And you wonder why voters rejected the T-SPLOST
If you want to see a microcosm of the reason metro Atlanta voters didn’t trust our transportation planners enough to approve the $7.2 billion T-SPLOST tax, I recommend this news from the AJC:
The state Transportation Board is poised to declare the Downtown Connector a gateway to the state, and to help fund a makeover to pretty up some of the high-profile bridges that pass over it.
The first two are the Peachtree Street bridges that pass over the Connector and back, in Downtown and Midtown.
“This lets the traveling public know the city of Atlanta is the capital city,” said DOT board president Johnny Floyd. “We want to showcase it and make sure it looks good.”
The makeover, according to the Midtown Alliance, will include colored under-lighting for night time and the words “Peachtree Street” in lights, as well as sculptured fences and sidewalks on the surface level over the I-85/I-75 interchange.
The Department of Transportation’s board approved the expense on Thursday. DOT will put $1.7 million toward the $5 million project for two bridges. Three other bridges would follow later, said DOT board member Sam Wellborn.
Yes, this must be the best way to spend $5 million in transportation funding (the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District is to contribute some of the money). Just think how pretty Peachtree Street will look as motorists are stuck in traffic on or underneath it!
Now, before you say, “It’s only $5 million. How much traffic relief could we get for that kind of money?” — I have numbers.
The T-SPLOST list included mostly projects that cost millions, if not tens or hundreds of millions, of dollars. But it also included some less expensive projects, particularly in the city of Atlanta.
In fact, there were 14 Atlanta projects that each cost less than $1 million. For $5 million, we could complete the nine cheapest of these — including some projects in the Downtown/Midtown vicinity: improvements along 10th Street, 14th Street, Edgewood Avenue, North Avenue and others, with almost $275,000 to spare. Or we could see some other combination of projects adding up to $5 million.
Admittedly, I didn’t spend a lot of time examining these smaller-scale projects leading up to the July 31 referendum. I don’t know how much congestion relief we’d get from them. But if they made the cut to be on the list, they almost certainly would be more worthwhile than putting some street names in fancy lights on interstate overpasses.
Ah, but what about this line from the AJC story?
The DOT money comes from signs near highway exits that advertise businesses at upcoming rest stops. That money is dedicated to making “gateways” to the state attractive.
Shouldn’t that stipulation preclude the money from being spent on traffic improvements rather than sprucing up our roads? I dunno; ask me again after the state has stopped diverting other fee revenues from the purposes prescribed by the laws creating them.
In any case, I can think of few ways to make a state “gateway” more “attractive” than ensuring motorists can exit the Downtown Connector and actually get to where they’re going. That strikes me as a relevant and better use of the money.
A big part of the public distrust regarding the T-SPLOST was the idea that the state is already spending money as wisely as possible. This is one more episode that makes the skeptics say, “Told you so!”
– By Kyle Wingfield
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265 comments Add your comment
carlosgvv
November 18th, 2012
8:24 am
Tiberius – 8:21
Whoever he/she is, they’re pretty smart. Don’t you agree?
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 18th, 2012
8:29 am
Hard to tell, carlosgvv–all it’s posts seem to have disappeared!
show me kid
November 18th, 2012
8:53 am
When is the toll for 400 ending? (Govenor Deal promised this last summer)
kayaker 71
November 18th, 2012
8:58 am
Need proof that unions contribute to a sound economy?….. have a Twinkie.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 18th, 2012
9:06 am
“Whoever he/she is, they’re pretty smart. Don’t you agree?”
Not really. Pretty programmed, but not too bright, carlos.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 18th, 2012
9:08 am
Uh, show me kid?
He announced in 2012 it was to be ended in 2013.
2013 isn’t here yet.
Google is your friend.
CC
November 18th, 2012
9:25 am
Totally programmed!
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 18th, 2012
9:30 am
CC, I noticed you finally learned that debating with MarkV is a useless proposition.
No matter what he posts, he denies he ever posted it because you didn’t quote him verbatim, even though his meaning is crystal clear. But his back door is always “I never said that”.
I just point out his stupidities and move on without getting dragged into a wasted effort with someone as slimy as him.
CC
November 18th, 2012
9:38 am
Tiberius, I think that will be my last “go ’round” with MarkV. He claims a “search for truth”, but I think he only wants to argue. In the process, he attempts to impress but merely is self-stroking his ego.
CC
November 18th, 2012
11:07 am
“Asked whether he believed an Israeli ground invasion would be an escalation of the conflict and if he would support such a move anyway, Obama said he had been in regular contact with Egyptian and Turkish leaders to secure their help in stopping Hamas’s rocket barrages, which he called the “precipitating event” in the conflict.”
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=292418
Yeah, good luck with that, Obama.
iggy
November 18th, 2012
11:29 am
Israel should invade with ground forces. To hell with playing defense, take the offense and kick the hell out of hamas, the palestinians and whomever else wants some.
CC
November 18th, 2012
11:34 am
Obama might just as well give lip service to the Israeli action because the Israelis are way past listening to him. You can’t show disrespect for a nation and its PM and then hope to have influence with them.
mike
November 18th, 2012
11:47 am
Kyle, its like I’ve always said: Never let an opportunity to waste the taxpayers’ money fall by the wayside. For instance, spending millions of dollars to install hundreds of cameras on metro interstates. It galls me every time I see them. Since the taxpayers’ money falls from the sky and none of these elected officials has to work and sweat for it, why shouldn’t they waste it?
carlosgvv
November 18th, 2012
11:59 am
CC – 11:07
On the othe hand, if Obama just did nothing, you’d be dissing him for that.
Truth is, no matter what he says or does, you will criticize him.
This pretty much invalidates anything you say.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 18th, 2012
12:05 pm
Heck, I thought Obozo WAS doing nothing. You didn’t hear me criticizing him. Obozo doing nothing is the absolute best that Americans can hope for.
CC
November 18th, 2012
1:26 pm
carlosgvv@11:59 am:
The best thing Obama can do for America is to stay abroad. They can make sure he gets his check. As long as he isn’t here, he’s not doing further damage to the country, except in the area of foreign relations. Even the harm there will be minimal since nearly everybody in the world has figured him out, except for the ignorant and “entitled” people who elected him here.
CC
November 18th, 2012
1:28 pm
“Truth is, no matter what he says or does, you will criticize him.”
He earns the criticism.
CC
November 18th, 2012
1:41 pm
Looks as if Obama needs to try creating a job, which is something he has not done to date. He has aided in raising the education level of the burger-flippers, however, as those are about the only jobs available to newly-graduated college students.
___
Nearly a dozen top United States companies plan to start laying off hundreds of employees with the implementation of Obamacare, according to the non-profit political action group FreedomWorks.
FreedomWorks compiled the list, reported in Friday’s Washington Times, from statements made by the firms since President Barack Obama’s healthcare mandate was passed.
The firms include:
Welch Allyn — a manufacturer of medical diagnostic equipment in central New York — which says it will cut 275 employees, about 10 percent of its workforce, over the next three years.
Dana Holding Corp. — a global auto parts manufacturing company — which warned of layoffs due “$24 million over the next six years in additional U.S. healthcare expenses.’’
Stryker — a medical device manufacturer — which plans to close its facility in Orchard Park, N.Y., eliminating 96 jobs in December. They also say they’ll slash 5 percent of their global workforce, about 1,170 positions.
Boston Scientific — a medical device manufacturer — said it plans to cut between 1,200 and 1,400 jobs, while shifting investments and workers overseas to China.
Medtronic — a medical device maker — which cut 500 positions over the summer, with 500 more set to be eliminated by the end of 2013.
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Companies-PlanLayoffsObamacare/2012/11/09/id/463571#ixzz2CbJMi3Ia
You dont say
November 18th, 2012
2:47 pm
What a riot
Tiberius and LLB, both who were talkng President Romney callm others programmed. Forget the brainwashing from right wing source that led them to think Romney was going to be POTUS.
hahahahahahahhaahaha
Have a great day…….. clowns
You dont say
November 18th, 2012
2:49 pm
cc
See you are still crying about your unsubtsantiated crap about Isreal.
Get your cry on as usual.
CC
November 18th, 2012
3:02 pm
I do believe that Bookman’s village is missing its resident idiot . . .
SBinF
November 18th, 2012
4:13 pm
Hey Kyle, you’re famous!
http://punditshaming.tumblr.com/
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 18th, 2012
4:13 pm
You dont say: LLB…callm others programmed.
———————————
Link please.
bluecoat
November 18th, 2012
4:16 pm
Strong,sturdy briges,making concrete beautiful like having an Obamaphone in your title, just a decoration.
MarkV
November 18th, 2012
4:19 pm
Poor Tiberius: “No matter what he [MarkV] posts, he denies he ever posted it because you didn’t quote him verbatim, even though his meaning is crystal clear.”
What a horrible demand, to be quoted accurately, rather than letting others twist the meaning into what someone else thinks is “crystal clear.”
And poor cc. He just cannot win by submitting what he thinks are counter-arguments, but which are nothing of that sort.
Cc: “I think that will be my last “go ’round” with MarkV.”
Thank God for little favors.
CC
November 18th, 2012
4:25 pm
“Thank God for little favors.”
I rarely do anything that could be described as self-serving, but I’m willing to make an exception in this case.
carlosgvv
November 18th, 2012
4:46 pm
CC – 1:26 – “he’s not doing further damage to the country”
And yet, you believe that, earlier, he went on an “apology tour”. I mean, after all, Romney said he did and that makes it true. Right?
JamVet
November 18th, 2012
4:51 pm
Hitler would love you Republicans.
When he came to power in January 1933, he banned trade unions in Nazi Germany.
Fascism, in German or America, will never be tolerated.
Witness the results of 12 days ago.
Keep up the good work, brown shirts…
CC
November 18th, 2012
4:56 pm
“And yet, you believe that, earlier, he went on an “apology tour”. I mean, after all, Romney said he did and that makes it true. Right?”
What Romney said does not matter. Google “Obama’s apology tour” and educate yourself. Here’s a starter for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryc3uhrU1cA
carlosgvv
November 18th, 2012
5:52 pm
CC – 4:56
I already know what he said. He simply told other countries that America is not perfect and we’ve made mistakes in the past. If you look up the word “apology” in the dictionary, you’ll see acknowledging mistakes is NOT in the definition.
I know. To cons like you, saying the US is not “blessed by God” and perfect is close to treason.
This “we’re perfect” attitude is what George Bush counted on to get his Iraq war and fulfill Biblical prophecies.
I’m sure you think we did just great in Iraq and should probably invade Iran.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
November 18th, 2012
6:09 pm
“Hitler would love you Republicans.
When he came to power in January 1933, he banned trade unions in Nazi Germany.”
And yet, no one is advocating that, AmVet.
But pardon us if we celebrate the demise of something that has the same relevance as a buggy whip.
Your hyperbole is noted and dismissed.
CC
November 18th, 2012
6:13 pm
carlosgvv @5:52 PM:
a·pol·o·gize ( -p l -j z ). intr.v. a·pol·o·gized, a·pol·o·giz·ing, a·pol·o·giz·es. 1. To
make excuse for or regretful acknowledgment of a fault or offense.
“regretful acknowledgment of a fault or offense” sounds like an aplogy to me, but I don’t know what you would call it on your planet.
“To cons like you, saying the US is not “blessed by God” and perfect is close to treason.”
That is certainly not the case now, else Obama would not be your president.
“I’m sure you think we did just great in Iraq and should probably invade Iran.”
I will hate to see us when we have to deal with Iran. The only knowledge Obama has of war is what he learned on the streets of Chicago as a community organizer. Taking on Iran would be far more responsibility than he can handle because he must always have a “fall guy” in case things don’t work out. As a leader, IF Obama takes this nation to war, he and he alone must accept credit or BLAME.
Obama will never accept responsibility for his actions when things go awry.
MarkV
November 18th, 2012
6:14 pm
This lie about an “apology tour” has been proved a lie so many times, but there are still people who keep it alive. People, who could not care less about truth.
Hillbilly D
November 18th, 2012
6:28 pm
I found this interesting. It’s about an hour.
http://booktv.org/Watch/13883/After+Words+David+Cay+Johnston+The+Fine+Print+How+Big+Companies+Use+Plain+English+to+Rob+You+Blind+hosted+by+Jayne+ODonnell+USA+Today+Money+Reporter.aspx
CC
November 18th, 2012
6:36 pm
Apparently Bookman needs to post guards. Even more of is resident idiots are escaping . . .
CC
November 18th, 2012
6:38 pm
Hillbilly D:
I watched the first five minutes, but I’ll watch it all later. Looks to be good, and thanks for posting the link!
CC
November 18th, 2012
6:42 pm
Minor correction -
Apparently Bookman needs to post guards. Even more of his resident idiots are escaping . . .
JamVet
November 18th, 2012
6:45 pm
And your electoral beatdown of 12 days ago is noted and not dismissed.
Perhaps the greatest take away from that most recent humiliation is how you cons remain intransigent and dogmatic.
Did you lose because your product sucks and more people than not don’t want to buy it?
Of course not!
You got trounced because Americans are stupid and lazy takers. Ask the resident Einstein, cc/CC.
And your self-destructive inability to change your nasty, fascist ways, to adapt to 21st century American realities and to evolve past the Jim Crow 1950s is finally starting to pay big dividends for the republic.
And I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.
CC
November 18th, 2012
6:49 pm
Baby Dawg joins the ranks of the unemployed!
“Tennessee fires football coach Derek Dooley”
This is NOT Obama’s fault!
MarkV
November 18th, 2012
6:52 pm
The noticeable thing is that while on the national scale many Republicans have seen the light and admitted the mistakes of their party and their candidate, very few on this blog have done the same. They keep bringing up the same insults and same lies.
CC
November 18th, 2012
6:56 pm
Incoming bogey at 6:45 and confirmed as hostile, but apparently unarmed!
JamVet
November 18th, 2012
6:59 pm
…on the national scale many Republicans have seen the light and admitted the mistakes of their party and their candidate…
True.
But do you think that these professional liars are actually going to make the difficult changes?
I do not.
I suspect that a couple of more electoral trouncings may do the trick though…
CC
November 18th, 2012
7:00 pm
Stray missile at 6:52: No guidance system and definitely no warhead.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 18th, 2012
8:07 pm
There’s no point in trying to out-pander the Democrat party. Republicans mostly just need to stick with their American principles–free people, free markets, smaller government, more personal responsibility.
Reality will shortly be catching up to the fascist Democrat’s “business bad, moocher parasites good” fiscal and economic belief system.
You dont say
November 18th, 2012
8:12 pm
And the right cried on
Nothing new
Thanks for the laughs
You dont say
November 18th, 2012
8:20 pm
Jindal, Graham, Gingrich all making comments about loser Romney
The list will continue. They want him to just go away, but he can’t help himself
No wonder it took him so long to give his “I got my a$$ kicked speech” on election night, he was probably crying like some of the righties do on this blog and have done even more so since the election
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 18th, 2012
8:50 pm
“Thanks for the laughs”
———
Thanks for the $6 trillion in new debt, 8% unemployment, businesses fleeing offshore, and record numbers on the dole.
You dont say
November 18th, 2012
8:55 pm
Former Bush Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said Sunday that he was shocked by Mitt Romney’s recent comments about President Barack Obama giving “gifts” to win re-election.
“I was shocked,” the former Romney adviser told CNN’s Candy Crowley. “And frankly I don’t think that’s why Republicans lost the election. I think we lost the election because the far right of this party has taken the party to a place that it doesn’t belong.”
You dont say
November 18th, 2012
8:56 pm
LLB is out of the high chair on on his step stool
get em LLB
Dusty
November 18th, 2012
9:23 pm
Well, seems we have a devoted group here, all reading from the same script. The president is tres beau and blameless. Indeed, he is making wonderful trips abroad and may possibly return home if necessary..
Now that President Obama will soon leave the wonderful countries vital to our enhancement, i.e.Thailand, Cambodia and Myamar (aka Burma). we can celebrate this great achievement and wait for more. There’s always Andorra, Grenada and Liechtenstein to vist and check on our all important links to these countries.
Indeed how charming it was to see the president in his sock feet in the Buddhist temple with Hillary trailing along behind (no leash) and spreading more good will than Santa Claus.
He even frowned a bit over Myamar’s ethnic suppression and the home- jailing of their leading lady politician for years.. Yes, mam. we don’t think that is nice. Otherwise, throw a kiss for the king of one and the sinking dictators of others. Ah what joy for our traveler.
Americans feel so much safer and debt free. What a tonic for debt-laden Americans! We’ems got some little buddies in Cambodia, Thailand AND Myamar! Now think of that!!.