Alpharetta backs transit expansion, opposes sales tax hike

Alpharetta has gone on record supporting bus rapid transit in North Fulton County, but opposing an increase beyond the one-penny sales tax already levied for MARTA to pay for it.

The Fulton County Transit Master Plan adopted by county commissioners and mayors in January envisions bus rapid transit on Ga. 400 and Holcomb Bridge Road, and arterial rapid transit (also using buses) on Roswell Road, Old Milton Parkway and Ga. 141 – funded in part by a new, half-penny sales tax that would raise $4.9 billion over 40 years.

A resolution recently passed by the Alpharetta City Council supports the proposed bus services, opposes costlier rail expansion, and calls for capping the transit sales tax at its present level of one penny. Fulton voters in November 2016 approved a special, 0.75-cent sales tax for transportation projects, the resolution says, and the county and state Legislature should “explore funding within the current MARTA tax for bus rapid transit and arterial rapid transit.”