Atlanta Election 2016: Voters Back MARTA, TSPLOST Questions

ATLANTA, GA -- Voters in the city of Atlanta appear to support to referendums designed to improve the transportation network throughout the municipality.

As of 12:23 a.m. Nov. 9 and with 99 percent of precincts reporting, voters approved a proposed special purpose local option sales tax for transportation with 115,467 votes, compared to 54,430 of citizens voting against the proposal.

These voters also approved a question calling for investments to allow MARTA to improve and expand its network. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, 123,051 voters approved the referendum while 48,959 rejected the proposal.

The TSPLOST would be an additional four-tenths of a penny and fund about $300 million worth of projects over a five-year period.

The half-penny sales tax for MARTA expansion and enhancement is expected to generate roughly $2.5 billion over the next 40 years. This, the city stipulates, will allow MARTA to make "major investments in transit infrastructure, including introducing high-capacity rail improvements, building new infill rail stations within the city, purchasing new buses, adding more frequent service, and introducing new bus routes."

• Read more about both initiatives here.

Mayor Kasim Reed applauded the decision made by voters during the Nov. 8 general election.

"Tonight, voters approved two historic proposals to authorize the city of Atlanta and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) to modernize, expand and enhance our city’s transportation system," he said.

Atlanta is poised to complete miles of its Complete Streets projects, a move that will design these streets so they work for everyone, from pedestrians, bikers and motorists, the mayor states.

The city will also synchronize traffic signals, invest in sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure and build new bike paths.

Last, but certainly not least, Reed notes the city will also purchase the remaining property needed to build out the Atlanta BeltLine, "putting us in a strong position to compete for federal dollars and accelerate transit construction along the 22-mile pathway."

• See more Fulton County election results here.

Reed noted the city as well as the region will continue to grow and change and with the approval of the two referendums, "voters have put the city of Atlanta in a position to be proactive, flexible and adaptable."

"We’re laying the groundwork now to ensure we can build the city of the future that we all want," he added. "Atlanta is making the right kind of changes and the right progress. Tonight, Atlanta chose to keep our momentum going."

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