T-SPLOST fails – What next?
Who has a Plan B?
The proposed transportation sales tax met an ugly end Tuesday as voters in ten counties overwhelmingly rejected the plan to raise billions for a controversial set list of traffic and transit improvements. So what should we try next? Raise the gas tax? Toll more roads? Let us know your feelings about the vote and, especially, what ideas Gov. Deal and other leaders should consider for unsnarling gridlock and making our lives a little easier. We’ll include a sample of comments in Thursday’s newspaper along with a special transportation package addressing the aftermath of the T-SPLOST.
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79 comments Add your comment
Bob Foster
August 1st, 2012
10:18 am
OK politicians. We are not as stupid as you thought. READ the comments of this survey and get YOUR act together. Maybe when we can trust you to not try to generate a huge windfall for you and your cronies we might buy a decent proposal.
Chris Sanchez
August 1st, 2012
10:06 am
It is interesting that the only two “idea” in your paragraph are other ways to raise revenue. Perhaps some thought should be given to a long, hard look at the current budget priorities. The “No” vote was not against a temporary short-term tax so much as it was against the terrible project list with over half of the funds to be raised going towards so-called economic development projects rather than relieving traffic congestion. Convince voters that improving traffic congestion is truly the goal by:
a) reallocating current funds towards necessary projects where there is common agreement on their need.
b) separate traffic congestion projects from “economic development” projects (a.k.a. transit). Put forth your arguments for economic development and lets have the debate.
c) put forth a traffic relief plan developed by engineers that will both relieve traffic congestion AND be completed within the ten year period the tax is in place (hint: we don’t trust you to allow the tax to expire…GA 400 is fresh in our minds)
Do these things and I believe you will be quite surprised at the level of support from the voters in metro Atlanta. We are not against big projects that address needs today and in the future. We are against graft (real or perceived) and pork.
eli
August 1st, 2012
10:03 am
“Had they a concrete plan I would not have voted against it. Wasn’t the beltline supposed to be done 5-10 years ago? didn’t it originally include light rail?”
I don’t know if you look at much legislation, but 85% of the money budgeted for specific projects is rather concrete.
Also, the beltline planning committee was formed 6 years ago, so no, it wasn’t supposed to be finished “5-10 years ago”
And Yes, It DOES include light rail, which, you just voted against concrete planning for.
Tom h
August 1st, 2012
10:02 am
The extension of the tolls, by Purdue, on GA 400 sealed the fate for T-SPLOST. Elected leaders need to keep their commitments.
Eric Penney
August 1st, 2012
9:57 am
I am proud of the Atlanta voters. Of course everyone would support the IDEA of improving traffic in this city, but obviously the voters educated themselves enough to see what they were actually going to get for the price they were paying and chose not to buy. Back to the drawing board and you better improve the lives of the voters you’ll need in order to get 1% of their post income tax money.
Grant smith
August 1st, 2012
9:52 am
crooked people with good ideas. Had they a concrete plan I would not have voted against it. Wasn’t the beltline supposed to be done 5-10 years ago? didn’t it originally include light rail? Are these the same people that told us the 400 toll was temporary? And these people we are supposed to trust with more money? Gain some credibility then ask for money.
Scott
August 1st, 2012
9:50 am
If the road planning folks had some brain they would not have:
-merged 75 and 85 in downtown Atlanta
-merged 285 and 400N using a one lane 90 degree turn
-merged 85S and 75N using a two lane 180 degree turn
Do you want me to continue? Why give $ to folks who make these kinds of decisions?
Manny
August 1st, 2012
9:40 am
Oh, and can I just ask one thing? I’ve seen somewhere that this was supposed to be a win for the Tea Party. Were they even involved? Because they didn’t sway anyone’s vote that I knew. I mean, the biggest reason why many people voted it down was the project list, not because of some Tea Party guy calling for limited taxes.
I would vote for the tax if it made sense. The project plan made no sense, though. That’s why I voted it down.
DwayneL
August 1st, 2012
9:39 am
The bottom line is that no one trusts the govt. to do what they say they will do. Politicians are ranked right there with car salesmen and no one will give them a dime of extra money until they can convince people they have OUR interest in mind and not their own.
willie lynch
August 1st, 2012
9:38 am
ATL NE
August 1st, 2012
9:15 am
Very sensible post. Marta is the key. By extending Marta’s reach (in all directions) you offer those on the outskirts the ability to park and ride. Decreasing the amount of cars on the road is the solution not adding or widening them.