The referendum asked voters to authorize a contract with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, which would have added a 1 percent sales tax to pay for transit projects. The plan called, in part, for an extension of MARTA’s Gold Line from its current terminus in Doraville, Ga., to the Jimmy Carter Boulevard area in Norcross, Ga.
Gwinnett leaders say the county’s projected growth could make it the most populated county in the state, and they seem poised to ask residents to vote again on a MARTA proposal.
“As you might expect, I am disappointed, but transit expansion is so critical to Gwinnett’s future that doing nothing is not acceptable,” Gwinnett County Commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said. “I anticipate that the board of commissioners will be considering all possible options over the coming weeks and making decisions about next steps.
According to election returns, 54.3 percent of voters cast ballots against the proposal. Only 16.9 percent of registered voters cast votes in the special election.
“We respect the sentiments of the voters who exercised their constitutional right,” a MARTA representative said in a statement. “Nonetheless, we remain optimistic about the future of transit in our region.”
Gwinnett County voters also rejected proposals to join MARTA in 1990 and 1971, The Associated Press reported.
Transit is a hot-button issue in the Atlanta area, which regularly ranks among the top cities with the worst commutes. Expanding MARTA into surrounding counties is an ongoing topic, and voters in Clayton County opted in November 2014 to join the transit system.
Earlier this year, MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker said Atlanta needs a “moonshot for transit” to keep pace with metro Atlanta’s continued growth.
Excellent comment Mr. Charles Landey! Well stated Sir.
Koch Brothers? They’ve taken down other transit projects…
Eric – Yes the Koch brothers have opposed transit projects. You know what that’s called? It’s called FREE SPEECH. Read the First Amendment. Right-wing billionaires have the same free speech privilege as left-wing billionaires and everyone else. The Koch Brothers have the same free speech rights as the far-left newspaper that comes to my doorstep each morning and the same free speech privileges as the conservative or libertarian news sites I tune to on my computer. I don’t have to agree with any of the above nor do you.
No the Koch Brothers haven’t “taken down” transit projects, to use your term. They don’t have that power. They have spoken against and organized against and financed campaigns against. That’s what people do in America, they take positions and work for outcomes some of us don’t agree with, and contribute to causes some of us don’t like.
There are billionaires in this country who take positions that nauseate me and throw around their money to causes I think are far worse than horrible, like George Soros. You know what, I just have to live with it. Soros’ money, and the Koch Brothers money, buys lots of influence but in the end come election day, I have the same number of votes as any of them. That’s what I have, my one vote compared to the billions of dollars and euros and shekels George Soros stole from the world’s working people, one vote, but I make the most of it.
So what’s the problem? Is the opposition grass-roots, or is it coming down from … ahem … a more organized entity?
If it is grass-roots, what is their thinking? If it is coming down from on high, as it were, who and for what purpose?
La supraj komentoj havas generalan karakteron kaj ne formas la bazon por rilato de advokato / kliento. Ili ne konstituas juran konsilon. Mi ne estas via advokato. Trovu vian propran malbenitan advokaton. Ankau via patrino surhavas botojn de batalo.
ANNA – Ik spreek of leer geen Esperanto. Schriven engels altsublieft.
ANNA – Je ne parle l’Esperanto. En anglais s’il vous plait.
John – Fixed guideway buses wouldn’t be compatible with the existing MARTA subway lines.
I know REAL Mericans hate buses, but it sure seems like fixed guideway bus lanes make allot sense (yeah, which is probably why they’ll never catch on, it reduces the rake of the transit consultants and suppliers).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-Bahn_Busway