Here in Metro Atlanta we all agree that traffic is terrible. As the pandemic comes to an end traffic is getting even worse than before. There is a reason for that, we are one of the fastest growing Metropolitan areas in the country and one of the largest. Despite being a sprawling major city most of the region doesn't have access to Public Transportation and most people are forced to be car dependent. Not everyone can learn how to drive and not everyone can afford a car.

The problem with expanding roads is that there isn’t room to expand roads and it does not lower the number of drivers it just adds more and that means more congestion also it increases noise and air pollution and takes away more trees and we have to address climate change. GDOT’s express lane projects do not reduce the number of drivers on roads The most efficient way to get people around Metro Atlanta and the state is going to be on public transport such as MARTA. 

MARTA is way underfunded and will only improve if they get more operational funding. The state also needs to seek funding from more than just an increased county sales tax. A few ideas could be to split toll funding  between roads and public transport having a multi county sales tax or not limiting gasoline sales tax to road projects 

The Atlanta Transit Link Law signed in May 2018 by Gov. Deal is a decent start, but it needs some improvement. First off, we need to be ambitious and plan not just for now but for future growth. GDOT should buy the land for transportation projects (such as the Atlanta Multimodal Passenger terminal) in advance as opposed to selling it off to developers before we have the money to carry out the project. We also need to have MARTA expand to the far reaches of the area instead of having separate transit systems for each county.  Also, the Atlanta Regional Commission counties should collaborate on a single transit plan instead of proposing separate county by county plans.

Think about it, if Trains and buses were more frequent, faster, safer, efficient, and went where people need to go more people would ride. Think about New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington D.C. and cities in Europe and Asia. They all have successful transit systems it is time to bring one to Atlanta.

Public Transit would also be better for Atlanta’s economy Part of the reason so many companies relocate to Atlanta is to be near public transport. (NCR, Mercedes-Benz, State Farm, Microsoft, Norfolk Southern, etc.) If the state wants a booming economy, it is our job to provide the infrastructure for it.

The state not only needs to invest in MARTA but also needs to invest in Intercity Rail and High-Speed Rail. Imagine getting on a train in Atlanta and getting to Charlotte in just over 2 hours as opposed to the 4 hours it takes now. It would be so much easier than driving or flying.  We already have the world’s busiest airport due to our location in the country. If we served as an Aviation Hub and an Intercity/High-Speed Rail Hub, our booming economy could grow to be multiple times the success it is now.

Sincerely, All of us signed below.