Zero dollars for bikes not an option

The Transportation Investment Act of 2010 (TIA) signed by Governor Perdue in June could provide a significant source of new funding for transportation projects throughout the state. Here's how it would work: the state is divided into 12 regions, elected officials come up with a project list to be funded by a one percent sales tax, and Georgia votes on the tax in the 2012 primaries.

Right now through September 2nd, the Atlanta Regional Commission is looking for citizen input on the project selection criteria. This is important, people, so pay attention. Please visit the ARC's comprehensive Transportation Investment Act of 2010 page, check out our proposed changes below, and get ready to send an email or two or fire off a letter!

Click here to view the draft Project Selection Criteria, then check out our list of concerns and recommendations below!

Concerns

• Bicycle and Pedestrian projects are slated to be eligible for 0-5% of the 1% sales tax revenues. I call your attention to the zero part of that range...
• The slant that transit projects "should" serve more than one county would effectively bias the criteria against projects like the BeltLine that exist within one county.
• The largest funding range, 20-50%, is for roadway capital projects, including widenings, interchanges, and interstate improvements.

Recommended modifications - we hope you'll echo some of these concerns and add your own in taking action on this issue before September 2nd - you have one week!

• Zero percent is not an option! Bicycle and Pedestrian projects should be in the 5-15% range. If we let them keep 0-5% on the table, it could mean a project list with zero dollars for bicycle projects. Please act now to prevent that possibility.
• Remove the "more than one county" consideration for transit to allow important single county projects such as the BeltLine.
• Since transit service complements bicycling so well, providing Safe Routes to Transit should be a priority. Make transit the eligible for the largest percentage of funding and add Safe Routes to Transit projects to the list of eligible bike/ped projects (which we're calling "human-powered" - to emphasize the many benefits of being "non-motorized")

The citizens of our state, especially those who live in congested urban and suburban areas, have come to the realization that we can't pave our way out of congestion - it just leads to more driving. We need solid transportation options that allow people to bypass congestion, and that means projects that facilitate safe and convenient transit, bicycling, and walking trips.

To comment on the draft criteria for the Atlanta 10-county Special Tax District, please send an email transportation@atlantaregional.com and copy the ARC Bike/Ped coordinator, Lyuba. Or write to
Transportation Investment Act of 2010 Public Comment
Transportation Planning Division: Judith Dovers
40 Courtland St., NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
[Fax 404-463-3254]