Atlanta groups urge Fulton County leaders to consider transportation alternatives

A coalition of Atlanta conservation and transportation groups is asking the Fulton County Commission and the 14 mayors of cities in Fulton County to consider investing in a range of transportation options rather than building new roads.   

SELC, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, Citizens for Progressive Transit, Georgia Bikes, the Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club, Partnership for Southern Equity, and PEDS have submitted recommendations on a range of diverse projects eligible for funding through a Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST) to be put before Fulton County residents for a referendum in November. 

If passed, the referendum will generate $500 to $700 million by increasing Fulton County’s sales tax by 0.75 percent over five years.

The groups’ suggestions for the funding include additional investments in transit, bicycle, and pedestrian projects, safety improvements for drivers and non-drivers, and projects that allow for greater accessibility to job centers and transit stations.

“There is no new road that will fix Atlanta’s transportation problems—you can’t just build your way out of congestion,” said Senior Attorney Brian Gist. “Investing in other transportation options that afford people more choice in how they get from point A to point B will improve quality of life and result in a more efficient, functional system overall. We hope that the Fulton County mayors will consider these suggestions as they develop the project list.”

Read more about the groups’ recommendations in the Saporta Report: Local governments should coordinate on transit, transportation network.

Click here to read the letter.