Newton Citizen

The Georgia Department of Transportation has announced presentations of the Draft fiscal year 2011-14 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program for public review and comment.

The STIP is a four-year program that specifies federally funded transportation projects for non-urban communities in rural Georgia for fiscal years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. These projects include, but are not limited to, new construction, improvements and maintenance for interstates, state routes and bridges. Additional projects include bicycle and pedestrian projects, transportation enhancement projects and public transit projects.

The Tennille District Office will sponsor two open house meetings where the public can view the Draft fiscal year '11-'14 STIP, view maps of projects in the local area, discuss projects with GA DOT staff and formally offer comments. The meetings are open to the public and all constituents are encouraged and welcome to attend.

Meetings in East Georgia will be held:

* Wednesday, Aug. 18, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Dublin Mall, located at 2005 Veterans Blvd., Suite A38, Dublin, GA 31021

* Tuesday, Aug. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Milledgeville Mall, located at 2400 N. Columbia St., Milledgeville, GA 31061.

The general public is invited to view projects planned for Baldwin; Bleckley; Burke; Columbia; Dodge; Emanuel; Greene; Hancock; Jasper; Jefferson; Jenkins; Johnson; Laurens; Lincoln; McDuffie; Morgan; Newton; Oglethorpe; Putnam; Screven; Treutlen; Warren; Washington; Wilkes; and Wilkinson counties. Projects for other counties in this region that are part of a Metropolitan Planning Organization -- areas with more than 50,000 in population -- will be available for public comment in a separate meeting, at a later date.

The draft STIP will also be available at www.georgiastip.com.