$280 Million Worth of Transportation Improvements on Atlanta's November Ballot

ATLANTA, GA — Voters in Atlanta will have the chance to approve millions of dollars in transportation improvements on the November ballot.

Mayor Kasim Reed announced on Monday the city council approved a measure to put a special local option sales tax (TSPLOST) referendum on the November ballot for transportation projects throughout the city.

The referendum will ask voters to authorize a 0.4 percent sales tax increase for a five-year period, which is projected to generate $260 million.

Here are some of the projects that would be funded:

• $66 million for the Atlanta BeltLine, which will allow the BeltLine to purchase all the remaining right of way to close the 22-mile loop;
• $75 million for 15 complete streets projects;
• $3 million for Phase 2 of the Atlanta Bike Share program;
• $69 million for pedestrian improvements in sidewalks; and
• $40 million for traffic signal optimization.

“Infrastructure investments are vital to Atlanta’s quality of life and continued economic competitiveness,” said Mayor Reed. “Between the $250 million being spent through the Renew Atlanta bond program and these TSPLOST funds, Atlanta will reap the benefits of more than a half billion dollars invested in new and improved roads, sidewalks, neighborhood greenways, parks and congestion reduction efforts. Combined with a $3 billion expansion of our public transit system through MARTA, Atlanta residents will see unprecedented new investments in strengthening our transportation networks.”

The referendum will appear on the Nov. 8 presidential election ballot. If approved, the tax will take effect on April 1, 2017.