Common Complaints about T-Splost and Responses

We're just hours away from the first vote, and I thought it's important to address common complaints about T-SPLOST and shed some light on the reality versus what you hear from people with an agenda to kill it.

This article is really part of a two-article series. Yesterday, I posted a blog post about T-Splost's history, and the history of big investments in Atlanta and what they have done for the city. I intended to follow-up by writing this post today. Yesterday's blog post .

Here are some common complaints about T-SPLOST and my responses:

1. It'll never go away

The T-Splost has a built-in structure that it has to go before a referendum again when it completes. It won't be automatically extended.

2. There isn't any funding in it to handle operations after it's built.

The next ten years are covered for operations as part of the referendum. It is understood that we'll need to think ahead for the 10 years that follow to avoid another T-Splost.

3. It doesn't have anything for my area. This is all about Atlanta. I don't travel into Atlanta.

Most areas have a useful project. Check here.

Studies have shown that the majority of traffic is about travelling no more than 1/4 of the way across the metro area, often between "suburban" cities.

Therefore, T-Spost is all about inter-region travel, not about commuting to Atlanta. 85% of the funds are for regionally important projects (not just Atlanta important)

The other 15% are discretionary for local use.

4. It's for economic development only. It's more about economic development than traffic relief.

It has both features that will help relieve some congestion, and other features that are designed for future growth, economic development and prevent future congestion.

The work around I-75, Windy Hill, Interstate North and Cobb Parkway in the Smyrna, Cumberland, Marietta area, Power's Ferry area is an example of something that will relieve back-off and provide alternate routes on roads.

The sad truth is nothing can end congestion completely. We can only keep it from getting worse as population and business development increases. We can only resolve it in the really bad areas, but there will always be some level of congestion throughout the metro. It'd be too expensive to do otherwise.

However, in an economy like this, with 9.1% out of work in metro Atlanta, what's so bad about some economic development? It seems to be what the doctor ordered right now.

I am a bit annoyed personally, as an advocate for T-SPLOST, that advertisers tried to pull the wool over peoples' eyes about the main purpose, with congestion relief being secondary. I think the main purpose of economic development and bringing jobs is actually highly valid even if some disproportionately benefit from it (we can fix that later, since that's at the core of how America works).

5. Economic development in __________ (Cumberland, Town Center, beltline, Norcross, West End, Alpharetta) doesn't benefit me.

If you didn't have businesses covering most of taxes, the mill rate would be exhorbitantly high, and you could be seeing property taxes of over $15,000/yr or more for a single family home or services could suffer (I know - I've seen it in excessively residential towns in the northeast). The fact of the matter is that business development in your area and county helps to lower your taxes.

6. We spent too much on transportation already.

Georgia is ranked #49 out of 50 in terms of per-capita transportation spending. What's worse is that federal dollars have to be distributed evenly across the state. Unfortunately, this has left a huge backlog and traffic problems that could have been prevented.

7. It's a boondoggle. There wasn't planning. It's fluff.

The list comes out of many years of studies and loose planning, and about five years of active planning from ARC with citizen input and input from many groups ranging from conservative to liberal. The list comes from a fraction of the general consensus of top priority of the $66 billion of backlog for the state. It covers about 1/3 of that statewide plus will attract some federal funds (about $100 million just in our region).

8. We need more studies

We've spent hundreds of millions in studies already and more are happening (such as the Cobb and Gwinnett alternatives studies)

ARC has done two rounds of intensive studies and citizen input: Envision 6 and their final blueprint two years later that improved based on complaints: http://www.atlantaregional.com/File%20Library/Transportation/Financing_Transportation/tp_finance_alternatives_report_030510.pdf

Most metro counties have plans, such as Cobb's 2030 and 2040 plans: http://comdev.cobbcountyga.gov/documents/CPA2011Book.pdf

9. Metro Atlanta is too spread out for rail.

The fact that metro Atlanta is so spread out is why it's so critical we invest to connect the major live, work, and entertainment centers. It's also why typical packed in lines won't work in metro Atlanta. We can't do it like Manhatten. A spread-out region requires a grid, parking garages or circulators/shuttles for people to travel to their local stations, then ride to other parts of the region and not necessarily Atlanta, and that costs money. It's also why almost everyone has something in their area that would benefit from extended rail service if we fork out that, admittedly, high initial cost:

•  Cumberland (Vinings/Smyrna/Power's Ferry)
•  Kennessaw Town Center
•  Virginia Highland
•  West End
•  Ansley Park
•  Emory / Druid Hills
•  South Dekalb
•  Norcross
•  Windward Parkway (Alpharetta)
•  NW Atlanta loft district a.k.a. M-West
•  Clayton county/Jonesboro

10. Not enough transit

Transit was decreased from the original blueprint due to original complaints, in order to have more local road spending. Otherwise, it would never pass in metro Atlanta.

Atlanta is failing to attract businesses to relocate here because we are not investing enough in our transit infrastructure. Charlotte and Dallas have caught up and are primed to pass us. To understand how that impacts businesses, divide metro Atlanta up into quadrants, either along I-75/I-85 or 400/I-20. Someone in the middle of each of those quadrants can usually work in the same quadrant. That's the pool of available workers for a business in that area. It's a decent talent pool in a metro area of 5 million people.

Now, fast-forward twenty years and the situation is much different. A business located in Cumberland, for instance, would only have a couple miles to pull talent from. This is not an attractive idea for businesses.We have a rich history in Atlanta of investing in just the right projects at just the right time. Let's keep that tradition alive.

11. Not enough road

About half of the 85% of funds are for strategic regionally-important roads in your areas and projects are spread around the region. Another 15% is available for local use on whatever road projects they deem fit.

For example, see all the work being planned to extend Interstate North past Windy Hill, grade seperate Windy Hill at Cobb Parkway and Interstate North, redo the I-85 intersection, and turn Windy Hill into a major artery for Cobb County all the way out to West Cobb (and Macland Road improvements beyond that as well)

12. There can be a plan B.

Yes, gas taxes or other things. Many of these projects are important enough that they will happen one way or another. Sales tax is a less painful alternative.

Plus, we lose federal earmarks if we don't get some of these projects up and running soon.

What's worse? A farmer in Nebraska paying for a bit of our projects, or the money being tied up for ten years instead of circulating back into the economy because we won't pitch in our own funds?

13. Why rail, how about busses?

There's two differences between rail and busses:

•  Upper middle class typically will be willing to ride rail (I just did today from my office to get an errand done at another MARTA station). They will not ride busses typically (that includes me - I'll take a shuttle or circulator but not a standard bus.)
•  As an economic engine, investors will buy up land along rail since it can't move. They won't buy up land along a bus line as easily since they can be re-aligned.

14. It again takes money away from predominantly black areas of Atlanta, possibly raising their taxes, and doesn't offer them anything back in return.

Areas such as the West End, South Atlanta, and others are so underinvested in terms of business and employment that it hurts people in that area more than anything. For instance, look at Cascade/Abernathy. There are two Cascades: One for the rich black citizens who have cars, great education and good white collar jobs. Then there is the part further intown that just doesn't have enough jobs for working class families. There are not enough jobs in predominantly black areas of Atlanta, and this has to stop. I can't say that rail will guarantee the situation will improve, however it's better than doing nothing. If anything, it will at least offer more ways to get on the train and get to another job center. However, it would be nice if it brought more jobs to the neighborhoods that need it the most.

I have to admit that a plan of how to use the beltline as a job impetus for the underinvested poor neighborhoods of Atlanta is something that requires more thought and planning. However, we need the investment first to know that the rail is coming. Then we need to get on the case of the politicians for these communities to hit the pavement and help local citizens invest in businesses for their community, bring jobs, and improve the situation. Because this should be for the benefit of all, and not just for the people that live North of I-20.

It scares me to think what will happen to these communities if T-SPLOST doesn't pass. Hopefully, the beltline finds some alternate funding since there are investors waiting for the beltline to start, and then will begin developing the cooridor. That will bring jobs for these neighborhoods. People will just need to make sure that it INCLUDES the generally hard-working, enterprising people who make a lot out of little opportunity and who already live in this community versus trying to replace them.

15. Politicians can't be trusted, won't keep their promises, don't have the needs of the people in mind but instead are working for themselves. There won't be oversight.

There is often truth in this. However, that doesn't invalidate the project list. We need to continue to watch the politicians and make sure they keep to the plan.

As part of T-Splost, there is a citizen oversight committee to make sure this happens. I recommend you join it or take part in oversight.

In conclusion, it's unfortunate there wasn't more dialog around T-SPLOST than Fear-Uncertainty-Doubt from both sides. However, it appears people have been entrenched in their views even before facts came out. Hopefully, Atlanta lives up to its reputation and makes the smart decision again to invest in its infrastructure right here, and right now.