Live at the TSPLOST Town Hall

Thursday's forum from Brawner Hall in Smyrna is being hosted by Sen. Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna) and Representatives Stacey Evans (D-Smyrna) and David Wilkerson (D-Austell). 

It's a chance for local residents to share their thoughts on the proposed $856 million that would connect the Arts Center MARTA station in Midtown Atlanta with the Cumberland area, the first phase of a projected long-term Northwest Corridor transit plan that would reach Acworth.

The TSPLOST is expected to collect an estimated $6.14 billion for projects across a 10-county metro Atlanta area if voters approve it in July. The final deadline for projects that will be placed before voters is Oct. 15.

5:35 p.m. - And we're underway here at Brawner Hall in Smyrna. Sen. Stoner is introducing officials in attendance including Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee.

5:40 - County Manager David Hankerson is here, as are Reps. Stacey Evans and David Wilkerson. Commissioner Bob Ott is said to be on his way. Smyrna City Councilman Jimmy Smith is here, too.

5:42 - Evans says she is looking forward top hearing comments from folks. Wilkerson indicated the same. Kennesaw Mayor Mark Matthews and Cobb County Department of Transportation Director Faye DiMassimo say they're glad to be here. DiMassimo is ready to give a presentation.

5:47 - DiMassimo is going over a handout provided to the 50 or so people here. The handout has the Cobb projects on it. She's discussing the projects related to the airport at the moment.

5:51 - She's talking about the 'Windy Hill Mega Project.' This includes constructing a new connecting road between Windy Hill and Terrell Mill Roads.

5:54 - Now a slide show. She says that according to transportation studies in Phoenix and Charlotte, for every $1 invested in transportation, an average $4 is generated in economic return.

5:57 - Now onto the Cumberland to Arts Center rail discussion.

5:59 - DiMassimo says Cobb has 325,000-plus communters and that 49 percent go to either the downtown/midtown area or the Perimeter Mall area.

6:02 - DiMassimo: There are 65,000 jobs in the Cumberland area, which is 21 percent of the entire Cobb workforce.

6:05 - Now Stoner is back at podium. Speaking how other cities in the region are hoping that Atlanta 'doesn't get its act together' concerning transportation. Cards are being handed out for people to write down questions.

6:07 - Ott has arrived; announces that kid soccer match he was attending ended in a tie. Time for questions.

6:10 - First question. How much to operate the rail line? Answer from DiMassimo: About $9 million a year to operate and maintain it.

6:12 - Question about using CSX rail lines. Stoner is giving rail history. It was built in the 1830s. Runs from Atlanta to Chattanooga. State owns it and leases to CSX.

6:16 - "It's never simple and it's never easy.'' Stoner on using rail line. DiMassimo says she has rail stats if people are interested.

6:19 - Question: Can legislature override TSPLOST vote if it passes. Stoner: "It can, but not likely.''

6:21 - Stoner on the moving forward with alternative transportation: "It's not about attracting new jobs, it's about keeping them here.''

6:23 - Stoner: "This is a regional vote.'' If it's voted down, there's no alternative funding source on the books for such a wide-scale regional project.

6:26 - Wilkerson asks that if it doesn't pass, how long would it be before it could be brought to the voters again. Answer: two years.

6:28 - A question comes as to why the vote will be in the July 2012 primary instead of the November general election? Stoner: "You'd have to ask (former) Gov. (Sonny) Perdue.''

6:32 - Stoner suggests people go to the website www.atlantaregionalroundtable.com to check out everything about the Transportation Investment Act.

6:36 - Someone writes about why is Seattle, Wash., not used as an example because "it's not working'' there. This might be the last question. Not sure there was answer to this question.

6:39 - Ron Sifen, a Vinings resident, has stood up to question the county's ridership numbers. He says the numbers are optimistic.

6:45 - Sifen "The overwhelming percentage of riders will board in Fulton.''

6:47 - Another man has stood up and voiced his concerns about crime coming to Cobb. Stoner has dismissed this notion. Wilkerson also says he doesn't buy the crime argument from a "realistic standpoint.''

6:51 - Wilkerson: "We need to get people to work efficiently.''

6:53 - Evans on if TSPLOST doesn't pass: "We're going to be looking at Charlotte in the rearview mirror saying, 'man, we missed the boat on that one.'''

6:58 - Two men have stood up to voice their support of the TSPLOST passing.

7:00 - A man has asked where the Cumberland station would be located? Stoner says studies are still looking at the issue.

7:02 - Question about whether Spring Road in Smyrna would be widened to help with the traffic added to the area. Ott says no and adds that additional funds that are not currently available would be needed for such. It also is pointed out that it would be a City of Smyrna issue.

7:05 - Smyrna Councilman Smith is asking about using CSX. Stoner said it's something to be looked at.

7:08 - And that's going to be it. Thanks for joining us and look for more coverage of this issue in the future at Patch.