Proposed transportation improvements will have a big place on the Nov. 8 general election ballots of residents in Atlanta and Fulton County.
In two ballot questions, Atlantans will be asked to approve separate sales tax increases for MARTA and other transportation improvements. Fulton County residents will have one proposed tax increase to fund transportation on the ballot.
Approval of any of the taxes is expected to raise hundreds of millions for everything from an expansion of MARTA to funding for Atlanta’s Beltline to new road construction across the county.
Here’s how the measures break down:
• MARTA – Atlanta residents will be asked to approve a half-penny increase in the city's sales tax to support an expansion of MARTA. The proposal includes heavy and light rail, additional subway cars and more buses to reduce wait times during peak hours. MARTA estimates approval would raise $2.5 billion over 40 years.
Ballot language: Shall an additional sales tax of one-half percent be collected in the City of Atlanta for the purpose of significantly expanding and enhancing MARTA transit service in Atlanta?
• Atlanta TSPLOST – Atlanta residents will decide whether to approve a four-tenths of a penny sales tax increase for projects such as Beltline expansion, synchronizing streetlights, sidewalk construction and road improvements. The tax will be collected for five years and is expected to raise $280 million to $320 million.
Ballot language: Shall an additional 0.4 percent sales tax be collected in the City of Atlanta for 5 years for the purpose of transportation improvements and congestion reduction?
• Fulton TSPLOST – Fulton County residents – except those in the city of Atlanta – will consider a sales tax increase of three-quarters of a penny to pay for road and bridge improvements, traffic mitigation and traffic signal optimization. The measure would raise up to $655 million over five years.
Ballot language: Shall an additional .75 percent sales tax be collected in that part of Fulton County, Georgia, outside of the City of Atlanta, for five years for the purpose of transportation improvements and congestion reduction?
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