Some Information about the T-SPLOST
Posted by Jake Walker, no relation Monday, July 23rd For those of you not aware, on July 31st, Georgia voters will face a referendum on a one cent sales tax known as the T-SPLOST. The website dedicating to promoting the T-SPLOST gives a little background information on what the tax is: On July 31, 2012,
UCLA study of Japan’s bullet train raises questions about California project
A new UCLA economic analysis of Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train and its impact on the growth of cities along its route calls into question claims by state officials that California’s high-speed rail project will create up to 400,000 permanent jobs. Construction of Japan’s vaunted bullet train began in the mid-1960s, and it did not generate
Census: Only 3% of Atlantans use public transit
Census: Only 3% of Atlantans use public transit Atlanta Business Chronicle Few metro Atlanta workers rely on public transit for their daily commutes, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau Only 3.36 percent of Big Peach workers hop aboard a MARTA train or bus or use their local public bus service. Atlanta ranks
Congress Wrecked America’s Road System
Congress Wrecked America’s Road System Newmax Wednesday, 20 Jun 2012 By Ernest Istook Why are our roads so congested? It’s because of a wreck. By spending fuel tax money on things other than roads, Washington has wrecked the way we pay for highways. With dedicated revenue now drained away, roads are clogged due to wasteful
Video: Georgia Public Policy Foundation
Adjunct Scholar Baruch Feigenbaum, author of the “Getting Georgia Moving” study, discusses the T-SPLOST focusing on the metro Atlanta region. Download the complementary powerpoint presentation here: http://www.georgiapolicy.org/pub/transportation/TSPLOSTPPT.ppt Sections of note: Minute 14:40 – The most we should be funding transit is 25% to 33%, not 52% Minute 15:00 – Least dense area over 3M people
Elected Officials Don’t Want to be Bothered with Facts
While not in our state, it appears the transit and light rail issue is plaguing more than just Atlanta and Georgia. See what’s happening in our neighbor state North Carolina. “We at the John Locke Foundation have been concerned that the transit discussions in the Triangle have been dominated by misleading, distorted, and incomplete information.
Pro-TSPLOST Tax Lobbyist Recants
In Henry forum, lobbyist Lawler said Brown was not wrong “I believe Mr. Lawler has an uphill battle trying to sell the TSPLOST. Most everyone walked away from our debate in Henry County siding with Commissioner Brown. Once you know the facts, the choice to oppose TSPLOST is easy unless you are in transportation building
WSB’s Adam Goldfein on T-SPLOST
T-SPLOST: Additional Thoughts May 29, 2012 Adam’s Blog, T-SPLOST. The effectiveness of the T-SPLOST at creating and funding large regional projects needs to be questioned. If multiple counties are coming together to build transportation projects, why don’t we see large projects like a northern arc or comprehensive rail system? The project lists are littered with
100% Cost Over-run
Thanks to a Facebook friend we learned the following. Charlotte ran construction deficits double their Light Rail budget. From the Charlotte Business Journal, Friday Sept 2, 2011 “Charlotte’s first light rail line was plagued by cost overruns that pushed the total price to nearly $463 million – double original estimates when it opened four years
Two Developments Must Occur Before Passing a Sales Tax
MARTA chief, Beverly Scott, on the TIA: “Most notably, three developments need to occur. A transit governance structure with regional control must past the legislature this session. The MARTA Act needs to be revised to allow for flexibility on how the agency spends its sales tax revenue — removing the restriction that 50 percent be
