Planning got underway this week in anticipation of a November transportation referendum. Both MARTA and the Mayor's office presented proposed project lists to the Atlanta City Council. Legislation passed earlier
Planning got underway this week in anticipation of a November transportation referendum. Both MARTA and the Mayor's office presented proposed project lists to the Atlanta City Council. Legislation passed earlier this year requires the City Council to receive the proposed lists by May 31 and for final lists to be decided upon by July 31.
MARTA's menu includes rail and bus expansion projects totaling $6.1 billion dollars. The funds would be raised through a 40-year, half-penny sales tax. If approved by the voters, the new levy would only raise $2.5 billion. So, council members are tasked with narrowing the list to meet funding projections.
Representatives of Mayor Kasim Reed's office and Atlanta BeltLine Inc. presented a second list of transportation enhancements, also to be funded through a separate half-penny sales tax. This levy, also to be approved by voters, would run for five-years and is projected to raise $325 million in new revenue.
MARTA officials made a detailed presentation of their proposed project list to the transit agency's Board last week for approval, highlighting selected routes and commuter patterns.
