Did Legislature show wisdom or shirk duty on T-SPLOST?
Moderated by Rick Badie
This region needs significant inroads to curb congestion, and a proposed transportation sales tax that would address the issue has garnered critics and supporters. Today, a former state representative writes that the General Assembly shirked its duties by giving the green light to a referendum that turns the state into 12 Georgias. Meanwhile, a congestion relief advocate praises the Legislature’s approach and tackles what he calls the half-truths and misrepresentations that circulate about the tax.
Legislature shirks duty on tax
By Wyc Orr
Much has been written and said about the upcoming T-SPLOST vote in Georgia on Tuesday. Voters in each of 12 regions across Georgia will vote on an additional 1 percent sales tax to be collected and to fund transportation improvements in that region only.
Most commentary has focused on the tax itself and on the transportation projects to be constructed in each region if voters approve the tax.
But largely ignored has been a more fundamental issue, one more important to the state’s future than even the transportation tax issue: What precedent will be set by balkanizing Georgia into 12 separate regions?
The ghost of Georgia’s past “two Georgias” imbroglio of two decades ago, debating whether urban and rural Georgians live in two different worlds, has reappeared as an even greater specter of divisiveness — 12 Georgias.
This “government by referendum” may seem on its face to be commendable — decentralizing government, allowing “the people” themselves to decide at the local level whether they will be taxed. But on closer inspection, it is anything but desirable. It is the antithesis of a democratic republic, a legislative evasion of responsibility.
Georgia’s Constitution plainly gives the Legislature not only the power, but implicitly the duty, to “make all laws … which it shall deem necessary and proper for the welfare of the state.”
T-SPLOST is the General Assembly’s shirking of that duty, its abdication of the constitutional responsibility to decide such issues on a comprehensive statewide basis.
Georgia is not among the “referendum states,” the 24 or so states that provide for statewide referendums in various circumstances. But if approved by voters, T-SPLOST will be a step in that direction, more in keeping with the California-style initiative and referendum system that steered that state toward what The Economist magazine described as “the ungovernable state.”
Does Georgia want to take even a first step down that road?
In today’s Internet-driven age, steps all too often turn into stampedes. Irrationality, too easily, can become public policy.
And T-SPLOST threatens an even more divisive dynamic than other states’ initiative and referendum systems. A single statewide referendum is one thing, but regional plebiscites are quite another. Twelve separate regional referendums promote separatism rather than solidarity, more like a Swiss-style canton system of semi-independent sovereigns.
And T-SPLOST is bad policy for a more immediate reason. Few if any functions of state government more clearly require coordination than transportation.
What happens, for example, if one region widens and improves its highways, but a contiguous region does not? If an expanded highway stops at a county line and funnels traffic onto the same old two-lane bottleneck, will motorists use the improved highway? Will the tax money expended be largely wasted?
Avoiding such waste is no doubt why Georgia a long time ago created a state Department of Transportation to develop a “comprehensive, state-wide, 20-year transportation plan.” T-SPLOST’s regional approach seriously detracts from such statewide comprehensiveness and coordination.
Uniform voter rejection of T-SPLOST will not delay transportation improvements in Georgia. Rather, it will send this planning duty back to where it belongs — the General Assembly — as its first item of business at the 2013 session, which begins in January, the same month the T-SPLOST tax would otherwise begin.
Voters will have sent a message to their legislators: “Do your job. Plan for Georgia — all of Georgia, as one state.”
Wyc Orr, a former state representative, is a Gainesville attorney.
Foes twist facts on T-SPLOST
By Jim Durrett
After years of attempts to work with the Atlanta region’s civic and business leadership to craft a solution to our transportation funding dilemma, the Legislature finally gave us an opportunity to do something to help ourselves address our problems: a 10-year regional T-SPLOST to fund specific projects.
Our region accepted the challenge and through its elected officials and transportation professionals, and with unprecedented public input, developed a consensus project list to start creating a transportation system that we need to prosper in the decades ahead. It was a remarkable and historic achievement: coming together as a region to address a regional problem.
We would put our own skin in the game by taxing ourselves, and the region, not the state, would decide what we would work on first. This was a fortunate turn of events because the federal government increasingly favors states and regions that step up to the plate with their own resources when prioritizing where it spends the money we send it.
I expected some people to take issue with some of the projects selected, and I expected some people to be opposed to paying a tax. But I have been astounded by the misinformation and outright falsehoods that have been spread by opponents of the upcoming regional transportation referendum. Baseless and malicious accusations, when so much is at stake, need to be exposed.
A brief sampling of what I have heard and read from opponents of the referendum:
There is a “rider” attached to the legislation that addresses abortion rights. (This is a bald-faced lie. Period.)
The Atlanta Regional Commission refuses to release the basis for its claims of congestion and economic benefits. (This is completely untrue. Go online and see.)
The T-SPLOST brazenly commits $600 million to bail out the existing MARTA system, contrary to the intention of the Legislature. (The Legislature prohibited T-SPLOST funds from being spent on the operations and maintenance of existing MARTA service, which could be called a bailout. None will be spent for that purpose.)
They say the tax will end, but no tax ever has. (It is written in the state law that this tax must end within 10 years. Then, we the people will have another decision to make, yet to be determined.)
I have no problem with differences of opinion. It is healthy, one of the spices of life. But when lies are created and spread to shape opinion, I have a big problem with that. And when factoids are cherry-picked from one context and inserted into another to “prove” a point, I have a problem with that, too.
For instance, anti-transit opponents repeatedly claim MARTA loses $500 million per year. If you read a MARTA annual report and don’t understand what depreciation expense is, or don’t understand that MARTA earns revenue in addition to fares, you can draw an incorrect conclusion and spread it, incorrectly, as fact. Here is a real fact: MARTA had an operating loss of $30.7 million in the last fiscal year, 6 percent of which has been claimed. And MARTA is working hard to find solutions to the funding/expense mismatch.
Local governments will be required to provide a 30 percent match for any local grants by the Department of Transportation if the referendum fails. If we approve the referendum, the local match will be 10 percent instead of 30 percent. In other words, vote the referendum down and less will be done than is even done today to address our transportation needs.
Now is the time to build something together instead of tearing one another down.
Jim Durrett is executive director of the Buckhead Community Improvement District and serves on MARTA’s board of directors.
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43 comments Add your comment
ByteMe
July 25th, 2012
5:51 pm
Both editorials are right: the legislature — especially the “leadership” — is comprised of a bunch of weasels (sorry, weasels!) AND opponents don’t need to spread lies to defeat this. Just common sense should be enough, but that might be a bit uncommon for some.
A 10 year plan that just delays doing it right for 10 years is a bad idea. Vote NO and make the legislature do their job… or vote them out and find some candidates who will do their job.
J Kilgore
July 25th, 2012
6:06 pm
Jim Durrett is either naive or he is a complete Buffoon. To suggest that the opponents have been spreading misinformation is laughable. The Chamber and its sycophants have been saying “Georgia ranks 49th in transportation investment”, a lie, and that “Georgia’s fuel tax revenue is declining”,a lie, and that T SPLOST is “economic development”, a lie, or a “jobs bill”, another lie. What is even worse, however, is Mr. Durrett has not even read the law (HB 277). He claims that local governments will “…be required to provide a 30 percent match for any local grants by DOT if the referendum fails”. The penalty provision is applicable to ONLY one form of a grant, the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG), which has a statewide budget of approximately $ 100 Million. For my county, that total LMIG projects last year was $ 400,000, so our penalty would only be $ 80,000 ($ 120,000 vs. $ 40,000), but if we approve T SPLOST, we are a DONOR county, and we will be paying more than $ 11 MILLION a year to fund projects in other counties in the state. Let me think about this, $ 80,000 versus $ 11,000,000 per year. It appears Mr. Durrett would pick $ 11 Million. Okay reader, your turn.
Hmmmmmmm
July 25th, 2012
6:55 pm
Just Vote NO!
Hillbilly D
July 25th, 2012
7:02 pm
I’ve never agreed with Wyc Orr on much but the man has a point here.
SAWB
July 25th, 2012
7:22 pm
I’m confused. The Legislature set this entire mess up and then I see the “Leadership” holding a news conference yesterday telling us to – VOTE NO.
I suspect the Gold Capped Clowns see this thing failing and are running like rats from a sinking ship to cover their – well you know.
MC
July 25th, 2012
8:05 pm
Vote No or we will end up with more of those fantastic Hot Lanes that do ABSOLUTLEY nothing to improve traffic. In fact it has made it worse.
Standford
July 25th, 2012
8:23 pm
I just returned from Orlando on a two business trip. From the airport, I paid 4 different tolls to go 14 miles; every road change caused another toll. I once paid a $2.25 toll to drive 3 miles and paid another $.75 toll just to exit that highway. We don’t need anything like that here or another $60 million dollar study and Lexus lanes like I-85 in Gwinnett. The details of this latest tax scam seem to be shifting depend on who is making the speech!
Road Scholar
July 25th, 2012
9:50 pm
“I suspect the Gold Capped Clowns…”
We’re all Bozo’s on this bus!
J Kilgore: I know Jim and he is neither. Please provide links or references to your statistics concerning those you doubt. And sir, what type of congestion relief did you get for $400K? Not much!
sircharles
July 25th, 2012
9:51 pm
I think all counties and those voting on July 31, 2012 have gotten the picture! All officials that is pushing this TSPLOST are making 6 figures or higher salaries; therefore, it merely hit them. When you think about this whole thing, they put it in the hands of the citizens of Georgia so when you vote for it, you can’t blame them when things go the other way because they did not force you to say YES! Like they have done over and over again for the GA-400 project that is paid for but your money his taken to use it during your commutes. So I have did my homework…..I hope you all have too. 10 plus years we are going to in deep, deep trouble because you have officials who have manage to do things their way with your money and then then you anything! Lies come back to hurt officials and hurt you and your family because we think traffic here is going to be better. It will get worse because the more you look at how it is now, it can’t get any better if the TSPLOST is passed. This is a way for GA NEW Dome to acquire some of the funding, major hotels, shopping center considering upscaled to be used to draw new business in…and you will be required to park inside of the new parking state of the art garage for all major games to be played in the new GA-Dome with the “Retractable Roof. You will still be in traffic getting to the garage, and leaving the garage, so how do you figure Untie Atlanta is going to actually be untied? They never said anything about the bad……they on preach to you about the good that you need to be thinking about paying for using your children College funds because you paycheck will get even smaller! Sorry, I see this coming and someone should have told you all about how money is earmarked when they can use it as they see fit; and they see fit to use it their way. Keeping their money and using yours. That is it!
Paul
July 25th, 2012
10:11 pm
I am voting against T-SPLOST . What does the govt ever do right ? Social Security is broke . The Postal service is broke. The US Govt is broke. Anyone visited the Dept of Motors Vehicles lately to get their drivers license renewed ? It is not a good experience !
If you do not like the traffic move closer to work. One of the reasons I like Georgia is that we have lower taxes than most large cities.
Chris Sanchez
July 25th, 2012
10:27 pm
The lack of support and impending failure of the TSPLOST to be passed by the voters must be driving those who support this mess CRAZY. After this disaster is defeated at the polls next week, maybe then we can have a serious, honest conversation about projects that will actually relieve traffic congestion.
rod
July 25th, 2012
10:29 pm
I will vote no. Examples of garbage include the Hot Lanes debacle in Gwinnett (and the idiots wanting to do it to Canton on I_575), not working on an alternative to the northern arc which would take so much traffic off of I-285, I-20, I-75 and I-85, wasteful programs like the Atlanta Trolley (with 50% of Auburn Ave vacant) that should run around Philips, Dome and down Peachtree. But the biggest crock is Gov. Deal, who thinks we should kiss his ring for getting rid of the tolls that should have ended legally two years ago. This is government arogance at the highest level.
vuduchld
July 25th, 2012
10:30 pm
Three years ago I left the ATL and haven’t regretted a day. Reading the tripe you people post concludes me to believe that you dweebs love wallowing in the toilet bowl of irrelevancy. Frankly, me and others elsewhere could care less what you decide or do because at the end of the day it won’t matter because what it comes down to is that all of you “Jawjians” are dysfunctional and incompetent. You shills keep electing the same dimwitted leaders, wishing and hoping change will come. Well, it’s not, so get used to it.. Atlanta is a 20th century with 17th century leadership and until you folks understand that basic fact, you’re doomed. So, continue to throw good money after bad, me and others could care less, we moved on long ago.
Bernie
July 25th, 2012
10:56 pm
This is not an issue that just developed overnight or in the past year. Our Leaders failed us in every way imaginable and because of their colossal failure of Leadership and foresight, I am of the opinion that the people will reject this failed plan overwhelmingly come July 31.
These same failed Leaders then partnered with the Corporate community who also carry some responsibility in this fiasco, by not insisting that the political Leadership of the State and local governments come together sooner, rather than later in regards to this very important matter. Now all of sudden this is NOW a break or play situation! that must be done NOW and this PLAN!
Atlanta’s populace is no longer the “Dumb uninformed Hicks” of the past that many expected to follow blindly. The push back has been surprising and fierce! Neither group never really expected such a visceral reaction. Those of us who face this daily traffic nightmare have made their peace with it over the years. Its a part of Life and we will adapt accordingly, that’s how it has been for many years. To do so a few more years to get it right is worth the trouble.
All of the political Leaders and the now partnered Corporate community must go back to the drawing board and get it right! All of the potential malfeasance, political corruption, cronyism, nepotism , personal favoritism, ongoing and past mismanagement of tax payer dollars, including the inequity of distribution of funds and projects must be addressed in order to present a more acceptable plan for the citizens to accept willingly.
Finally, ALL promises of delivery must be made and kept, no matter which political party is in charge.
No one more than ALL of the millions of drivers who face this horrendous calamity day in and day out want to see an improvement in our traffic situation. Give us a GOOD plan that we can willingly accept and not be sold on at a cost of millions of dollars through a slick advertising and marketing campaign!
There is a New Day coming in Georgia! The “Good ole Boy” way of politics is no longer the acceptable status quo! Come July, 31, we all will see which side the people are on and their voices will be heard loud and clear. All of the political leadership in Georgia and the affected communities should be put on notice that “WE the People, Expect and Demand Better Leadership! “
Rick
July 25th, 2012
10:57 pm
We need a better plan. Too many of the projects have nothing to do with improving commuting. The Peach Lane up the 85 is a joke, as well as trolley cars planned for improving tourism for the City of Atlanta.
This is the biggest wealth redistribution plan Georgia has seen. Look at who is promoting this “pig”, many are constantly trying to funnel public money directly into their businesses. If we could see all those planning to eat at the public trough, by following the contributions, we might be able to figure out where most of the unnecessary pork is. We need to slim this plan down to bare necessities.
Pizza
July 26th, 2012
5:23 am
As much as I HATE siding with the Tea Party, I will oppose T-SPLOST. Georgia must accept public transportation to reduce congestion. It’s been a lack of leadership for decades that has brought us to this point. This proposal simply kicks the can down the same ROAD.
john
July 26th, 2012
6:41 am
“It was written into law…” So was the exact wording that was supposed to be on the ballot, yet the Sectracry of State changed it completely to bias the vote for this boondoggle.
They are foaming at the mouth to get that pile of money. It’s so obvious to all.
Go back to the drawing board and do it right.
Misty Fyed
July 26th, 2012
7:45 am
A congress who cant pass a decent ethics bill wants us to give them access to billions more of our money so they can then turn around and give these contracts to whatever family member or “campaign donor” they choose.
I don’t think so. Give us some protection against that kind of graft and I’ll be happy to vote for the bill. Until then………..
Jan
July 26th, 2012
8:16 am
Shame on you Mr. Durrett, for not disclosing the fact that you are on the MARTA board. Of course, you will do anything to infuse cash into that failing entity. It is time for some efficient private company to take over MARTA. It is public knowledge that the T-SPLOST is designed to get surrounding counties to transfer cash from their citizens into this failed experiment which serves only 2% of the area’s population. As the Atlanta Regional Commission consultants and members have admitted, this tax will do very little (if anything) to relieve traffic congestion. It is all about real estate development and transferring our money to developers pockets. The rail plans are 18th century solutions for 21st century problems. We say, VOTE NO, NO, NO!
Bobby
July 26th, 2012
8:24 am
Everyone says the tax will end in 10 years without another vote, because that’s what the law says. Sorry, but the General Assembly can (and probably will) extend that tax by itself, since it’s politically easier to extend a tax than make a new one.
too little time
July 26th, 2012
8:39 am
The legislature shirked their duty. They set up a system whereby the one or two most populous counties an a TSPLOST district can generate enough votes to out vote the rest of the district and reap tax dollars from outlying donor counties. Instead of making the hard choices, they set up a system of sales tax transfers from poorer rural counties to richer more urban counties.
Voted No
July 26th, 2012
8:42 am
” (The Legislature prohibited T-SPLOST funds from being spent on the operations and maintenance of existing MARTA service, which could be called a bailout. None will be spent for that purpose.)”
The Georgia Sierra Club project list summary says that:
97 Million will be spent on Marta elevator and escalator upgrades
30 Million spent on Marta Passenger audio visual
30 Million on Marta Platform lighting upgrades
300 Million on Marta Electrical Power upgrades
90 Million on Marta aerial structure rehabilitation
7 million on Marta airport station improvements
Janet Livingston
July 26th, 2012
8:43 am
If the voters say yes to TSPLOST, the county sales tax in Cobb will increase by 50% from 2 to 3 cents. I am normally not in agreement with the Tea Party but I am on this issue. The amount of money spent by huge corporations in GA for the signs and ads in favor of TSPLOST something like $6.5 million or more could have been spent on hiring the good people of GA who are looking for work. With higher than average unemployment, Georgia corporations find money for politics but not for hiring. They say it is because of road traffic and poor transportation. I beg to disagree but in the past 4 yrs or so we have 10% less traffic because so many have left to find work else where. Look at Cumberland area anytime of day, there is very little traffic on Cobb Parkway even during rush hour. We would have better road conditions any time of day if we enforced speed limits and drove defensively rather than offensively as on the race track. We would have fewer accidents to tie up traffic which to me is far greater time waster than any other issue. If you drive 60 miles an hour on the 285 or 75 or 85 interstates, you are being passed by every other car. Go to LA with 3x as many cars and you never see the amount of accidents that you do in Atl all because of our poor driving habits.
Johns creek
July 26th, 2012
9:01 am
The root of the problem is the dysfunctional Department of Transportation. Rather than correct the root problem, the legislature decided to bypass the Department of Transportation and have a bunch of politicians select pet projects for the Tspost project list. This is no way to run a government so I voted no on the TSPLOST. There are two things that need to be done to successfully address our transportation problems. First, fix GDOT. Then, decide if we want to use a sales tax to fund mass transit and other forms of non-road transportation for which a gasoline tax makes no sense. Fulton county already pays a sales tax to fund mass transit. However, Cobb and Gwinett do not. The solution is to have Cobb and Gwinnett pay the sales tax, not to double the tax already paid by Fulton and Dekalb residents. Vote No on TSPLOST because it does not address the fundamental problems and will therefore be just another failure at considerable cost to our community.
GA Taxpayer
July 26th, 2012
10:20 am
I voted NO on the T-SPLOST just for the very reason that Mr. Durrett expressed in his comments above, “the Legislature finally gave us an opportunity to do something to help ourselves. . .” I am sick and tired of governments at every level picking my pocket to help themselves. I want to know WHAT are they doing with the money that has already been collected for the GDOT?!! Where is it going? Why do I see so little improvements from all the money we give them year in and year out? In my mind, they are to blame for mismanaging our tax money. Where is the transparency? Where is the consistency when there have been four different directors in four years?!!
I’ve listened to many debates on this issue and it appears to me that the driving forces behind this issue are the cherry-pickers. Why is this being marketed as the vehicle that will create jobs and reduce traffic when the jobs created are all for the special interests that are funding the advertising and when the reduction in my commute was admittedly stated as being “very little” by an ARC member? This is false advertising and I vehemently reject that tactic being used to mislead the people of Georgia directly on the voter’s ballot by our Secretary of State, Brian Kemp. This gives the distinct impression of an awful lot of Good Ol’ Boy collusions going on behind closed doors.
And lastly, how dare you threaten us with, “In other words, vote the referendum down and less will be done than is even done today to address our transportation needs.” When you people learn to manage the money that you already receive from us, produce results that work, and keep us updated and informed on what you are doing and how much it costs, then maybe I will be more receptive to hearing your pleas for more money – if indeed it is really needed.
Another layer of (regional) government is something we do not need and something that I strongly oppose and refuse to fund. Everything in this referendum equates to nothing more than another crushing burden on the citizens who are already suffering thanks to your endless feeding frenzy. Go back to the drawing board and bring some common sense with you next time.
Mike Lowry
July 26th, 2012
10:33 am
I have repeatedly requested that the ARC reveal its underlying assumptions regarding increased ridership, decreased trip times, the definition of a “job”, etc. These requests are still outstanding. If Mr. Durett will kindly provide a link to information that answers these specific questions I will publicly apologize. What I have found online is a mountain of generalities that circumvent specific answers to the questions.
yuzeyurbrane
July 26th, 2012
11:18 am
Mr. Orr is correct. The Repubs tried to have it both ways. Vote for having the referendum so as to give them time to maneuver. Just look at Chip Rogers. He voted to have the vote, stuck his finger in the air and came out against TSplost. Probably some did the opposite. These folks have no kahunas. . . or much of a sense of their democratic responsibility. They are our elected officials. They are elected to take positions via their votes. The electorate either approves or disapproves of their votes in the aggregate by re-electing them or turning them out. Do your job.
BW
July 26th, 2012
11:27 am
Why is my comment undergoing moderation?
Travarrius
July 26th, 2012
12:14 pm
If the T-SPLOST idea loses next week I believe it’ll probably be because people have figured out how much that one cent additional sales tax is going to cost them over the next ten (+) years.
The better way to fund the needed transportation upgrades is to incrementally increase the fuel tax. That doesn’t require a referendum, and the tax is borne primarily by those who use the transportation system.
middleground
July 26th, 2012
1:20 pm
Gov. Perdue borrowed the max based on future gas tax revenue. He mortgaged our future ability to fund transportation in order to feed his friends and family. We do not have any funds now.
The TSPLOST will let them do it again to us and the same insiders will get the money again while hiring illegal workers thru sub-contactors.
People have got to wake up and start paying attention to how you are being fleeced.
middleground
July 26th, 2012
1:30 pm
Hey Fellow GA: Gov. Perdue sold you out. Hot lanes and toll lanes are planned for all over.
Now sit down and shut up as the deal was signed.
jjakmac
July 26th, 2012
2:11 pm
I voted against it. I have had enough of city of Atlanta projects, from building senior centers to building beltlines, being built with my tax dollars. Atlanta needs to find a way to fund its own projects for city residents without placing a tax burden on suburban taxpayers.
Don
July 26th, 2012
2:18 pm
Wyc Orr is exactly right the duty and responsibility for figuring out transportation projects and funding rests squarely on the state government. It is what we elect them to do. If they do a bad job, we vote them out.
He is exactly wrong on the reaction to a “no” vote. The legislature won’t get busy. In fact they will get less busy (if that’s even possible). They will read a “no” vote as a flat-out rejection of any tax scheme and a flat our rejection of any new transportation work. It’ll be a fine excuse to “work” on more “non problems”. Perhaps some legislation to change the numbering scheme of campsites in state parks or allow concealed carry of broadswords.
Shawny
July 26th, 2012
2:39 pm
“What happens, for example, if one region widens and improves its highways, but a contiguous region does not? If an expanded highway stops at a county line and funnels traffic onto the same old two-lane bottleneck, will motorists use the improved highway? Will the tax money expended be largely wasted?”
As will be the case with many of the TSPLOST Atl projects. There are millions in the “budget” to renovate the 285/400 interchange and 285/85 interchange. Both will do nothing to relieve traffic. Why? If 85 is a parking lot, no method of transitioning off of 285 onto 85 will work. You arent going anywhere. Same with 400. It isn’t the interchanges, knuckleheads, it is the throughput and off ramps that cause freeway congestion (aside from wrecks of course).
Veteran Observer
July 26th, 2012
2:39 pm
Agree with both writers here completely, though I doubt either would like my solution! No. 1 the Atlanta traffic situation is different than Albany’s and the solutions should be different. The state DOT should oversee both so they can coordinate where different areas come into conflict. No. 2 the Legislature did fail to do its job, because they were too chicken to do the right thing. MARTA has failed in its goals and purposes, which is why this discussion is even taking place! I have lived here 40 years and the desires of the political and business leaders downtown have funneled all our tax monies to their projects! MARTA should be phased out and a new Atlanta Regional Transportation Authority created by the legislature with representation on the board determined by population of the different political entities. Cobb and the other regional cities and counties should be forced to join and given fair and equitable votes on the board! Mr Durett talks about unprecedented input into determining the list of projects, but it was still voted on by a committee with a heavy downtown and inside the beltway bias. A few crumbs were thrown to the suburban counties to keep their highly unprofitable bus lines running for a few years, but no real solutions were offered for them! I have voted for every SPLOST since the beginning and I am voting against this one, because of the lack of representation for the suburban counties where most of the taxpayers live and the refusal of our elected officials to replace MARTA with a true regional planning and operating entity! I live on Peachtree, ride MARTA and own companies that employ 65 people in Marietta and Canton, so I have a lot of skin in the game! We have studied this long enough, we have the data to fix this problem, but it will take sacrifice, like waiting a few years for the “tourist trolley line” scheduled for downtown so that light rail can be extended into the neighborhoods and buses routed more efficiently! It is incumbent on our political leaders to take the defeat of this referendum to heart and accept the responsibility and work harder to come back with a better plan with fairness for all! I will be waiting to work hard to support it!
Billy Wise
July 26th, 2012
2:40 pm
In FY2011, MARTA posted fare box revenue of $115.8M, against operating costs of $632.8M, for a net operating loss of $517M. And yes, depreciation is counted because it represents the cost of wearing out (or replacing) capital equipment like track and ties and rail cars. Depreciation is a real expense. Furthermore, the $319.8M in sales taxes collected from DeKalb and Fulton county taxpayers is not earned revenue but is a subsidy, as is the $85.8M in Federal dollars.
With regard to MARTA operations and maintenance support, the T-SPLOST project list contains six projects aimed at MARTA: (1) Tunnel and platform lighting upgrade, (2) tunnel ventilation rehabilitation, (3) electrical power rehabilitation, (4) track rehabilitation, (5) aerial structure rehabilitation, and (6) airport station improvements. None on these six projects will add one mile of rail, buy one new rail car or bus, or add one minute of additional transit service, thus they will have zero impact on reducing traffic congestion. These projects do not conform to the requirement in the TIA that funds be spent to reduce traffic congestion in the Atlanta Metro area. These projects are nothing more than a taxpayer bailout against the reported $2.2B in backlog of maintenance and repair for MARTA.
Shawny
July 26th, 2012
2:41 pm
And that last IDIOT says it is a lie that “The T-SPLOST brazenly commits $600 million to bail out the existing MARTA system,”
really?
Look at the project list:
- MARTA Train Control Systems Upgrade $ 4,440,000
- MARTA Elevator and Escalator Rehabilitation Program $ 118,700,000
- MARTA Unified Transit Communication Infrastructure $ 27,200,000
- MARTA Tunnel and Platform Lighting Upgrade $ 28,000,000
And this is only a few of them.
middleground
July 26th, 2012
3:30 pm
Does it treat my neighbor as I would want to be treated.
It fines over 30% counties who vote no even though the people decide they can not afford it.
Its regressive and takes from the poor and gives to the rich.
middleground
July 26th, 2012
3:32 pm
No matter how many roads we build, developers will come in and cause more traffic and higher taxes.
Back to the Future
July 26th, 2012
3:44 pm
Veteran observer you make some valid points but saying the regional roundtable was weighted to the “downtown and inside the beltway bias” is incorrect. Fayette, Douglas, Rockdale, Cherokee, Henry and Clayton each had two seats at the table, the same number of votes as Cobb, DeKalb and Gwinnett (Fulton had 3). So the “OTP” counties had 16 votes and the “downtown and inside the beltway” counties had just 5 votes.
What this year long effort showed was an ability for all counties in the region; big, small, urban, rural, ITP, OTP, democrat and republican, could come together and decide on 157 projects that each county felt met their regional transportation needs. As someone who has lived here for almost 60 years, it was an amazing and proud effort to witness.
It hasn’t been reported widely but the TIA actually requires a “transit governance” effort to take place next year to address some of the interconnection issues you raised. The legislature knew if the referendum passed there will be at least 5 transit operators in the metro Atlanta region and transit governance is vital to the efficient operation of all our transit systems. Unfortunately transit governance hasn’t been discussed much because the Tea Party contends such an effort to coordinate transit operations (which frankly is in the best interest of the taxpayers) is just a “ruse” to get everyone in the region paying for the big boogyman MARTA and setting up a regional government outlined in United Nations Agenda 21. If you don’t believe me then see the Fayette County Issues Tea Party website. Those statements have absolutely no basis in fact whatsoever. But facts have never stopped their wild, unsubstantiated accusations. And these are the spokespeople for those who oppose the TSPLOST?!
We can’t wait another 5 or 6 years to address our woeful funding shortfall. If at least one of Georgia’s 12 regions pass their referendum, (at least 4 are expected to pass next Tuesday) and the metro Atlanta region doesn’t, don’t expect the legislature to do anything for us. They will simply say, “Everyone had their chance, others took advantage of it and metro Atlanta didn’t, so you live with it. We ain’t doin’ nothing else.” Or would metro Atlantan’s prefer Transportation Committee Chairmen from Ocilla and Chickamauga deciding which metro Atlanta transportation investments needed funding? We will decide those questions next Tuesday.
Vote “YES” on July 31.
middleground
July 26th, 2012
3:49 pm
TSPLOST is un-christ like behavior from men wanting money from taxpayers.
Just making government more complicated by adding layers doesn’t make it right but makes it easier to steal from taxpayers.
KISS, raise the gas tax and stop destroying America thru GREED.
Flabbergasted
July 26th, 2012
9:02 pm
If the opinions posted are truly indicative of the understanding, attitudes and vision of the majority of the people of the Atlanta region, woe is us. Vote yes, people, for your own sake as well as for that of your children.
middleground
July 26th, 2012
10:20 pm
Oh, a vote yes saves us from what………..more of the same from the same people who gave us the mess we have now. Wow thats working and the tooth fairy really exists.