streamline the process.
"There are certain companies that have expertise in both areas, and it allows us to utilize these companies," Sen. Thompson said.
However, Sen. Mullis said larger contractors often subcontract with local companies, helping ensure that smaller companies have better access to state contracts.
The bill now moves to the House, where it will be introduced and assigned to committee. House Transportation Committee Chairman Jay Roberts, R-Ocilla, will sponsor the bill in the House.