As we get nearer the vote on the T-SPLOST referendum, the rhetoric, speeches and comments are heating up. Some people in south DeKalb County are angry because there are no transit projects for them. Some in Atlanta are angry because not enough money goes to transit. Some in other counties and cities do not want transit, nor do they want to pay for transit in other parts of the region. They have their own issues that require money.
These divisions of opinions, demands and goals illustrate what I have been saying from the beginning. At the first regional roundtable meeting, before a single discussion took place or vote was cast, the team handling the publicity and marketing to get the transportation referendum passed was presented. We were told it was really a 30-year plan, not 10. Elected officials were told our job was to promote and sell it to our constituency. Done deal.
Supporters were angered when we said the plan creating the regional transportation committee with full government and funding powers was an idea that would not work. When we said there was nothing local in the transportation special purpose local option sales tax — unless you now mean "local" as the region — it made them even more frustrated. Some officials who supported them have since lost their re-election bids. I have remained vocal in my opposition, as have other elected officials in the region.
Metro Atlanta is not a homogenous area. Fayette County is suburban, with no interest in being urban. Fulton is urban and likes it. Each county and city is unique. Trying to pass one law to govern us all in the same way is a huge mistake, doesn’t answer the region’s diverse needs, defies home rule and will fail.
If all the projected $6.1 billion for 10 years was spent on transit, it would not even put a visible scratch into the funding needed. Contrary to what has been said, the old model of Atlanta being the single hub for the region is obsolete. With advances in technology, there is no reason to commute to Atlanta, sit at a desk using a phone and computer to do business, and then commute home.
Peachtree City alone proves this reality: NCR, Panasonic, SANY, Cooper Lighting and others are happy to be here.
Don’t spend a fortune on trying to build transit and roads. Spend it on local economic development and redevelopment. Let each locality plan and implement its own needs. Let cities choose to partner with other cities, counties with other counties. Multiple hubs, not the outdated single hub, is the answer. You get a lot more bang for your buck.
“Politics as usual,” “don’t challenge the powers that be” and “go along to get along” are all highways to failure. Change is needed. We need more people who will “buck the system.” We deserve better.
Don Haddix is the mayor of Peachtree City.
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