In case you haven't been paying attention, voters in 10 counties in the metropolitan Atlanta region will vote tomorrow on a transportation sales tax referendum - referred to as T-SPLOST - that would raise $6.14 billion over a decade for regional transportation projects and another $1 billion for smaller, local projects.
With advocates calling the referendum "an Olympic moment" for the region and opponents calling it "a potential mistake of historic proportions," Hart calls the vote "Atlanta's next historic move" and argues that "[n]ot many decisions in Atlanta's past carry more weight."
With recent polls suggesting the referendum will fail, Hart takes a look at some other notably divisive initiatives that have changed the trajectory of the city.
Comments
All eyes on Atlanta....and 11 other regions in GA
Thanks for posting "one day prior to the vote" - clearly all the transportation community is looking at this vote(s) as a sign as to how willing regions - or states - are willing to tax themselves to raise needed transportation infrastructure funds.
That said, I think the media coverage on tomorrow's vote on the transportation tax has been slanted too much toward the Atlanta Region.
As The Hill reported on July 16, more than just Atlanta region is voting:
"If the proposal is approved by all 12 regions of Georgia that are scheduled to hold votes on it, supporters have said it will generate $18 billion for road and transit projects in the state. A list of projects the money would be used for was approved by local officials after months of contentious debate...."
Irvin Dawid, Palo Alto, CA