(Updated) Mayor Reed: “Ten to 20 Years of Prosperity” if Transit Tax Passed

Improving the I-285 interchange at Cascade Road is just one of the transportation projects that may never become a reality, unless area residents and their metro counterparts approve a regional, one-cent-sales-tax referendum next year.

“What we’re doing is complex and hard, and it’s something that’s never been done in the history of Georgia,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who attended a regional transit meeting of local mayors and legislators Wednesday night.

“But we’re not spending our energy and time on issues that are small," Reed added. "If we succeed on these issues surrounding transportation, we’re going to have a 10- to 20-year period of prosperity that is unmatched in Georgia’s past.”

The meeting, held in the old Atlanta City Hall council chambers, was organized by metro Atlanta leaders to build support for the special local option sales tax (SPLOST). Several metro counties and municipalities have submitted multi-million-dollar “wish lists” of projects for their area, which could be funded if voters approve the tax next year.

A final list of projects will be released in August.

Here are the Cascade-area projects requested by Fulton County and the city of Atlanta:

• Intersection improvements at Campbellton and Boat Rock/New Hope roads;
• Improving the I-285/Cascade Road intersection.
• Widening Campbellton Road from two to five lanes, with bicycle and pedestrian facilities between Venetian Drive and Timothy Drive, to improve access to Fort McPherson.