This past Thursday, at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce’s office, we held our monthly Regional Issues Forum. Our topic for discussion was transportation.  We had a panel that consisted of all the transportation department heads of the five cities in North Fulton: Sandy Springs, Roswell, Johns Creek, Alpharetta and Milton.

Each city presented their transportation initiatives and what they were planning to do to increase mobility and the quality of life for their citizens.  All five cities are very unique in their character and personalities, which is great, but when it comes to transportation projects, city and county lines need to be imaginary. When we are planning projects in these cities we need to have communication and collaboration with all our neighboring cities. For example, it does not do any good to widen a road to the city limits from Roswell into Johns Creek that would then funnel into a two-lane road causing congestion.

What I witnessed at this Regional Issues Forum was that the cities are communicating well and that all five transportation heads realize that transportation improvements don’t stop at their city boundaries. I believe it is my job as the Georgia Department of Transportation representative for North Fulton to make sure we are unified and singing off the same sheet of music and our projects are coordinated and moving forward.

Whether the issue is water, education, transportation, public safety or economic development there is no better organization than the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce to unify the cities on these regional issues.  All five cities should continue to have their unique personalities but on these regional issues we must stand as one.

I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Valentine’s and Presidents day.  If you have any suggestions or comments, please e-mail me at brandonlbeach@aol.com.