Cobb Talks TSPLOST

I attended the Transportation Investment Act (AKA –TSPLOST) public forum last night in the square in Marietta. The event was hosted by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). Douglas County is one of 10 counties in the metro Atlanta Region transportation district. The commission chamber was over flowing with people from both sides of the sales tax issue.

As expected, many of the questions could still not be answered, For example, the question of financing the 10 year - $7 billion – 10 county regional - one percent sales tax – project list still has not been determined. Apparently, there are legal issues with selling general revenue bonds that involve multi-county jurisdictions.

The panel of transportation gurus could not say where the proposed rail line from Cobb to Fulton County will be built. They could not say how many commuters would ride the rail. It was noted that federal matching funds for state projects are expected to diminish over the next few years.

One panelist noted that the TIA was technically NOT a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. They prefer to call it TIA. The name T-SPLOST was given to the project from the start. If it walks like a duck….. 

It was also revealed that the proposed light rail line from Cumberland to Art Station in midtown will do little to reduce the congestion at I-75 and I-285.

One citizen pointed out that it will take longer to ride a rail line than to drive to midtown.

The Marietta Daily Journal has a good report on the meeting.