Alpharetta Councilman Backs Transit Task Force

Gov. Nathan Deal created the Transit Governance Task Force on Wednesday, which will take the executive findings of the Transit Governance Study Commission and use them as a basis for developing a legislative proposal to be introduced in the 2012 session of the General Assembly.

“The metro Atlanta region has a multitude of transit agencies that work independently of each other,” Deal said. “The study committee found that commuters, transit stakeholders and the general public would benefit from oversight, streamlining and coordination of the individual transit systems in the metro Atlanta region."

Deal named Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker to the task force.

Other members are: state House Majority Caucus Chairwoman Donna Sheldon (R-Dacula) and Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) as co-chairs. Rounding out the task force will be Sen. Butch Miller (R-Gainesville), Sen. Ron Ramsey (D-Decatur), Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta), Rep. Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain), Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-DeKalb), who chairs the MARTA Oversight Board, the mayors of the City of Atlanta and the City of Riverdale, and the county commission chairs of Gwinnett, Douglas and Rockdale counties.

Alpharetta City Councilman Chris Owens, who has been the point person on transportation for the city, was asked by Patch a series of questions via email about the transit task force.

Patch: Do you think it has value, or will it just muddy the waters over state and regional issues?

Owens: I believe that the transit governance task force has tremendous value. Transit in Georgia is primarily contained within the Atlanta Region today. There are multiple entities, all with similar and many with identical missions. Marta, Cobb Community Transit, Gwinnett Transit, GRTA X-Press and others have duplicate operating expenses and compete for many of the same dollars in order to operate and deliver services. I am in support of a single agency to manage all transit as long as it achieves the goal of streamlining the current systems and increases efficiencies at a reduced cost. I am not in favor of additional layers of redundancy and bureaucracy.
Transit governance is a separate, but necessary, part of state and regional transportation solutions. I hope that the Task Force accomplishes the mission charged by Governor Deal.

Patch: Do you think Alpharetta will be well represented with Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker the closest elected official as a representative?

Owens: I believe that Mayor Bodker will represent North Fulton well, but Alpharetta must stay engaged in the process and continue to provide input. It is ultimately up to us to make our needs and opinions known by the Task Force.

Patch: How can Alpharetta make sure its transportation needs are met, and those of the region that deal with infrastructure in and around the city?
Owens: Alpharetta has always made our citizens' transportation needs a priority and will continue to do so. Evidence of this commitment is shown by the investments made in our infrastructure and our commitment to maintain what we have while always looking at the future needs of the City.
The city's recent work on the North Fulton Transportation Improvement Plan (TRIP) and participation in the draft project list for the upcoming Transportation Investment Act (TIA - Regional Sales Tax) shows how we can work to improve Alpharetta as well as the surrounding region.

The TRIP outlines projects and improvements that cannot be accomplished without cooperation among our North Fulton neighbors.

The TIA is a penny sales tax for transportation improvements that will come before regional voters in July 2012. If it passes, it will represent groundbreaking cooperation across the 10-county Atlanta region for transportation investment.

I encourage all Alpharetta residents to learn more about the TIA in order to make an educated decision next July.
Alpharetta must continue to maintain a strong local commitment to our infrastructure while participating in regional-level initiatives. This is the only way to make an impact.