Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller said he is ready to discuss the possible closure of the railroad crossing at Rivoli Drive and Tucker Road. (6:18 into video)
The safety of that intersection came up during November’s Ask Mayor Miller program that also delved into plans to implode the old Hilton hotel New Year’s Eve, (14:11), pending approval of the Ocmulgee Mounds national park, (00:23), school safety zone camera policy, (11:18), development prospects and the upcoming March 18 SPLOST referendum, (21:14).
Miller floated the idea of closing that Tucker Road crossing with Wesleyan Woods residents months before a 76-year-old woman was fatally injured when her car was hit by a train, he said.
“I think one challenge you have there is that’s a connector from Tucker straight across there, which creates its own unique challenges. I try to avoid that area, especially at certain times of the day, myself. Certainly, I would not be opposed” to closing that, Miller said.
The neighbors he talked to were very receptive to the idea of eliminating that crossing, he said.
“Now that this tragic incident happened there, we can see that maybe that’s a possibility. So, I’m certainly open to have some conversations with the railroad about closing that. And Macon, still handling the traffic congestion around that area, is going to be a challenge,” he said.
The mayor’s efforts to slow down speeders in school zones still prompts multiple questions from the public. (11:18) Billy Meador suggested the lower speed limit for arrival and departure hours remain constant during the day to avoid confusion.
Miller did not share his thoughts on Meador’s suggestion, but he did make it clear that the law only allows the camera surveillance system to issue tickets during school days.
“First of all, the school day is defined as one hour before school begins until one hour after the last bell. That is the only time you can get a ticket. You can only get a reduced (speed) ticket for certain times of the day when the flashing lights are on,” Miller said.
Using the cameras to issue tickets outside of the school day would be illegal, he said.
He also explained that the 75% of the citation proceeds the county receives from its split with the camera company that issues the tickets must be spent on public safety. (10:21)
The Macon-Bibb County Commission approved divvying up $3.5 million among local law enforcement needs such as more surveillance cameras, drones and $300,000 for the Bibb County School System to hire 35 crossing guards.
Roads, bridges and gondolas
Jeff Penland asked when he could expect to see roads paved around Lizella. (8:24)
“I’ve said this many times before, the past administration has only spent about a few hundred thousand dollars per year. We have 1,100 miles of road. We have a SPLOST coming up and I can assure him there’s going to be a major, major focus in this next SPLOST to pretty much have our largest program that we’ve ever had in Macon to pave roads,” Miller said.
He noted Columbus Road and parts of Fulton Mill Road have already been resurfaced and all Lizella roads that need attention will get it.
The mayor said people don’t always understand that the process for state funding for road maintenance can take a year or more from approval to completion.
“And that’s not our issue, it’s just a normal issue dealing with paving roads,” Miller said.
The mayor wasn’t confident a pedestrian bridge across the Ocmulgee River and Interstate 16 that was floated in the Macon Action PLan XL could happen anytime soon, (2:45).
“Never say never. That would be a very expensive project. Certainly won’t happen when I’m mayor, I can assure you of that, but it’s certainly a lofty goal,” he said. “But you never know how things can happen. You never know, we might get some more infrastructure money in the future that may make that a possibility.”
He sees the solar-powered gondolas The Macon Newsroom first reported on in 2022 as more feasible in the near term.
“That’s a great way to get across the interstate and across the Ocmulgee River,” he said. “They’re not good for everywhere, but I do think you’re going to see some and I think they’re very reliable. A little slow now for transportation, I think that’s the key part, but I think you’re going to see with all that we’re doing in the United States to increase our travel, and as much as we have going on, it’s going to be a real possibility one day.”
National Park, $1.5B in development
He was also cautiously optimistic Congress would establish Georgia’s first national park at the Ocmulgee Mounds. (00:23)
“We’ve had great support on both sides of the aisle, and I think we’re finally going to get to the end of the tunnel right now. So, we’re very excited about it and I think with the new change in leadership in Washington, D.C., I think they’re trying to get things off the calendar, which helps our park situation. So, I’m very excited about what may happen very soon,” he said.
Miller also encouraged the public to give input on the proposed East Bank development on the site of the old Bibb Mill that he said will happen even if the national park legislation fails to pass. (1:31)
Sarah Holloway, who has a daughter enrolled in college in Macon, said she was shocked by the undeveloped parts of the city. She asked whether Macon wants to be a real city or stay a small town, and wanted to know what was being done to encourage young people to put down roots here after graduation. (4:23)
“You’ll find a lot of those students fall in love with Macon and they stay here already, so we have a great quality of life. We have lots of entertainment. Our downtown is thriving. We’re doing nice things at the mall. So, I think a national park on the way, all these great things are happening and some more that’ll happen after our SPLOST next year,” he said.
Miller said he expects future development along Rocky Creek Road with construction of hundreds of homes, (5:42), and an estimated $1.5 billion in investment downtown, (16:49).
Demolishing the old Hilton/Ramada Crowne Plaza hotel will help spur the Renaissance on the River development along Riverside Drive between New and Second streets.
“I think about $1.5 billion will be the number, after we get through SPLOST, of actually a lot of private investment, which we’re excited about,” he said.
Miller plans a low-key inauguration on Dec. 17 and a recognition ceremony Dec. 3 for the four term-limited county commissioners who won’t serve in 2025. (18:07)
While he has looked at the efficiency and effectiveness of the county’s dozens of boards and authorities, there are no current plans to streamline or eliminate any of them. (19:32)
Miller said the Trump campaign paid $125,000 upfront to rent the Atrium Health Amphitheater, (20:04), and that the community benefited from all the national candidates and surrogates who visited, (20:36).
Heading into Thanksgiving, the mayor mentioned what he’s most thankful for, (22:03).
“I’m thankful this election is over, and national elections, because I’m tired of seeing all the commercials and getting all those texts. But really, it’s always about faith and family and friends to me, in that order,” he said. “We’ve been very fortunate this year in Macon and you want to continue to grow some, definitely. My faith is always going to be first, and my family. I love my family dearly, so I’m thankful for them and, of course, all the wonderful friends we have in Macon.”
Send your questions for the next Ask Mayor Miller to [email protected].
— Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities for The Macon Newsroom.
