Douglas Commissioner Explains Need For Bus System In Letter

DOUGLASVILLE, GA – In a letter sent out Friday, Vice Chair of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Kelly Robinson, responded to residents' concerns about a new bus system in the county.

According to the county's website, Douglas County plans to implement fixed route bus service at a time still to be determined. Routes are still under development but will likely serve the Highway 5, Highway 92, Hospital Drive, Chapel Hill Road, Douglas Boulevard and Stewart Parkway corridors of Douglasville and the Thornton Road south of I-20 and Riverside Drive corridors in Lithia Springs.

Robinson's letter began by stating that the county is "stable monetary-wise."

"The county has an $89.4 million balanced budget, a 14 percent general fund reserve, a strong credit rating of AA /Aa2 and a 6 year/$134M SPLOST where over 50 percent is dedicated to transportation and economic development," reads the letter. "The county is stable monetary-wise. The new administration instituted an intensive budget process requiring tighter appropriation justification."

"As chair of the finance committee, the BOC will continue to receive sound recommendations, such as a 2 percent growth cap, that will maintain the county’s strong financial position appropriate for a moderate size county with a population nearing 150,000 – the light of a Wall Street’s positive outlook. There has not been deficit spending since 2013 where the prior administration increased the millage rate by 23 percent in which I voted against – along with Commissioner [Henry] Mitchell. Yesterday’s political convenience is not today’s culture of financial discipline.”

On Jan. 29, activist Julie Camp, a Douglas County resident, was removed from a town hall meeting after she voiced concerns about the new bus system. Camp said a member of the group Citizens Against Public Transit in Douglas County reached out to the Board of Commissioners and Jackson Jones about a meeting between the county and the group regarding the county's bus system proposal. Jones responded and agreed to meet with the group on the date the group specified.

Two Douglas County legislators took time of their legislative session the next day at the State Capitol to address a town meeting that happened Monday night and residents' concerns about a proposed bus transit system. Rep. J. Collins, (R) Villa Rica, District 68, introduces Rep. Micah Gravley, (R) Douglasville, District 67, who shares his feelings and concerns about the proposed bus transit system.

Robinson the cited the "pent up need" for an alternative mode of transportation for some groups in Douglas County.

"Based upon a 2015 Transportation Services Study which identified a pent up demand/ need for alternative mode of transportation for seniors, millennials, disabled, part time workers as well as single/no car citizens," reads the letter. "The county used comparative modeling approach to determine feasibility by analyzing four “go to market” options: do it yourself, third party operator, county to county partnership and public entity (MARTA or GRTA) based upon existing costs of systems in Ga. and surrounding states. The county chose a third party operator option, issued an RFQ and evaluated responses where authorization to recommend the winner to BOC sits in committee pending funding. To finance this operation, the county is in the latter stage of a Federal grant process which is administered by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) with the formal award date tied to the state’s fiscal year. The county applied for the full amount of the one time, $8 million grant but has only been preliminarily qualified for ~$6 million over three years for four routes, with a local match. After this pilot service run, the county will consider other local, state, and federal funding sources based upon actual operating costs. Commissioner Robinson, who also chairs the transportation committee, indicated that the BOC unanimously approved pursuit of this fixed route, 15 passenger shuttle initiative. It is recognized that the existing van pools and express buses did a great job moving people, with cars, into metro Atlanta for work. However, that fell short in meeting a fuller, more inclusive need within our county of moving citizens within our borders who vote, pay taxes and voices matter to good jobs.

"Since the recession, the county experienced zero or flat economic growth, yet last year, the local economy
experienced 5.5 percent in new growth," continues the letter. "An economics professor, Dr. Joey smith, at the University of West Georgia indicated during a Douglas Chamber luncheon that “the west Atlanta counties have been out of the recession for the last two years, foreclosures are down to normal levels … so the local economy is moving – like a healthy turtle.”

Robinson concluded, “Economic Development is a top strategic priority for Douglas County. The expansion plans of our existing multi-modal transportation system includes a fixed route bus service which is core to fulfilling that priority. Earlier this week, the Board Commissioners approved incentive plans for a $100 million investment by T5 and a $2.5 billion investment for Switch, the single largest investment in the state's history, bringing the data center cluster in our county to eight. With the increased presence of existing commercial and industrial businesses in our county, I believe that providing consistent mobility options and greater access to employment is fundamental to being competitive for high wage companies, easing residential tax burden and sustaining future growth.”

Photo courtesy Douglas County