ATL Transportation List Trimmed, Decatur’s Clifton Corridor Still On List
Decatur Metro | July 8, 2011As the chief Atlanta watchdog of the transit-pocalypse noted yesterday, the latest version of the Atlanta transportation projects list submitted by Atlanta Regional Commission staffers to the transportation roundtable of excellence (which includes Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd), includes many a cut to proposed transit projects around Atlanta. So many in fact, road projects now account for a larger % of funds than transit projects. Here’s an ARC summary of how the monies would be divided up:
- 6 aviation projects costing $28 million
- 15 bike/pedestrian projects costing $138 million
- 165 road projects costing $6.6 billion ($5.6 billion new capacity, $1 billion preservation)
- 31 transit projects costing $5.5 billion ($4.3 billion expansion, $1.1 billion maintenance and modernization, $0.1 billion other related infrastructure)
Al points out that the only project still on the list submitted by Decatur are the bike/pedestrian and safety improvement project for the Clifton Corridor (TIA-DK-007) at a cost of $10 million. He also points out that the ARC document references how the project relates to another still on the list: the MARTA extension from Lindbergh to Emory/CDC.
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Full list:
http://www.atlantaregionalroundtable.com/docs/Staff_Developed_List_7-7-2011.pdf
Pretty fun to read through for us dorks.
If only I were a Stewart Brother.
Still voting no.
You should really explain you position. Othwise my yes vote cancels you out and you might as wll not bother!
Perhaps you can explain your inclination. Although a lot of Decatur residents commute by car to jobs outside of Decatur, I’m inclined to believe that Decatur’s citizens are largely anti-sprawl.
Basically, I think I can use my dollars better than the government. You may not agree, but I will vote “no” on any & all taxes.
You can build a better road than the gov’t? Impressive.
I’m also impressed that you can put out a fire in your home, since your taxes pay the firefighters.
Puhlease. You know what he/she is saying. Transit should not be paid for with a sales tax, one of the most regressive taxes around.
Transit should be paid for with gas taxes. If not enough money is coming in from them, raise the gas tax. And spread the funds around roads, trains, buses, MARTA.
If Georgia was serious about transit, there would be a regional transit authority with real authority over road, rail, etc.
There is no leadership at the state level sufficient to force the projects needed. No one wants to spend the political capital. This penny tax is another half=a$$ed solution in this half=a$$ed state. I will also be voting no and sending them back to the drawing board to make the tough decisions.
Now THAT’S an argument. Thank you.
Gas tax money in GA is restricted for use for roads and bridges – can’t be used for public transit. I think it may be a constitutional amendment, others chime in. That is a fundamental flaw in the system right now, much more difficult to change, as I believe it would take a supermajority public vote vs majority vote on the sales tax. I prefer to do something now vs wait for the other flaw to be fixed.
“Transit should be paid for with gas taxes.”
No disagreement here, but the reality is the the gas tax is sacred down at the Gold Dome and increasing it and using it for something other than concrete and asphalt would require constitutional amendments.
“If Georgia was serious about transit, there would be a regional transit authority”
I don’t argue with that either, but our long history is that Georgia is very parochial and governments don’t cooperate or form coalitions for anything.
“There is no leadership at the state level sufficient to force the projects needed.”
There was one governor a few terms back that was willing to do that, but he was too progressive on a lot of things and got voted out after one term.
This state should be bursting with toll roads. A large toll gate just north of Sandy Springs would be a nice start.