Georgia County Government-August 2008

Transportation 2008 Meet DOT Commissioner Gena Abraham New Commissioner Works to Increase Efficiency F or Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Gena Abraham, the leading issues Georgia faces are massive congestion on interstate highways in metro Atlanta and a national funding shortfall that could threaten road building and maintenance projects across the state. When the State Transportation Board tapped a then-38-year-old Georgia Institute of Technology-trained engineer to head the Georgia DOT, a state agency with a $2.1 billion annual budget and more than 5,800 employees, there was little doubt that they too were thinking first about the enormity of the challenge DOT faced. In fact, traffic congestion and a $7.7 billion construction and maintenance funding shortfall had been on the board’s mind — and its agenda — for months. So when given the opportunity to hire an experienced engineer with a down-to-earth, nononsense reputation for getting the job done, it also was little surprise they turned to Dr. Gena Abraham. What many knew about Abraham, who earned her doctorate from Georgia Tech as a single mother raising a young son, is that she was well qualified to lead the DOT. Following her introduction to the media in November as the first woman commissioner, many also learned that in addition to her qualifications and wealth of construction and management experience, she brought with her a “will” to mold the DOT into an efficient operation that will deliver on its commitment to Georgia taxpayers and motorists to provide a seamless transportation system. “I want Georgia DOT to be the best in the country, more streamlined, more efficient and better able to achieve its core objectives,” said Abraham. “Our plan is to take significant steps and work on visible successes.” Indeed, Abraham’s work at Georgia DOT has begun — in earnest. She recently unveiled the fi rst phase of her reorganization aimed at improving project delivery, the cornerstone of her comprehensive plan. Additionally, she has committed to two others areas of focus — working with partners toward a statewide transportation plan and exploring opportunities for innovative fi nancing. The DOT is currently working on a five-year major project prioritization plan that will be released in September. “We are taking a hard look at all 9,000 road and infrastructure projects on our books and prioritizing which ones should move forward,” said Abraham, noting that projects appearing on the list will have been selected based on true engineering principles and which offer “the most bang for our buck.” Abraham also has reached out to transportation partners. In March, she and leaders from the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), the Georgia Regional Transportation Agency (GRTA) and the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) — which she now also oversees — met to discuss serious mobility challenges facing metro Atlanta and the rest of the state. The meeting, while probably not unprecedented, pointed to a commitment to a comprehensive approach to finding solutions. But it may be Abraham’s private sector project management and executive level training, along with her experience in academia, that will serve her well as she leads the Georgia DOT. After earning her undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech in 1992 and a doctorate in 2001, Abraham spent years managing construction projects for LaSalle Partners, now Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. When Governor Sonny Perdue named her executive secretary and construction director of the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission (GSFIC) in 2003, she was an assistant professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at her alma mater. In 2006, the governor expanded Abraham’s responsibilities by placing her in charge of all functions of the State Property Office — essentially selecting her to lead not only GSFIC Construction, but the State Properties Commission and the Georgia Building Authority as well. Perhaps what has become clear about Commissioner Abraham is her ability to recognize challenges and identify solutions, something she demonstrated in her previous state government positions. Abraham was responsible for launching the first inventory of state properties, saving Georgia taxpayers some $30 million by selling surplus properties and consolidating leases. Additionally, she earned the National Innovation Award ABRAHAM continued on page 22 AUGUST 2008 www.accg.org 21 http://www.accg.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government-August 2008

Georgia County Government- August 2008 Contents President’s Message County Matters Georgia’s Transportation Issues More Critical to Counties than Ever Expanding Rural Airports: Partnering for Economic Development in Upson County Meet DOT Commissioner Gena Abraham Bridge Infrastructure and Risk Counties and the Law: Georgia’s Fair Employment Practices Act Georgia’s Grand Old Courthouses: Coffee County Extension News: Infrastructure Investments Save County Funds Research Corner: Getting the Most Out of Your Research Discover the New Georgia Encyclopedia NACo News Staff News County Parade Index of Advertisers

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