Redistricting, city pensions, transportation projects. The Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation sees itself as a watchdog on many political enterprises involving taxpayer dollars.
We talked to president John Sherman recently about the transportation tax referendum on the ballot this summer, specifically the Clifton Corridor project — the subject of today’s page — that could provide a rail line from Lindbergh MARTA station to the Emory University campus.
Q. Where does the Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation stand on a rail line from Lindbergh to Emory?
A. The Taxpayers Foundation feels that the proposed Lindbergh to Emory rail line would definitely relieve traffic congestion in the corridor. However, there are many questions as to whether this would be a viable benefit to Buckhead. The ridership and the cost should be covered in an up-to-date, professional feasibility study. Would the upper-income residents of Buckhead drive to Lindbergh, park their cars and ride the rail line to Emory? The transportation round table approved $700 million of the $6.1 billion from the referendum for this. Is $700 million sufficient to cover the full cost? Some have suggested the rail line will cost well over $1 billion; this can only be determined from a professional feasibility study. The operating and maintenance costs of the rail line may be another factor in any feasibility study. The fare should be affordable to the average rider, but the operating and maintenance costs may very well exceed the revenue from fares. Finally, the cost of the right of way on abandoned rail tracks should be part of any feasibility study.
Q. You feel there hasn’t been enough research going into the project list?
A. No, the selections of the various transportation projects were made by elected officials, not by professional planners and engineers.
Q. You don’t believe that there will be enough users for an Emory rail line?
A. The Emory/CDC workforce is mostly white collar. How many are going to give up their cars when the cost of driving is not significant to them? The other question is, will the high-income Buckhead families park their car at Lindbergh and take the train to Emory health care center? I don’t know the answer. That really requires a professional feasibility study.
Q. Would your supporters feel any more confident about the referendum plan for improvements if a regional transit agency were to be formed?
A. Yes. I think there’s a need for a regional transit agency staffed by engineers and planners. We would feel more comfortable.
Q. Which parts of the Transportation Investment Act project list trouble your group the most?
A. I think the city Beltline without a doubt; that’s far from regional, that’s a city beltline.
Q. So the Emory Lindbergh line is acceptable to you?
A. It’s absolutely acceptable, if a feasibility study shows that the ridership is sufficient to warrant the expenditure.
Q. So your group has not issued a blanket rejection of the TIA, just certain projects that draw criticism?
A. Yes, any transit project under this 1 percent regional sales tax should be subject to an independent feasibility study to determine ridership, costs, and operating and maintenance costs.
Q. If the vote were held today, do you think it would be pass or fail?
A. I think there’s almost a 50-50 chance for this, but I do think that most people would support this if there’s more feasibility studying.
Q. Are you softening on your stance on this?
A. I don’t think you can oppose the whole program. I think many items on the program are excellent. But the transit part of it should be accompanied by a feasibility study.
Q. They haven’t done that?
A. No, not up to date.
John Sherman is president of the Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation.
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