The Georgia Department of Transportation’s top planning official has joined one of the state’s biggest lobbying firms.
Jay Roberts, GDOT’s planning director for the last four years, recently became a partner at the firm GeorgiaLink. At GDOT, he’s been involved in some of Georgia’s most important transportation decisions in recent years.
That includes the development of a 10-year, $10 billion road construction program unveiled in 2016. The program includes such projects as the reconstruction of the I-285/Ga. 400 interchange and toll lanes on the top half of the Perimeter. It also includes 40 miles of proposed truck lanes on I-75 between Macon and McDonough, which have drawn scrutiny from state auditors and others.
Previously, Roberts served 12 years in the state House of Representatives. Among other things, the Ocilla Republican chaired the transportation committee, where he helped pass 2015 legislation that raised a billion extra dollars a year for road and bridge construction.
Then-Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Roberts to the GDOT planning director’s job that same year. In that role, he served as the governor’s point man at the agency and helped develop long-term road construction plans.
Gov. Brian Kemp has not announced a replacement for Roberts.
At Thursday’s State Transportation Board meeting, Chairman Tim Golden praised Roberts’ work to improve transportation across Georgia.
“Jay has exemplified the foresight and determination needed to achieve success,” Golden said.
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