June 2016 
Speak up: Public meetings about proposed T-SPLOST

  1. A 40-year half penny sales tax increase that is likely to provide $2.5 billion in revenue for transit projects. MARTA and the City of Atlanta are putting together a project list.
     
  2. A 5-year half penny T-SPLOST (Transportation-Special Project Local Option Sales Tax) that, if approved, may provide $325 million for other transportation projects. 
For the T-SPLOST, Atlanta offers two options:  
  1. "Close the Loop," which includes purchasing land, designing and building 16 miles of Beltline trails and 17 miles of spur trails, as well as raised crosswalks and flashing beacons at Beltline trail crossings. 
     
  2. A detailed project list that includes Complete Street projects and sidewalks, but with over $51 million allocated to road widenings andMap of Beltline and Spur Trails intersection expansions.
PEDS encourages the City to use the SPLOST revenue to Close the Loop. The impact of the Beltline is huge -- and completing the trails within five years is something everyone can get behind.

The detailed project list provided as an alternative contains many good projects. But because the Public Works Department is already responsible for implementing the Renew Atlanta bond program, it may lack the capacity to successfully implement an additional $325 million of infrastructure projects.

We also encourage the City to allocate $2.5 million to installing safe crossing treatments at crossings on spur trails and at transit stops. Investing in safe crossing treatments will support both the proposed MARTA projects and the Beltline.  

Learn more, ask questions and speak up at a public meeting this week.
Weds, June 1: 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Rosel Fann Recreation Center

Thurs, June 2: 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Helene Mills Senior Center

The timeline for making decisions is tight, with final resolutions by the City Council on June 20. The time to make your voice heard is now.  
Georgia Walks Summit:  Registration closes June 13
If you're a transportation or public health professional, community advocate or elected official, the Georgia Walks Summit is something you won't want to miss.  The June  16 -17 summit will be at  Middle Georgia State University  in Macon.
 

Program preview link

Thursday, June 16, 4 - 7 PM
Downtown Revitalization Walk, led by   Historic Macon Foundation and  NewTown Macon
Walking audit of downtown Macon, led by  Mark Fenton
 
Presentation by Gil Penalosa, Founder and Chairman of the Board of  8-80 Cities,
followed by a converation with Mark Fenton

Friday, June 17, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Keynote speaker: Mark Fenton
Plenary and breakout sessions on healthy communities, Vision Zero,
Complete Streets,  Pedestrian Road Safety Audits, Safe Routes to School,
trails, sidewalk maintenance,  public engagement and transportation funding

Transportation engineers will be eligible for PDH credits
Georgia Planning Association AICP members will be eligible for CM credits (pending approval)

Link to registration page
 
 
 
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