Atlanta transportation tax could pump up transit

By Ariel Hart

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

If the Atlanta region votes itself a transportation sales tax in 2012, the state would allow a big chunk of the tax revenue to go toward mass transit in addition to roads. That’s according to guidelines drafted by the state transportation planning director, Todd Long, an appointee of Gov. Sonny Perdue.

The public is invited to comment on the guidelines before they become final.

Under a law passed this year, regional and state officials will draw up a list of projects within the Atlanta region. Then citizens will vote on the list and on a 1 percent sales tax in the region to fund it.

The tax could bring in well over $5 billion over 10 years. That’s still not nearly enough for all needed projects, so counties and neighborhoods will vie to get their preferred projects on the list. But the final list will have to follow Long’s criteria.

Mass transit advocates have long complained that the state’s investment in mass transit is paltry. They hailed a regional sales tax as an opportunity to keep money within the region rather than subsidizing the rest of the state, and to spend the money on transit. The state’s main transportation fund, the gas tax, can be used only on roads and bridges, not on rail.

Under the tax guidelines drafted by Long, new mass transit projects might take up to 40 percent of the Atlanta region revenues. Transit operating expenses might take up to 20 percent, meaning over half the region’s tax could go to transit, if voters choose. Or the region could spend as little as 15 percent of the tax on transit projects and operations. Long said the percentage ranges are not mandatory down to the penny, though those drawing up the list should stick to the targets.

That includes what portion of all the tax money goes to what type of projects. Some key points in the draft for the Atlanta region so far:

• New road projects: 20 percent-50 percent.
• New transit projects: 10 percent-40 percent.
• Transit operations and maintenance: 5 percent-20 percent.
• Bicycle/pedestrian projects: 0 percent-5 percent.

In the rest of the state, the proposed criteria would give only 0 percent to 10 percent of the money to new transit projects. “Outside of Atlanta, transit is not nearly as demanded or wanted,” Long said.

The Atlanta Regional Commission will help shape the final criteria here, and it is asking the public’s opinion on them. Commenters to ARC have until Sept. 2. The guidelines, called “Draft Criteria,” are available on the Georgia DOT website, dot.ga.gov. The public can comment to ARC at opinion@atlantaregional.com.

One area of the criteria the ARC is working to clarify is where transit operations and maintenance funds could be spent, said ARC Comprehensive Planning Director Tom Weyandt. The law prohibits the tax money from being spent on operations of MARTA’s system as it exists on Jan. 1, 2011.