When it comes to planning for long-range improvement projects, the Georgia Department of Transportation is hoping to get input from the community.

During an open house Aug. 17 in Jefferson, the department reviewed a proposed list of projects for the STIP, or State Transportation Improvement Program.

The program provides a proposed outline of transportation and capital improvement projects in rural areas across the state for the next four fiscal years.

Locally, Banks, Dawson, Habersham, Jackson, Lumpkin, Union and White counties are included in the program’s scope.

“We are trying to make sure that our list of priorities matches what a community thinks is most important,” said Teri Pope, GDOT spokeswoman.

Plans for the program outline how much each phase of a project is expected to cost. It also gives an anticipated timeline for the projects.

Although the list contains projects for a four-year period, it is updated annually.

The current outline contains all anticipated projects that would receive federal funding during the 2011 to 2014 fiscal years.

“Most of our projects are maintenance related. New construction costs a lot more, so there are fewer new projects,” Pope said.

Some of the proposed projects include a community trailway in Dawson, a bridge rehabilitation over Curry Creek in Jackson and sidewalk improvements in Habersham.

Comments will also be accepted online through Sept. 12.