Public transit gets boost as T-SPLOST, MARTA referendums pass

November 9,2016

Source: WGCL-TV Atlanta

ATLANTA (CBS46) -

Proponents of public transportation in the city of Atlanta are buzzing after voters overwhelmingly approved raising the sales tax to expand MARTA and the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

The approval of the referendums means that a city tired of traffic problems will add more public transportation and other streetscape improvements.

Residents supported the half-cent sales tax for MARTA transportation projects.

Officials at MARTA say the hike would generate anywhere from $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion over a 40 year period and will help to fund additional bus routes, expansion of existing transit systems and improvements to MARTA stations across the city. The money generated does not include any federal matching dollars.

Residents also approved the T-SPLOST referendum.

The Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax adds four cents to every $10 spent in the city of Atlanta and is expected to generate anywhere from $250 million to $300 million over the next 5 years.

Read more: http://www.cbs46.com/story/33654832/t-splost-a-look-at-the-numbers#ixzz4PXtfUWKf