Brett Bittner is the Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Georgia and the Vice President of the Cobb Taxpayers Association. Last year, Brett served on the Steering Committee for the Civic League of Regional Atlanta’s “Get A Move On” Town Hall.

What’s good about the Regional Transportation Referendum?
When the Transportation Investment Act passed in 2010, it showed a genuine concern for the transportation issues here in Georgia, especially metropolitan Atlanta. Its passage also indicated a desire to address the failed attempts of the centrally planned Georgia Department of Transportation attempts to improve the seemingly endless commutes for Atlantans. Legislators presented municipal and county officials an opportunity to work together to relieve congestion woes in a cooperative and efficient manner.

I appreciate the attempt, as well as the willingness to cede authority to bodies with stronger ties to the communities served in each region. Rather than attempt further planning at the state level, the TIA brings cities and counties with similar struggles and interests to the table.

What’s bad about the Regional Transportation Referendum?
While the above attempts are admirable, the reality of the product returned is filled with projects that lack the intentions of the legislators who voted to pass the bill two years ago. Several legislators who voted for the bill have reconsidered their support after seeing the resulting project list prepared by the Atlanta Regional Roundtable. While roundtable members winnowed a massive “wish list” down to what could fit into the estimated revenues generated, those members pushed the goals of decreased congestion and increased mobility aside in favor of the vague and unquantifiable concepts of “economic development,” “livability,” and “jobs” that proponents and “education efforts” alike utilize when discussing the referendum.

The project list completely lacks any item that directly correlates cost and use. The most efficient allocation of funds occurs when there is a direct correlation between these two factors. The voter referendum that will be considered on July 31 only authorizes spending for the construction and implementation of the projects contained within the list without a mechanism to “invest” in the operation and maintenance of the $6 billion worth of new transit project “wants” in a region that needs solutions, rather than what amounts to taxes disproportionately allocated when compared to real world use. Both sides agree that over half of the taxes to be collected fund mass transit projects. Historically, use of mass transit in our region does not exceed 5 percent of the population and is in a state of declining use, so what sense does it make to have the whole pay for a majority of transportation options that less than one-twentieth of us utilize?

What’s the bottom line for your organization?
Both organizations I lead encourage a “No” vote on the July referendum, as the projects do not adequately address the mobility and congestion issues that the Atlanta region faces. Both the proponents and opponents point out that there is no “Plan B,” which implies that the regional roundtable gave voters an “or else” ultimatum, rather than seeking a solution that solves the transportation issues facing the region. The General Assembly gave a tremendous amount of control and authority to a regional body in hopes of regional solutions, but received only favors to special interest groups and a mentality of “What can I bring home to my constituents?” in return.

I rarely, if ever, oppose a proposal without offering alternatives. As such, I offer the following solutions:

• After voters reject the referendum, start from scratch to determine the actual needs of the region, by including stakeholders in the discussions, rather than a handful of officials no one elected to represent them in this effort.
• Focus the production of a project list that addresses the issues of mobility and congestion with a strong relationship between the two using the resources and their level of commitment to fund them.
• Rather than continue the monopoly over such decisions to an overburdened and ever-growing leviathan government, allow private companies to propose projects they can build, maintain, and operate efficiently and independently of bureaucrats and a regional government entity.

How is that for a starting point from which to begin “Plan B” when voters reject this tax increase?

Views expressed by guest columnists are theirs alone and do not represent the views of the Civic League for Regional Atlanta.

Terry D. Lawler is Executive Director of the Regional Business Coalition of Metro Atlanta and an ex officio member of the Civic League for Regional Atlanta board of directors.

What’s good about the Regional Transportation Referendum?
This is the first opportunity for metro Atlanta voters to have a voice, through the ballot box, on transportation improvements in their region. Leaders from across the region have heard or read over 200,000 comments from citizens, and based on that input, they have recommended investing roughly $7 billion for 150+ “regional transportation projects” in every county over 10 years. These projects” will include increased access to transit, highway capacity investments, airport safety improvements, bike/ped investments, traffic management systems and a mobility call center for elderly and disabled residents.  An additional $1 billion will be invested in “local transportation projects” in every city and county in the region for sidewalks, bike/golf cart trails, street lighting and other projects determined by each local government.

The 150+ “regional transportation projects” were determined by state law and cannot be changed at a future date. Transportation sales tax collections cannot exceed their projected revenue, nor can they last more than 10 years. Money raised in the region stays in the region. The law also requires a citizen’s review panel to oversee the construction of the project list and report annually to the legislature and governor. This tax would allow, the region to invest in transportation projects that need immediate attention now, not later.

What’s bad about the Regional Transportation Referendum?
If the referendum fails, there’s no “Plan B” to fall back on. In fact, the law requires the region wait at least two years before deciding on another project list for voters to consider. The governor has also said if the region votes “no” then the governor and state elected officials from areas outside the metro Atlanta region will decide where and how much to invest in metro Atlanta’s transportation infrastructure. And maybe more importantly, if we don’t pass the regional transportation sales tax we would be telling the rest of the nation and the world that the metro Atlanta region doesn’t have the will or desire to solve our transportation challenges.

What’s the bottom line?
We need to invest in metro Atlanta’s future and our transportation infrastructure is a vital component. Due to conservation efforts and fuel-efficient vehicles, Georgia’s motor fuel tax receipts are shrinking and cannot meet the growing demands of our aging highway infrastructure and long-term bond debt. At the federal level, transportation funding will be reduced. With no other transportation funding alternatives on the horizon, this penny sales tax would yield an investment equivalent to increasing the state gas tax by over 20 cents per gallon.

Without these regional and local investments, the metro Atlanta region will not be able to meet the transportation needs of our future businesses and residents. The metropolitan Atlanta region has experienced incredible growth over the past 50 years. If population projections are correct, the region will continue to grow at the rate of over 100,000 people annually for the next 30 years. Where those residents choose to live and work will be dependent on the transportation options available to them. Our competitors like Charlotte, Raleigh, Orlando, Dallas, Miami and Denver are all making significant investments in their transportation infrastructure to attract people and keep jobs. Will we choose to be a region where people continue to move and raise a family or will we remain just another big city with big city transportation problems? Voters will decide on July 31.

Views expressed by guest columnists are theirs alone and do not reflect the views of the Civic League for Regional Atlanta.