The Georgia General Assembly offers a special way to recognize individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to the state of Georgia: the Honorarium. Managed by the Office of Transportation Data (OTD) within the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), this program allows for the naming of certain state transportation assets in honor of these deserving individuals. Understanding the Georgia Department Of Transportation Traffic systems and infrastructure is key to appreciating the scope of this recognition program.
Under the GDOT Honorarium Program, dedications can be made for various elements within the primary state route system. These include Scenic Byways, Trails/Walkways, Interstates, Interchanges, Intersections, Bridges, and Overpasses. It is important to note that, as outlined in OCGA §32-4-3, these dedications are specifically for the state route system. Therefore, local roads and bridges managed by counties and cities are not eligible for this program.
The process for requesting an honorarium involves a crucial “conflict status check.” The GDOT Legislative Liaison plays a key role by providing information on requests from members of the Georgia Legislature. This check determines if the location proposed for dedication is already named or is available. Utilizing its database, the OTD verifies the accuracy and availability of the requested naming. The findings of OTD’s research, indicating whether there is a conflict or not, are then communicated to the GDOT Legislative Liaison. Subsequently, the Liaison sends an official GDOT letter to the legislator who initiated the request.
For those interested in submitting an Honorarium request for the 2023-2024 biennium, a dedicated form is available for completion.
Explore the Honorarium Locator Application
The Honorarium Locator Application provides a valuable resource for users to explore existing resolutions related to Georgia honorariums. For assistance in navigating the application, a help guide is available.
Access Application Watch Tutorial Download Spreadsheet
Important Note: According to OCGA §32-4-3, all road dedications must be introduced and approved by the General Assembly and officially enacted with the Governor’s signature. These dedications are restricted to roads and bridges within the state route system. GDOT’s responsibility in this process includes reviewing existing records and confirming, through a “conflict status” letter, if any prior dedications exist, whether enacted by the General Assembly or, before 2002, by the State Transportation Board and its predecessors. Upon enactment, GDOT collaborates with dedication sponsors to implement the enacted resolution(s).
