Top 10 T-SPLOST Facts

While there has been much discussion of today's vote on the T-SPLOST / Regional Transportation Referendum, it behooves us all to be well informed as we consider this most important issue. 

It is nearly a miracle that after 10 months of data driven, computer modeled, technical deliberations, twenty-one elected officials, Republican and Democrat, representing the 10 metro counties came to a unanimous vote on the final project list. 

Kudos to them and their dedication to cooperation and compromise, for whittling a $23 billion wish list to $6.14 billion project list. 

What a rare and welcome occurrence in today’s climate of fractured politics!

The official project list achieves several important elements:

• A balance of project types and scope
• Reasonable geographic equity throughout the 10 county region
• Deliverability or project start within 10 years
• Allocated dollars including contingency

These critical investments are not just for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren.  

This is an unprecedented opportunity to proactively keep our region strong and competitive, support our current business community, attract new business, enhance our mobility, and minimize lost productivity and wasted fuel.

Please get the facts and consider a YES vote for our future.

10 Facts about the Regional Transportation Referendum

1. Low spending and high congestion: Georgia ranks 48th in the nation in transportation spending per capita, and ranks 4th in total hours the average commuter spends on the road each day.

2. Little room for expansion: Without additional funding, about 70 percent of metro Atlanta’s scheduled transportation dollars for the next 30 years will be spent on maintaining our current transportation network, leaving little room for expansion.

3. Congestion will increase as revenues decrease: Congestion will get worse as the region continues to grow – by some three million more people in the next 25 years. Meanwhile, gas tax revenues will continue to decline as cars become more fuel-efficient.

4. Money stays here: All monies generated here by the 10-year, regional transportation referendum would stay in metro Atlanta and be invested in high-priority projects throughout our 10 counties, from interchange improvements at I-285 and GA 400, to road and safety improvements, to a new light rail line from the Lindbergh MARTA station to the Clifton Corridor.

5. Positive return on investment: The economic impact over time on the Atlanta region would be far greater than the 1996 Olympics. The referendum investment would result in a $34.8 billion increase in gross regional product in the Atlanta region by 2040. That’s a 4-to-1 return on investment.

6. Job creation and retention: Some 200,000 jobs would be created or retained through the build-out of these new transportation projects. The positive economic effect equates to approximately 7,100 jobs each year from 2013 through 2040.

7. Business and workforce development opportunities: Policies for strong small business and minority contracting and workforce development efforts have been developed and adopted by key agencies responsible for the project build-out.

8. Cost savings to commuters: Commuters spend an average of $924 each year due to traffic congestion. Collectively, the time and fuel savings generated by referendum projects would allow residents to save $9.2 billion by 2040.

9. Decrease in travel delays: Travellers will enjoy a 24% average decrease in future travel delays on roadways improved through road widening, new construction and improved interchanges.

10. Air quality benefits: Air quality improvement would be equal to taking 72,000 vehicles off the roads daily.

Consider the facts and please vote YES on Tuesday, July 31.

Visit www.metroatlantatransportationvote.com for more detailed information.