Now it’s up to voters to decide in a referendum next July whether to increase sales taxes by 1 percent (a so-called Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or T-SPLOST) to fund the projects. Supporters warn that failing to pass the T-SPLOST will have dire consequences for the Atlanta region in the long run.
In the AJC, the government affairs director for the Atlanta Board of Realtors, Robert Broome, put it this way: “If we fail to take advantage of this opportunity to make important investments in relieving traffic congestion, we will condemn following generations to suffer for our mistakes. The catastrophic consequences of the failure to authorize this are too horrific to contemplate.”
Many others, however, are skeptical that the money will be spent wisely. Or they feel that the areas where they live were short-changed in the final project list. In other words, “What’s in it for me?” they wonder.
Johns Creek Mayor Mike Bodker seems to believe that North Fulton fared pretty well, as there are a number of significant projects that deal with some long-standing traffic and congestion issues in our area. “I feel like we got our fair share,” said Bodker in an interview with this paper recently. “I believe it’s very important to North Fulton that we get this referendum passed.”
Steve Beecham, the owner of Home Town Mortgage in Alpharetta, says he’s not in favor of the T-SPLOST. “I think counties and cities should take care of their local traffic issues themselves. Also, given the current state of the economy, we have to be very careful about adding another tax right now.”
Personally, I don't like any new taxes, but I do see the benefits of these projects. Obviously, transportation has a tremendous impact on real estate values, so from that standpoint, these projects should increase real estate values.
But I believe there is a bigger issue here: the overall philosophy when it comes to density and mixed-use projects and how they relate to transportation problems. We have to start building more mixed-use projects where people can walk to work, local shops and their homes without using the transportation grid.
We can't just keep adding lanes to roads indefinitely and expect this to fix our transportation problems. Unfortunately, most of America has been developed with little regard to access between land uses. Uses are segregated from each other, no matter how close in proximity, and require the public to use cars. Furthermore, the public talks a good game against sprawl, but usually opposes mixed-use development because it means higher density residential. Thus, creating the sprawl and traffic congestion that they so vehemently oppose.
We have to change our mindset before we can truly “fix” our transportation problems. But it seems in the short run, more transportation improvements will be the remedy of the day.
Brian Patton, CCIM is a commercial real estate broker, author, and a former city planner. He can be reached via his website: www.CommercialPropertyGuy.com