Maria Saporta is quite correct when she notes that the main focus of reporting on T-SPLOST funding thus far has been on the big name projects, which make up 85% of total funding.  But what about the other 15% (approx. $1.1 billion), which will be divided up amongst the metro’s local communities?

Saporta reports that the City of Atlanta is talking about dividing its share of the $1.1 billion into three categories: “High Profile” projects, individual district projects and “opportunistic reserves”.  The floated DeKalb Avenue project would fall into the first category.  According to the article, upgrades for these “high profile projects” would include…

…pavement resurfacing, sidewalk repair and installation, streetscape improvements, lighting, bicycle facilities, pedestrian crossings, on-street parking and transit amenities.

There are obviously a lot of ifs and maybes before anything would happen, not least of which is the T-SPLOST passing in July, but it’s certainly nice to at least know about these things. Or maybe you don’t want to be teased/taunted with the info?

Either way, I’m checking with Decatur’s city staff to see if we already have a plan in place for how our chunk of the funding would be spent inside the city’s borders.  And how much that chunk would be!

Submitted by:  Rebecca Watts Hull, City of Decatur resident, Director of Mothers & Others for Clean Air and Board Member of Citizens for Progressive Transit

Light rail…commuter rail…bike paths… or more sprawl?

For Decatur residents who care about metro Atlanta’s transportation infrastructure and want to see more of the 10-county area connected by public transit, sidewalks and safe bicycle routes like our hometown, now is the time to speak up! The clock is ticking—we have until August 15 to shape the first draft of the list of transportation projects that, if voters approve, will be funded by a 10 year Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST).

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) already has sponsored an online public poll that showed widespread support for transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects through our region. Many metro area polls administered over the past five years show that most of us want a 21^st century public transportation system. Public opinion in the suburbs has changed dramatically since Cobb, Clayton and Gwinnett refused MARTA rail service several decades ago.

The Executive Committee of the Atlanta Regional Transportation Roundtable is charged with boiling down a $22 million transportation wish list to $8 million (the estimated amount the tax would raise over 10 years), and Decatur citizens should take note that our Mayor, Bill Floyd, is a member of that small and powerful group. After the project list is finalized this October, voters will have only a “yes” or “no” option at the polls in July 2012. Let’s vote “yes” on a good list of projects that helps Atlanta move toward a 21^st century transportation system, rather than having to say “no” because the list represents business as usual-– more road widening projects and the sprawl that results.

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This comment appeared in our Fayette County post written by someone named “Debbie Dooley”, which just happens to be the name of the co-founder of the Atlanta Tea Party…

You supporters of the TSPLOST just keep being not concerned about the passage of the TSPLOST. Just keep on thinking that it will sail to passage. This is an issue that tea parties throughout the Metro area will be heavily involved with next year. Right now tea party activists are like ducks on a pond regarding the TSPLOST. On the surface, everything is calm. Beneath the surface, we are paddling vigorously preparing to do battle next year.

It will be a big priority next year. We defeated the trauma care tax without spending one dime. We will do the same with TSPLOST.

Debbie Dooley – Georgia Tea Party Patriots State Co-ordinator

This is great.  A look inside the mind of the Georgia Tea Party!

Debbie’s note seems to indicate that they believe they’ll do their usual social media magic, hold a few rallies, and take down the transportation sales-tax like they did trauma care.  An interesting proposition, but I’m thinking the Georgia Tea Party may finally have met its match on this one.

This ain’t health care, trauma care or big bank bailouts.

This is a concrete list of transportation projects that either get funded or not.  It’s not all that hard for the average voter to wrap their head around or foresee the coming impact.  (My road is now wider, my town now has transit, etc).

On top of that, the Tea Party faithful will soon come head-to-head with equally passionate transit advocates.  Both are true-believers, willing to yell, sweat, and blow raspberries for their cause.

Oh hell yeah.  This should be fun to watch.

P.S.  I wonder if they’ll encourage fellow Tea Partiers to take MARTA to their protests at the State Capitol like they did back in 2009.