Gwinnett MARTA vote: If not now, when?

As The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported, Gwinnett County has seen a steady drumbeat of discussion about MARTA or something like it over the last year. Some business leaders believe demographic changes and economic development imperatives mean the county that has twice rejected MARTA would pass a measure to expand the transit service into Gwinnett if a vote were held again.

But when would that happen? Not likely this year. Gwinnett leaders are focused on asking voters to renew a special local options sales tax for transportation, parks and other construction projects. Some observers think a vote involving some form of mass transit could wait until 2018 or even 2020.

But transit advocates and opponents won't have to wait to register their opinions on MARTA. Gwinnett has begun updating its long-range transportation plan, which will include public hearings beginning next month. That process is expected to last another year.