Transportation Reform in Georgia
SELC Helps Steer Atlanta’s Transportation Future in Positive Directions
SELC and its partner the Livable Communities Coalition have helped move metro Atlanta’s long-range transportation plan in positive directions. In line with our recommendations, the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Plan 2040 shields transit and rail projects from excessive funding cuts and emphasizes maintaining existing roads and bridges. It also takes the groundbreaking step of treating greenhouse gas pollution as part of the cost of a project in cost-benefit analyses and recommends that the state develop a climate change plan. Even more remarkable, the plan calls for Atlanta to curb sprawl and fill in its regional footprint—marking a sea change for a city once reputed to be the fastest-expanding metro area on the planet. On the down side, the plan favors investing in toll roads—like the new toll lanes recently approved for I-75 and I-575—that will increase tailpipe pollution and driving rates. It also would devote flexible federal transportation funds to road construction rather than clean and efficient transportation options.
Case Summary
Decades of sprawling growth and an auto-centric culture have saddled metro Atlanta with some of the most congested roads, dirtiest air, and longest commutes in the country. To change this picture, SELC is promoting policy reforms that will lead to increased investment in high-speed rail, commuter rail, transit, and a "fix it first" agenda that prioritizes repairs to existing roads and bridges.
Reforming "Boss Highway" in Georgia
In collaboration with business, industry, and environmental groups, we supported legislation that passed in 2010 that provides new ways to fund transportation projects around the state, including public transit. We are also capitalizing on a state law passed in 2009 aimed at reforming the way the Georgia Department of Transportation sets its spending priorities.
In addition to joinign with our other civic organizations to promote a statewide transportation vision, we are working with the regional planning agency in metro Atlanta to develop a long-range transportation plan that will reduce the miles people drive and the resulting pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Stopping destructive highways
Complementing our policy reform efforts, we are promoting alternatives to misguided proposals for new and expanded highways, such as the now-abandoned plan to widen a section of I-75 in metro Atlanta to an astonishing 23 lanes. A far better option is to increase transit service in the corridor to ease congestion.
We are also countering a push to develop a network of single-occupancy toll lanes around Atlanta, creating unequal access to our public infrastructure and promoting a future that continues to rely on highways and promote sprawling development.
In all our Georgia transportation work, we are pointing the way toward a future that strengthens communities, reduces air and water pollution, protects sensitive ecosystems, and decreases global warming emissions.