Comments on: ATL Transportation List Trimmed, Decatur’s Clifton Corridor Still On List

By: Bo

Bo — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 14:01:30 +0000

This state should be bursting with toll roads. A large toll gate just north of Sandy Springs would be a nice start.

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 01:39:17 +0000

“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.

By: macarolina

macarolina — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 01:33:41 +0000

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.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 01:27:56 +0000

Now THAT’S an argument. Thank you.

By: AMB

AMB — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 23:28:52 +0000

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.