AJC > NorthSide > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April > 07
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Mayor supports tax district for Holcomb Bridge
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
[Editor’s note: Roswell mayor Jere Wood submitted this letter to AJC Northside. For more about Charlie Brown’s Roswell East proposal, see the links below.]
One of the main problems we have to solve in Roswell is the traffic nightmare at the Ga. 400-Holcomb Bridge Road interchange. On most mornings it takes Roswell residents more time to drive from home to Ga. 400 than it takes to drive from there to Atlanta.
I believe there is a solution to this congestion. I expect the traffic engineering study requested by Roswell will show that we can make improvements to the intersection that would reduce traffic congestion at a cost of around $50 million.
However, with a $7 billion shortfall in state funding for transportation projects, I expect Roswell will have to make a substantial contribution to the cost of improving this interchange if we want it done before 20 years.
Some people believe that Roswell cannot afford to pay for the improvements needed for the Ga. 400-Holcomb Bridge Road interchange. I disagree. I believe that Roswell cannot afford not to improve this intersection.
Charlie Brown has proposed a $2 billion development at the southeast corner of the Ga. 400-Holcomb Bridge Road interchange. If a tax allocation district is approved in conjunction with this $2 billion project, the incremental increase in property taxes from new development could easily pay for the cost of improving this interchange, thus reducing the traffic problem.
I have told Charlie Brown and the Roswell City Council that if we can improve the Ga. 400-Holcomb Bridge Road interchange, reduce traffic congestion and pay for this with the additional tax revenues that would come from Charlie Brown’s development, he has my support.
There is no better way to pay for reducing traffic congestion than to have the development that generates traffic pay for it.
LEARN MORE
Huge Roswell project faces hurdles
Charlie Brown retired three years ago at 65 and installed his son Scott as head of his development company in Atlanta.
• Related blog topic: Is Roswell ready to go vertical?
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