North Fulton mayors map strategy for transportation tax

By Patrick Fox

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

To gain voter support for a 1-cent sales tax, north Fulton mayors said Thursday they will develop a transportation pitch aimed at benefiting the most people in the shortest amount of time.

The special transportation sales tax, if approved next year, is expected to generate $6.14 billion for regional projects over the next 10 years.

Roswell Mayor Jere Wood and Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker led a drive Thursday to concentrate on road projects in north Fulton and leave rail construction for other areas. Road improvements would provide more immediate impact, they said.

Which projects will get the money has not been determined yet. Metro area cities and counties have submitted wish lists, which underwent scrutiny at the state level. Now a regional transportation roundtable of 21 mayors and county commissioners will pare the revised project list to a manageable size.

Billions of dollars in projects for commuter rail lines are sought on the current list.

"Let's keep in mind that less than one-tenth of Atlanta's transportation needs are covered in this referendum," Bodker said. "I am struggling to put a heavy investment into transit in this vote."

Current proposals submitted to the roundtable include rail line construction in Cobb and Gwinnett counties, two jurisdictions that have none now.

Wood said the smartest tack is to endorse those projects that will benefit the most people in the shortest amount of time, and in his view, that means roads. He recommended that the mayors all have their public works departments draw up a list of regional projects that could deliver the quickest results to the most people.

What they find will be promoted in a publicity blitz.

"We have to prove to folks that this is actually going to make a difference to them," Bodker said.

Alpharetta Mayor Arthur Letchas said he thinks it makes sense to draw from experts before the issue becomes politicized, but he cautioned that each city needs to be honest in its project assessments for the region.

"We're going to have to think borderless," Letchas said.