By Heather Collins

The Transportation Investment Act (TIA) has been transformative for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) region since voters approved the 10-year, one-percent sales tax for transportation infrastructure in 2012. Since then, TIA has funded projects that have helped fuel the greater Augusta area’s booming commercial, industrial, residential, medical, and military growth. 

So, it was not surprising that on June 9, 2020, the citizens of the CSRA region of Georgia voted overwhelmingly to renew the TIA sales tax for another 10-years. 

“We know that transportation investments are critical to the lifeblood of the city,” said City of Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. “It’s not just the roads, bridges, and infrastructure work that’s being done and seen, but it’s the number of long-term jobs it supports for people from the region and community. That’s one of the reasons our economy has been so strong.”

Augusta is the largest city in the CSRA region and, along with Richmond County and the surrounding areas, has seen unprecedented amounts of economic growth, including the U.S. Army’s new Cyber Command Headquarters, the new $100 million Georgia Cyber Center, the expansion of Augusta University and its healthcare system, and an uptick in manufacturing and distribution business. 

“TIA gives us the infrastructure to keep pace with the level of economic development and economic growth that we’ve seen,” said Sue Parr, President, and CEO of Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce. 

The widening of Berkmans Road, which runs along the west side of Augusta National Golf Club, the widening of 15th Street in the city’s medical district, traffic flow changes near Paine College, sweeping upgrades to pedestrian and bike facilities and the extensive addition of green space, all of which were funded by the TIA program, have changed the face of Augusta and Richmond County. 

“As a destination city, people are going to view Augusta much differently than they have in the past,” Davis said. “These projects have literally transformed our landscape – urban, suburban, and inner-city.” Read More