North Fulton 'Wireside Chat' Call Finds Anti-Rail Sentiment
The Atlanta Regional Commission hosted a telephone town hall Wednesday, June 6, to answer questions posed by North Fulton residents about the upcoming TSPLOST vote.
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Transit was on the minds of many during Wednesday night’s "Wireside Chat" for North Fulton county – and many residents expressed concern over MARTA's portion of the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) funding.
According to the Atlanta Regional Commission, between both the North Fulton and Cobb calls Wednesday evening, June 6, nearly 4,500 people took part in the telephone town hall meetings.
Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker and Fulton County Chairman John Eaves took questions from local residents on everything from how long the tax will last to specifics about why light rail expansion into North Fulton is cost-effective or even beneficial.
Eaves told callers that he believes MARTA needs to expand to become more accessible and therefore more useful to a wider group of metro area residents. In response to a question about the self-sustainability of the region's transit system, he said more resources were needed now so that it can be a more effective system in the long run, bringing us up to the standards of other big metropolitan cities.
When sentiments of distrust over where the money would actually go and if the tax would ever really end, Bodker jumped in to say that, while a small group of people decided to extend the Georgia 400 tolls without the consent of the people, that wouldn't happen with the tax. He reviewed the process for the TSPLOST implementation, which, first identifies projects to be funded; and second, puts the option to a vote by the people.
"These projects went through a great scrutiny," he said. "This tax is not intended to create more tax."
Additionally, Bodker said a citizen's advisory committee would keep an eye on the revenue brought in by the tax to ensure it was going to the areas it was supposed to go. A public website would be created and updated with their findings so other citizens could review the intake, as well.
In response to a question about why the gas tax wasn't raised to fund transportation projects, instead of the TSPLOST, the panel replied that there had been no political will to do so.
Information about the July 31 regional transportation referendum, including fact sheets about the 157 projects on the list, is available on the ARC website.
ErinRogers
4:39 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
It is definitely true that the transit system that is currently set up is not suitable for Georgia's current needs. Improvements to the options that we currently have and light rail options, like the ones presented in the Regional Transportation Referendum, are options that we need to push forward with.
No Name
8:23 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
If you can find a way that I don't have to subsidize riders, I'm all in. Unfortunately transit has to suck from the public teat forever. We already have enough socialistic programs like that. No more. Let me save my money so I can put decent food on the table for my own family instead of subsidizing someone else's commute to work! Use your own money.
Cary Aiken
2:01 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2012
It is interesting to note that the previous comment fails to acknowledge the significant gas tax and state tax contributions that go into building and maintaining roads. All means of transportation require some public assistance for infrastructure. Transit needs to be clean, safe and efficient to attract more riders, just as problem intersections on I-285 need their current attention. Transit would be an important component to our transportation solution to remain competitive in continuing to attract business to our metro area.
Emily Savannah
11:09 am on Monday, June 11, 2012
Over 50% of the funds generated from TSPLOST will be used for MARTA within the Atlanta area. Visit the project list, to see actually how much of this sales tax increase money will be used to help North Fulton, and how it will be used. I encourage you to vote "No" for a tax increase, that no matter what these government officials say, will not go way and will open the door for more sales tax increases in the future, as new government elected officials take office. These guys will not be in office to uphold their statements.
scott
10:16 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
I say NO as well. I live in an area where there is little to no transportation services and we do fine. If you dont have transporation, it seems like a personal issue to me. Maybe even a personal issue, such as DUI and your right to drive has been revoked. TAXI TIME, NOT TAXPAYERS TIME!
JAH
3:57 pm on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
The comments "All means of transportation require some public assistance for infrastructure. Transit needs to be clean, safe and efficient to attract more riders" fail to acknowledge that roads transport much more than riders; they carry goods and services (providers) that transit can never hope to service. It is pure folly to argue for more taxation for questionable returns (in the form of transit), when Atlanta's experience with MARTA has proven that transit does not work for this metro area. In a time of shrunken revenues, it is folly to ask for more good money to be thrown after bad. And frankly, I don't trust the politicians and their promises one iota. They need to tell their paving financiers that the gravy train has left the station (no pun intended). The Republicans in Georgia government have been a tremendous disappointment, they truly are no different from their Democrat predecessors.