Within 10 years, according to the plan, metro Atlanta would have a web of optional toll lanes. A toll tunnel could extend Ga. 400 southward. The proposed Peachtree streetcar proposal could be rolling. MARTA and other transit systems would have their operating costs met. An "East-West Connector" —- not along the route of the controversial Northern Arc, but a toll road north of Ga. 20 connecting I-75 and 85 —- would crown the list. Those are just the goodies for the metro area.

To help fund those plans and an equally ambitious array of projects across the state, voters would be asked to approve a dedicated 1-cent statewide sales tax for 10 years. The current state sales tax is 4 percent.

"I truly believe this is the boldest initiative perhaps in the history of this state, only rivaled by the HOPE [college] scholarship," said David Doss, chairman of a powerful committee on the state Transportation Board, who said he developed the plan.

"I like it. It has something there for everybody in the state of Georgia," said Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain), chairman of the House Transportation Committee. He said he expected to introduce part of the legislation as soon as today. It would take two measures, including one to propose an amendment to the state Constitution.

The plan is likely to be studied this year and possibly voted on by lawmakers in 2008. That's an election year, which could be a stumbling block.

Doss said the tax would yield about $22.2 billion over 10 years, and that the package of projects to submit to voters would be up to the Legislature. The plan assumes there would be revenue from the successful parts of the metro Atlanta toll network to fund the less profitable parts. Some of the projects, like the East-West Connector through Forsyth and Cherokee counties, and the Ga. 400 tunnel, would require private investment.

State Transportation Commissioner Harold Linnenkohl said the plan seemed "very comprehensive," but he pointed out that many factors remained unknown.

"I think anything is feasible," Linnenkohl said. "Just keep in mind that to do something that does require a toll-type component," detailed studies predicting how much toll revenue a project would bring in have to be done. "And those things have not been done."

Doss said bonds sold to finance the projects would protect the state's general fund from being on the hook for debt payments if the toll money fell short.

One omission from the plan was commuter rail, such as the proposed lines from Lovejoy to Atlanta and Athens to Atlanta. Instead, the program would fund a feasibility study for high-speed magnetically levitated train service connecting Savannah, Macon and Atlanta, hoping the private sector would decide to invest in such a construction project with the state.

Told of the idea, commuter rail advocate and Clayton County Chairman Eldrin Bell had a short response he spelled out: "H-O-P-E." Such a project has never been done in the United States, so whether the private sector would dive in is an open question.

At least one transit project would some get start-up money, with $500 million going to build the Atlanta Streetcar Project, which would be expected to revitalize Peachtree Street with streetcars, parks and more. Other costs of the streetcar project, such as operations, would be paid by organizers as planned. Told of that and the notion to subsidize underfunded MARTA operations, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin raised her eyebrows and said, "Hmm," but declined to comment before seeing the plan.

She didn't quibble with the Legislature's choosing the projects, but said, "What I'm interested in is the outcome." Franklin has recently expressed concern about bills proposing added sales taxes, because Atlanta, like several counties, already has a local option sales taxes leaders want to renew.

One of the goals of a high-speed rail network would be to haul not only people but also freight from Georgia's ports. Just as metro Atlanta's soaring population is expected to grow by another 2 million people over the next 25 years, Savannah has been the fastest growing port in the nation for five years running, and a large portion of the truck traffc that generates heads through Atlanta, choking its interstates.

The Atlanta toll network would also address freight traffic with truck-only toll lanes.

Outside metro Atlanta, the nearly 2-decade-old plan to put 98 percent of Georgians within 20 minutes of a four-lane road would finally be finished. The tax would pay to pave 10,000 miles of dirt roads, and fund improvements to airports, bridges, local roads, sidewalks and bicycle paths.

The transportation plan is likely to fuel the debate over metro Atlanta's money being siphoned off for projects in the rest of the state. The Legislature, which will decide the project list, has in the past supported rural areas.

Sam Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, acknowledged there are statewide transportation needs but said it's important that local or regional officials draw up their own project lists.

"One size does not fit all here," Williams said.

It's unclear whether the Legislature will approve Smith's measures, or whether the project list will remain the same. Sen. Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) introduced a measure that would put all such proposals in a study committee, to be co-chaired by him and Smith.

In Atlanta and statewide, current transportation funding withers year by year, since the federal gas tax and a large part of the state gas tax are charged as cents per gallon, not cents per dollar, and so revenues don't rise with inflation. The state Department of Transportation projects Georgia will have a $7.7 billion transportation funding shortfall over the next six years.

• Paving dirt roads: $1.5 billion
• Statewide highway network: $3.6 billion
• Rehabilitate bridges: $2 billion
• Transit including MARTA operations: $4.5 billion
• That includes Atlanta Streetcar: $500 million
• Bike and sidewalk projects: $52 million

SHANNON PEAVY / Staff
This is an initial project list that could be funded by a 1-cent statewide sales tax if the Legislature and voters approve.

• Possible toll road north of Ga. 20 that differs from Northern Arc
• Current toll lane proposals by companies
• Ga. 400 extension, including tunnel built by private investment and repaid by tolls
• Additional toll lanes, probably for trucks
• Adding toll lanes for after 10-year plan, not funded by plan
• Toll lanes where single drivers or couples pay to avoid congestion