I’ve been thinking about the TSPLOST referendum set for a vote on July 31. The Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax is one of those issues that aren’t attractive to most active folks who are just trying to make it through the day. Who can blame busy people? Junior’s little league and soccer games are a lot more interesting than say, where dollars are directed in a proposed sales tax.
Sure, most of the electorate kind of wakes up during presidential election seasons and are nudged by intense media coverage and political ads to get to the voting booths. But, when it comes to primaries, runoffs and referendums, most of the population takes a collective yawn. Translation: Low voter turnout.
So, who votes? It is the engaged who get out on Election Day and vote their conscience. The TSPLOST issue looks to be no different. Tea partiers and environmentalists alike are burning up talk radio, television, social networks and blogs with their opinions. Strange bedfellows indeed, but when examining how this phenomenon took place, it makes sense. Tea Party members are not too happy about what they perceive as government expansion and mere incompetence. Environmentalists do not like the amount of proposed roads and very few transit projects in the plan thus feeling that traffic congestion and pollution will continue to get worse.
Despite the “policy-nerd” angle of TSPLOST, all of us in Georgia ought to care about the July 31 vote. TSPLOST would fund a mix of major transportation projects throughout the state. After decades of unprecedented growth, projects like the expansion of Peachtree Parkway are much needed to relieve congestion.
Yes, it would be nice to have a rail line run from near the Chamblee MARTA station up in the middle of Peachtree Industrial on raised platforms to Peachtree Parkway and all the way to Georgia 400. The north MARTA rail line would be exceptional if it was already extended up to the Gwinnett CID area near Pleasant Hill and even farther north. I would love to never have to get in my car on a daily basis again, but those types of plans are not realistic given this area’s history and attitudes towards mass transit. Now that's serious dreaming.
Proponents say that TSPLOST is a good start, that “something needs to be done” about our bad traffic and lowered quality-of-life. Those who are for TSPLOST also say that not passing the measure jeopardizes the area’s possible future economic expansion. Opponents claim that the plan is a flat-out boondoggle and that the funds will be mismanaged thus furthering government chicanery.
Indeed no one likes taxes and government expanding with our hard-earned dollars. Nevertheless, I have been here for 23 years seeing very few projects keeping up with the metro area’s vast growth. Something needs to be done, but is TSPLOST the answer? I’m still reading up on the pros and cons and will most likely decide the very minute I get into the voting booth.
Why is that? Because despite the sizable investment, the traffic here is so bad that it will take massive amounts of investment to really make a long term impact. The area can not keep up with the influx of new residents, so TSPLOST at the very minimum keeps us at pace with growth. No action means we fall even further behind and go into an even bigger hole. Why do you think sO many major corporations in the area, who have no investment in road or rail construction support the measure? So they can continue to attract top talent. Or scared away by our renowned congestion.
I DON'T need a link from the AJC here - JUST listen to ARC YOURSELF! YouTube http://trk.cp20.com/Tracking/t.c?SUyo-UQy7-olVP87 T-SPLOST Cheerleader Admits on Tape That No Reduction in Commute Time Will Occur "The average commute time really won't change a lot." - Mike Alexander, Modeler/Planner with the Atlanta Regional Commission
1) It WILL reduce travel times by untying ATLANTA 2) The tax will only last TEN years … Thank you for making our points for us, PLEASE continue!!!…
Yeah… the BROWN acid IS bad. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbie_Hoffman
If you want traffic relief, you divide and conquer - stop concentrating the traffic on I75 and I 85. There should be two new interstates built; one coming out of South Carolina that will divert south bound traffic through the open fields of counties like Madison. Reconnect the traffic South of Macon. Coming from Alabama, another interstate that loops south of Atlanta leading to South Carolina. Pumping more cars through Atlanta has proven to be an abject failure. The Untie Atlanta sites are filled with promise and propaganda. I don’t trust what they are selling. They have proven you can’t trust what they say. Wasn’t 100% of HOPE money supposed to support education? Wasn’t the 400 toll supposed to go away after ten years? When one’s actions and words don’t match, one of them is fibbing.
I think if these political and business leaders want the 19th century bus system, they should be willing to guarantee their paychecks against any loses that will ensue. Any cost overruns, any empty buses, and long-term maintenance - let them guarantee their salaries against the project.
The following is a link to the TSPLOST project list: http://tinyurl.com/7vmetyp Also, the AJC has been doing a series on TSPLOST: http://tinyurl.com/7nwj376
Let's just ask the federal government for money to maintain our roads, there's no waste there. What could possibly be more efficient than getting transportation funding from the federal government? The 15-20 year plan for projects seems to be very efficient.
"Slower traffic keep right" "Allow traffic to merge" "Obey the rules of the road" "Engage in defensive driving" Do any of these 'suggestions' ring a bell? I have driven all over the country, and the level of driver ability has dropped drastically. It is not just the cell phones and GPS units. There is such a difference between operating a vehicle and driving. Yes, I use my phone in the car. I have a hands-free unit on my sun visor that is wirelessly connected to my radio. My phone is also my GPS, so I can get directions throught my radio while I am driving. I don't read, answer e-mails, text or shave while I am driving. And I keep both hands on the wheel as much as possible. I am not better than anyone else, this is the way I was trained to drive. Courtious, attentive and trained drivers will go farther than all the money and lanes we can build. Let's change the laws and build infrastructure. If the politicians don't spend the money correctly, we can always get new ones.
Vote NO to this scam and let's come up with projets that work. There is nothing stopping Atlanta or any other city from moving forward and adding more buses to their overcrowded street or putting a streetcar name "stupid" down the middle of Peachtreet Street. Be my guest. Just don't expect Gwinnett or Cobb County to pay for your "fixes."
Laws don't work because people dont care. Then the government does what they do best, throw more money at the problem. The root cause of traffic congestion in Gwinnett County is untrained, apathetic drivers.