The Fayette Chamber is committed to having a fact-based dialogue on the transportation issue. We have listened to our members express their concerns and have sorted through a massive amount of material to present a big-picture concept in bite-sized pieces.
2003 Plan The original Transportation Plan was drafted with the assistance of a professional planning and engineering firm (URS Corporation) and with input and participation from numerous County departments, each municipality, several regional and state agencies, and concerned citizens. It identified actions to be taken over a 20 year period to provide a transportation system capable of maintaining Fayette’s quality of life. Identified projects were designed to improve safety, reduce congestion, increase mobility options, and enhance the county’s business and community environments.
Funding the 2003 Plan In November 2004, Fayette citizens approved a SPLOST that imposed a one percent sales and use tax on all transactions made within the county. The majority of the SPLOST revenue is being used to implement the recommendations of the 2003 Transportation Plan. The other 30 percent was distributed among the cities and unincorporated county based on population. The SPLOST ended in March, 2010; the projects will be completed by 2015 to the extent the remaining funds allow.
Why the 2010 Plan Update? Many of the recommendations in the 2003 plan have been implemented or are underway; therefore, a new plan was needed to establish new short-term priorities and reconsider projects for mid and long-term planning. The updated plan also took land use and other community planning concerns, integrated the overall transportation goals of the unincorporated county and its municipalities, and allowed Fayette to continue qualifying for federal and state assistance in project funding.
Transportation Investment Act (TIA) Signed into law June 2010, the TIA puts the future of Georgia’s transportation in the voters’ hands. In July 2012, citizens will vote on a one percent sales tax (TSPLOST) to fund regional transportation projects. The legislation required that each region have a roundtable of elected officials from each county develop a project list that will be available to voters before they go to the polls. The final list of projects was approved in October and can be reviewed at www.atlantaregionalroundtable.com .
Regional Perspective Why should we be concerned about the overall health of the Atlanta region? The fact is that an astoundingly high 73% of our employed residents work outside the county, and 67% of Fayette businesses’ employees come from outside the county. If we fail to address transportation issues that affect our commuters and our employers, we risk destroying the very quality of life we are trying to preserve. If we lose easy access to Atlanta, the airport and the job centers outside of Fayette, our jobs, tax base, and ability to attract and retain residents are at serious risk.
What are the implications for the health of our community if we do nothing to address our transportation issues? Fayette County businesses share concerns that if we don’t seriously address the threat that an insufficient transportation network poses, they will not be able to get their goods and their people in and out in a safe and timely way as our region continues to grow. And from an economic development standpoint, companies considering locating in Fayette County look at transportation infrastructure and accessibility as well as quality of life and educational opportunities as key priorities in their decision of where to locate.
One of the projects that would be funded by the TSPLOST is the GA74/I-85 interchange. This is one of the key areas of concern for our commuters and for transporting goods. And, although it affects us greatly, it is outside our county’s control and must be addressed from a regional impact perspective.
We have significant dependence on, and therefore an important stake in, the Metro Atlanta region; therefore, Fayette must be part of the regional dialogue to find solutions which meet our unique needs as well as those of other communities across the region.
Fayette’s Transportation Budget Currently, Fayette County has a $4.2 million annual transportation budget with approximately $2.4 million being allocated for operations. That means money for any improvements is extremely limited. And because of the economic woes on state and national levels, state and federal funding is also very limited. If we are to fund the priorities agreed upon in Fayette’s 2010 Transportation Plan, additional funding is going to be required.
What Can We Expect if the TSPLOST Passes? Of the approximately $190 million of Fayette tax dollars raised through the TSPLOST, roughly $187 million would come directly back into Fayette County to fund the list of local projects that was submitted and agreed upon by our local elected officials. Beyond that, an additional $22.5 million will be invested to make the improvements to the GA 74/I-85 interchange just beyond our borders. In essence, a major portion of our 20 year priority list from our local transportation plan will be accomplished in 5 to 10 years if the SPLOST passes.
Will Any of the TSPLOST Money Go To Fund Mass Transit in Fayette? No, there are no mass transit projects on the TSPLOST list for Fayette County.
Fayette MUST be part of the dialogue regarding regional issues in Metro Atlanta. Our jobs and our employees depend on it. When Metro Atlanta becomes gridlocked, it puts the employers located across the region and the employees who travel from Fayette to Atlanta at risk. Preservation of our safe, healthy community is what it’s all about. Fayette County is well respected for good planning, and the quality of life we enjoy here is evidence of that. Our job now is to find constructive ways to implement Fayette’s 2010 transportation plan and get us moving again in a positive way.
HWY 74/I-85 Interchange Improvements: Your Chance to Comment
