Comments on: If we can’t do it right, maybe we should put the brakes on new transportation funding

By: What We Learned This Week

What We Learned This Week — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:37:08 +0000

[...] week for Georgia. Maria Saporta says that if we can’t do transportation funding right, then don’t do it at all. The ABC reports that DOT is changing its accounting practices in an effort to get projects moving. [...]

By: Georgia’s transportation future: it’s not “either — or;” it’s “and…” « SaportaReport

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:10:46 +0000

[...] This column is a response to last week’s Maria’s Metro Column: “If we can’t do it right, maybe we should put the brakes on new transportation funding.” [...]

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:58:14 +0000

It just keeps getting more unbelievable

http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/01/14/sonny-perdue-weighs-in-on-transportation-would-shift-t-splost-vote-to-2012/

He wants to wait till 2012 to do anything…what a moron

By: Maria Saporta

Maria Saporta — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:22:12 +0000

Roscoe, let me be specific. First and foremost, we must support the transit systems that already exist. Just about every transit agency in our region is in dire need of investment. Ideally, we would be able to increase the frequency of rail and bus service to make transit more of an option for us. The next move should be to go forward with the commuter rail line to Griffin. Next support commuter rail to Athens. Let’s hope Atlanta receives federal support to start the streetcar. The other great need is to have a light rail line headed towards Cobb, but not as an elevated structure over I-75, which would not encourage sensible land use. Gwinnett needs rail access. Plus it would be wonderful to extend MARTA to Alpharetta. And then build rail parallel to I-285. Where does the money come from? A regional penny sales tax dedicated to transit to serve as a local match for federal funds. Tax allocation districts that take advantage of the development opportunities that result from transit. What I can’t answer is how one gets that through our state legislature and how one overcomes the power and influence of road interests. And therein lies the problem that we face. Maria

By: L Clifton Oliver II

L Clifton Oliver II — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 05:38:32 +0000

Maria is 100% CORRECT!!! GA must have dedicated funding for rail transportation options – go to:

http://www.examiner.com/x-25727-Atlanta-Metro-Transportation-Examiner~y2010m1d4-Legislators-2010-Transportation-Needs-in-Georgia

to see the legislative plan that should be on the November 2010 ballot in this state.

Also there seems to be a lot of confusion as to why GA doesn’t build rail based transit.. Go to:

http://www.examiner.com/x-25727-Atlanta-Metro-Transportation-Examiner~y2009m11d17-Moving-People-Not-Cars

Voters in GA are much more influential than most readers are given voters credit. If you agree with the dedicated rail transportation funding – send it to your legislators, call you legislators, e-mail your legislators make your desires known to your GA legislators. We can make a difference! Let’s get to work folks!!

By: TarHeelBred bleeds TarHeelBlue

TarHeelBred bleeds TarHeelBlue — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:39:16 +0000

“I’m thinking if we want any transportation funding that the hire a hot prostitute idea is the way to go. You think they would give a bulk discount?”

Scott: Citing the recent developments in the Statehouse concerning ethics, I think they would!

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:56:13 +0000

These guys elected to state office are morons…no other way to slice it. Cagle is talking about cutting the capitol gains tax…again (it worked so well the first time). A little lesson on that for our states elected…YOU ARE A STATE THAT IS REQUIRED TO BALANCE YOUR BUDGET NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!!! The federal government can cut taxes and afford to wait 5yrs for the full effect to trickle through the markets because they can run deficits. You cant do that in Georgia!!! You have to balance the budget so to cut taxes you also have to cut spending. I’m thinking if we want any transportation funding the hire a hot prostitute idea is the way to go. You think they would give a bulk discount?

By: BPJ

BPJ — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:56:49 +0000

Regarding the latest news from the capitol, please note this part of Jim Galloway’s report:

“As an alternative, Republican lawmakers think they may be able to find a way – through statute – to permit counties (read “metro Atlanta”) to band together to create tax districts and hold separate referendums to levy taxes.”

“That appears to look somewhat like the position pushed during the past two legislative sessions by Cagle and the Senate. Language in any measure would have to allow a sales tax to be in place for more than five years, if it is to be applied to MARTA or other commuter rail.”

“But Democrats (and some Republicans) question whether creation of new tax districts by statute would be constitutional. “I don’t see how it would be,” said Senate Democratic Leader Robert Brown of Macon.”

“A simple statute, of course, would only need a majority vote, as opposed to the two-thirds required by a constitutional amendment.”

There may be a silver lining here. What if it’s true that it DOESN’T require a constitutional amendment to allow local governments to hold referendums to levy a transportation sales tax?

Think about it: if that’s true, then we’re much better off. The assumption had been that we first had to have a statewide vote (this fall) to amend the state constitution to allow such local referendums, and then, in 2011 or 2012, the actual local referendums would be held, meaning that nothing could get started till 2013 or 2014. If an amendment is NOT required, then (a) we don’t need a statewide vote, in which a lot of people just vote against anything with the word “tax” in it; and (b) we could hold the local votes as soon as this fall, and presumably get started a year or two sooner on commuter rail, light rail, etc. Also, perhaps there wouldn’t be a state list of projects.

The legal question is not an easy one. It’s not my area of expertise, so I will have to defer to lawyers who practice in that area (regulation of counties and municipal corporations by the state constitution). The Georgia Constitution is a long and detailed document, much longer than the US Constitution. I look forward to finding out.

By: James R. Oxendine

James R. Oxendine — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:38:20 +0000

A note of interest:http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2010/01/13/your-morning-jolt-gop-lawmakers-abandon-november-vote-on-transportation-sales-tax/

By: Roscoe

Roscoe — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:38:40 +0000

Ok Maria, let’s get specific. You want a rail-based transit system for the region – fine. Great idea that makes a lot of sense if you have a long-term outlook (say 50-100 years) for the city and region. The time to start is now. So:

Name the first route we build and specify the funding source – both for capital and for operations. Remember that to access federal funds for transit projects you need at least a 20-year horizon on the operations money. Also remember that federal matching on transit is more likely to be 50-50 than the 80-20 it is for roads.

And then lay out the plan to get it through the political and planning process. Remember that to get federal money for transit projects it must be earmarked – the process doesn’t work like the federal formula money does for roads. Also remember it has to pass muster with the Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan and the federally mandated planning process run by the ARC, and, of course, whomever you are going to tax to pay for it all.

It’s time to stop throwing around generalities and get specific.

Again – name the first project, tell us where we’re going to get the money, and how you’re going to get it through the political and planning process. Be specific. No credit for generalities anymore.