FUNDING
Mayor misinformed about Beltline project
Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos’ argument (“Beltline plan doesn’t meet tax objectives so it shouldn’t get funds,” Opinion, Sept. 27) is ill-informed and misleading. Claiming the Beltline does not connect with MARTA is like saying that I-85 does not connect to I-285. It is not true. She is misinformed about the project that is actually on the Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Draft Investment List. The projects proposed by Atlanta to be funded by the TIA start at MARTA stations in Midtown and downtown, circulate through major employers such as Coca-Cola headquarters and Georgia Tech, then continue east and west, connecting to the highly transit-dependent neighborhoods in southwest Atlanta and congested and rapidly growing neighborhoods in the northeast. They include three direct connections to MARTA at the North Avenue station, Peachtree Center station and Joseph E. Boone Boulevard. The resulting last-mile connectivity will permit tens of thousands of employees; hundreds of thousands of university students, employees and visitors; and millions of visitors to attractions to reach their destinations.
Because these projects have the second-highest projected ridership of rail expansion projects on the TIA list, the Atlanta Beltline assuredly addresses traffic congestion. And the Atlanta Beltline’s tax allocation district ensures a solid, dedicated source of funding that will help attract more federal funding and ensure timely delivery of the project, which has the lowest cost per mile of all rail projects on the list. These projects are on the list precisely because of how well they stack up for the region.
THOMAS WEYANDT JR., SENIOR POLICY ADVISER FOR TRANSPORTATION, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, CITY OF ATLANTA
APPRECIATION
Atlanta police officers deserve appreciation
A few years ago, I decided to thank our city of Atlanta police whenever I could. I shake their hands and tell them how much we appreciate what they do. Frequently, the response is a smile and a thank-you. I recently encountered a policeman directing traffic and expressed my appreciation. Without a smile, he said, “Thank you. Most citizens don’t appreciate what we do.” How disheartening it must be for the Atlanta policemen and policewomen who do not carry with them the deep appreciation of our citizens every time they don their uniforms and take the tremendous risks associated with their work. We owe them personal expressions of appreciation.
STEPHEN M. SESSLER, ATLANTA
