Stay Informed
Consensus on Transportation Funding Solution is Near
March 6, 2008
For Immediate Release
March 6, 2008
Contact: Brian Noyes
404-307-4806 cell
bnoyes@brockclay.com
www.GetGeorgiaMoving.com
Get Georgia Moving Coalition:
‘Consensus on Transportation Funding Solution is Near’
Business Leaders, Transit Advocates, Road Builders and Environmentalists Unite Behind Concept That Gives Voters Across the State a Voice, While Leaving Spending Decisions Voluntary and Local
ATLANTA – The Get Georgia Moving coalition, which represents more than 50 groups across Georgia --including business leaders, government leaders, transit advocates, road builders and environmentalists -- praised lawmakers for nearing a consensus on a transportation funding approach that would give voters across the state a voice, while leaving spending decisions voluntary and local.
"This year we've seen incredible momentum among lawmakers to get something done about transportation -- and the House and Senate are closer than ever to a consensus that gives the whole state a chance to be heard, while leaving spending decisions voluntary and local," said Charles Tarbutton, assistant vice president of Sandersville Railroad Company, chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the Get Georgia Moving Coalition.
"We appreciate the leadership the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker and Legislature have shown on this issue -- including the important reforms now under way at the Georgia Department of Transportation -- and we are confident that greater efficiency and new funding can be achieved at the same time,” Tarbutton added. “We believe 2008 is the year Georgia will get something done about transportation."
These remarks were made during a press conference in the state capitol today.
Get Georgia Moving is a diverse group of business leaders, state and local government leaders, transit advocates, road builders and environmentalists. A partial list is below.
"As diverse as we are, this coalition has been able to unite around an approach that would allow every voter in Georgia to say whether they want the opportunity to vote for transportation funding,” said Kessel D. Stelling, president and CEO of Bank of North Georgia, chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the Get Georgia Moving Coalition.
“But once regions have that right to vote, they can exercise that right or ignore it,” Stelling added. “It’s completely voluntary. And regions that do hold a vote and successfully pass a TSPLOST will keep the money at home for projects that matter most to them. It’s about local projects and local control.”
The concept supported by the Get Georgia Moving coalition is a voluntary one-cent TSPLOST, or transportation special purpose local-option sales tax. The concept would be similar to SPLOSTs for education that have been popular with voters across the state. It would include these features:
2-step vote process:
Statewide authorization - First, a statewide referendum would be held to approve a constitutional amendment that would establish regions and give them authority to enact a 1 percent transportation sales tax. The regions would call a regional referendum to enact the tax when they so choose.
Regional vote - Second, regions would have the option to hold a SPLOST-like vote to implement the tax. Prior to the vote, the regional planning entities would produce a project list and sunset date.
Project design: Regions would develop a project list in coordination with GDOT.
Sunshine and sunset: An oversight committee would monitor progress on pre-established project benchmarks. Each region would include a sunset date and a project list.
100 percent return to each region: The funds raised in each region stay in that region.
“Georgia has grown so fast that we’re the envy of the nation, but success has also put pressure on our infrastructure,” said Joe Leonard, chairman of AirTran Airways, chairman of the transportation policy committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the Get Georgia Moving Coalition. “Traffic and transportation needs around the state are the unintended consequences of our success. We believe our state leaders are nearing consensus on how to tackle transportation funding, so we can capitalize on our success instead of being limited by it.”
“Growth in metro Atlanta and Georgia is going up, while transportation funding is going down,” said Sam Olens, chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission and chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners. “All parts of our dynamic state are in need of immediate, new transportation funding if we are to continue to be the economic engine of the Southeast. We appreciate the momentum and support of the Georgia General Assembly on this issue and encourage their swift approval of transportation funding legislation.”
Members of the Get Georgia Moving coalition said they support a referendum-based effort to raise more transportation funding to relieve congestion, ensure air quality and promote economic development. To that end, the coalition also supports efforts to optimize current revenue sources, invest in transit and all other modes of transportation, and support innovative funding programs.
Participants in the coalition include:
American Council of Engineering Companies
Association County Commissioners of Georgia
Atlanta Regional Commission
Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development at Georgia Tech
Central Atlanta Progress
Citizens for Progressive Transit
Civic League for Regional Atlanta
Clean Air Campaign
Community Improvement District Alliance
Council for Quality Growth
CSX
C. W. Matthews Contracting Co., Inc.
Georgia Asphalt Pavement Association
Georgia Association of Regional Development Centers
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Concrete Pavement Association
Georgia Conservancy
Georgia Construction Aggregate Association
Georgia Department of Transportation
Georgia Economic Developers’ Association
Georgia Electric Membership Corporation
Georgia Engineering Alliance
Georgia Highway Contractors Association
Georgia Municipal Association
Georgia Policy and Budget Institute
Georgia Power Company
Georgia Railroad Association
Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
Georgia Transit Association
Georgians for Better Transportation
Georgians for the Brain Train
Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
HNTB Corporation
Livable Communities Coalition
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
Norfolk Southern
Regional Business Coalition
Sierra Club
Transit Planning Board
