Atlanta Suburbs Reconsidering Public Transit

State legislation approved in March will give voters in Cobb, Gwinnett and north Fulton counties Georgia another chance to approve new revenue sources for MARTA, the Atlanta region's transit agency.

According to an article by David Wickert, residents of these counties have had chances to approve taxes to support regional transit before, but an influx of residents into suburban counties has shifted the sentiment about public transit. Companies located in the area have also been successful in convincing local leaders that efficient traffic is essential for economic development.

Now that this state law has passed the Georgia State Legislature, 13 metro counties will be able to choose whether to impose sales taxes of up to 1 percent for mass transit. "Gwinnett County would be able to hold a MARTA vote this year. Cobb County could create a special transit district and have a MARTA expansion referendum by next year. Fulton County outside Atlanta also could be headed for a vote by 2019," writes Wickert.