3/25: Transportation referendum and jobs
By the AJC Editorial Board
Much of the hissing and spitting that passes for civic debate in this age orbits around cries of “job-killing” this or “job-creating” that. Which provides an interesting lens through which to view the upcoming regional transportation referendum.
We suggest that opponents of the Transportation Investment Act penny sales tax listen to a new advertising blitz with something close to an open mind.
Critics also owe it to themselves and their communities, in our view, to examine the sponsor list for the expected $8 million campaign of choir-preaching that points out yet again our epic mobility problems and the need to start addressing them.
Read the rest of what the AJC Editorial Board has to say. Then read another view by Fayette County Commissioner Steve Brown and tell us what you think.
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25 comments Add your comment
SAWB
March 24th, 2012
2:23 pm
So, let me get this straight because of growth in the region we need to increase taxes. If we don’t increase taxes growth will slow. Ok, what am I missing here? It seems like the answer is pretty obvious we should vote NO.
Let’s be honest does anyone really think the quality of life in Metro Atlanta is better now than it was ten or twenty years ago? As a matter of fact the AJC is running a story right now detailing how Gwinnett County is on pace for a record number of murders. There are also ongoing stories about failures of the Atlanta and DeKalb school systems and even the highly rated Gwinnet school system now has underperforming schools. There was discussion this week about letting certain criminals out of jail because we do not have enough capacity to handle them all. The truth of the matter is that growth has long ago outpaced the ability of local Governments to keep up, so maybe it is time to slow things down.
Chris
March 24th, 2012
2:07 pm
Follow the money … who’s paying for this ad campaign (including using the AJC which is supposedly an impartial source)? I bet you’ll find lots of engineering and transportation lobbyists who stand to benefit from the forced redistribution of wealth from one set of citizens to another.
Governments can’t really create jobs. All they can do is take money from one hand and give to another. The money that will be spent on these projects, many if not most of which are of dubious value, will be taken out of the retail economy and not spent on other things. There will be losers. But the big money is trying to make you think that you are a bad person if you vote NO. I will be voting NO, because of all the reasons others have put out as well as the fact that you simply can’t trust the local governments around here as they are likely in bed with developers and corporate cronies.
Out by the Pond
March 24th, 2012
9:20 am
Unrelated to T-Splost the proposed Lexus Lanes for I 75 and I 575 have a reported cost of under $1Billion. I have it from a reliable source that the Cost estimate for the Right of Way only, not construction, for two lanes on both sides of the I 75 was in excess of $4 Billion. Just how bad was Bush’s recession? Not that bad. I do not trust the estimates for the Lexus Lanes and I sure don’t trust the estimates for the proposed T-Splost projects.
Out by the Pond
March 24th, 2012
9:10 am
A short history lesson……..In the late 30s early 40s Atlanta floated bonds to build the Down Town Connector. Generally it ran from the steel mill south to University. The project cost more than it’s estimate and the bonds were coming due. Along came Ike and his Interstate Highway System. Two Interstates were diverted down the Connector. Atlanta was bailed out and Atlanta traffic was born. Until the traffic of three Interstate systems is routed away from the city Atlanta will always have traffic. Local transit projects will not fix the problems caused by TRUCKS or the Snowbirds.
Out by the Pond
March 24th, 2012
9:01 am
TRUCKS! That is Atlanta’s problem. In Atlanta traffic TRUCKS dominate the number of number of vehicles on the highway. I have not experienced this in Dallas, Houston, Tucson or other major cities In which I have driven. Alternate truck routes around the city would do more to relieve the current traffic problem that the proposed projects offered by T-splash.
Out by the Pond
March 24th, 2012
8:47 am
Transit projects create jobs. Transit projects funded by progressive taxes create the same jobs. Drop the regressive sales tax and develop some real projects that will help move people around the region. The proposed transit line from Cumberland Mall to downtown makes as much sense as the 1968 proposed transit line from Glover Park to downtown. Neither provide suitable service to the population they are to serve.
bug
March 24th, 2012
7:07 am
This is another bad writen article. Educate yourself on this vote and you will find 25% of the money goes to individual counties general fund. Find out how much money was spent on lobbist hired by the Georgia County Commissioners to get this bill on the ballot.
Good government begins at home. We are not trimming fat govenment; we have those on the tax payers payroll looking for other sources of income.
middleground
March 23rd, 2012
10:29 pm
I love Atlanta and the Beltline. However its hard not to ignore that fact that most buses run around town empty. And while the goal is higher density, thats way off in the current economic environment.
It would be cheaper to find other solutions for a period until high density is achieved.
Forcing things on people doesn’t seem to work. Recognize the peoples mood.
Hillbilly D
March 23rd, 2012
10:05 pm
I don’t live in the Atlanta T-SPLOST region so I don’t have a dog in y’alls fight but that list of sponsors would be enough to make me queasy about supporting it.
ScottNATL
March 23rd, 2012
8:52 pm
My impression is that Mr Brown should give us the source of these numbers hes spouting forth since for the most part they are not correct. He also fails to see that mass transit availability raises property values, attracts business, and raises the tax base. All mass transit is subsidized heavily, as are the precious roads he says are short changed. My take is his opposition is more politically motivated than fact driven. As for why they need to spend 8 million on an educational campaign, Mr Brown should take a good look in the mirror. When are public officials are loose with the facts trying to pit urban against rural for their own political gain…you have to fight against that with the facts. I’m sorry that Mr. Brown dislikes us in Atlanta so much, but we are the ones who will pay most of this…as compared to the small fraction that will come from his county