Yes: Atlanta must move forward to solve its transportation problems or be left behind.
My businesses grew as Atlanta rose to prominence. To succeed, I had to be bold and innovative, and so did Atlanta.
Atlanta became a world-class city and won the privilege of hosting the Olympics by being forward-thinking, but it has also faced challenges.
I’ve always believed challenges are best addressed by moving toward the future, not dwelling on the past.
One of the biggest challenges facing Atlanta today is the region’s limited public transportation network. On Tuesday, Atlantans can help their home city move toward a modern transportation system and I hope they will join me in checking “yes” on the ballot.
Every great city around the world has a world-class transportation system. Atlanta’s prominence in the world has grown, but its transportation has not kept pace. Its roads are congested and its transit system hasn’t expanded in over a decade.
To move forward, Atlanta needs to innovate and address our transportation crisis. This referendum will do just that. It offers a balanced mix of public transportation and roads. This investment will put some Atlantans to work, while helping others get to work.
The 1996 Olympics announced to the world that Atlanta was ready for prime time, and the referendum’s economic impact here over time would be far greater than the Olympics. The referendum isn’t just about the economy; it is also about our lives. In the past, Atlanta was a very appealing home for business leaders looking to expand or move because their employees could get to work easily, had an affordable cost of living, and would enjoy a great lifestyle.
But as Atlanta has grown, traffic congestion and too few transportation options have made Atlanta less appealing. As a result, too many businesses choose to locate in cities where getting around is not such a challenge. Funding a fair mix of road, transit, and other transportation projects will address this challenge, and help us build the city we want for us and for our children.
It is easy to shoot down big ideas. But small ideas aren’t the Atlanta way. They didn’t make us the capital of the South and they won’t lead us into a healthy and prosperous future.
Atlanta has to start somewhere and it doesn’t have time to waste. I’ll be voting “yes” Tuesday. If Atlanta isn’t moving forward, we are being left behind.
Ted Turner is the founder of CNN, Turner Broadcasting, the Turner Foundation and the United Nations Foundation.
