During my tenure in the Georgia legislature, I served 15 years on the House Transportation Committee. Through this experience, I saw the day coming when we would have to face up to a shortfall in transportation funding that threatened our state and regional economy. Sadly, that day is here, and the timing couldn’t be worse — just as we seem to be climbing slowly toward a recovery.But I am optimistic that voters in Gainesville-Hall County and throughout our region now see a way out of this mess.