Poll Shows Support for Transportation Tax

Though the vote is still several months away, the push is on to determine what level of support exists for a proposed 1 percent sales tax to fund transportation projects.

The tax -- commonly referred to as the TSPLOST or transportation special purpose local option sales tax -- would add an extra penny to every dollar purchase for the next 10 years. The proceeds would be used to fund a specified list of transportation projects.

A poll commissioned by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Channel 2 Action News shows that 51 percent of those surveyed currently favor the tax increase.

In August, the executive committee of the Atlanta Regional Transportation Roundtable voted unanimously to approve a to be funded by the TSPLOST. Roughly .

The draft list also contained several Dacula area projects including a bridge upgrade at Dacula Road and Highway 29 and well as the .

The bridge project is a scaled down version of the . However, the $10 million bridge upgrade is a much-needed improvement.

also made the draft list. A $33 million interchange at I-85 and Highway 324 made the list, as did a $50 million allocation for Gwinnett’s Express bus service. The draft list also included a $23 million grade separation project at Highway 316 and Harbins Road and a $51 million grade separation at Highway 316 and Highway 29.

According to the AJC poll, support for the tax is strongest in Clayton, DeKalb and Fulton counties. In Cobb and Gwinnett, support averaged around 48 percent.

Several public input meetings are being held throughout the metro area as officials attempt to build support for the TSPLOST. The meetings are the public’s last chance to have a say in what projects are included on the final project list. The , 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.

The draft list currently under consideration must be approved by the full Roundtable by Oct. 15 before the list is submitted to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

At that point, efforts will begin in earnest to convince a tax-weary public that the TSPLOST holds the answer for the region’s transportation woes. The regarding the potential benefits of the TSPLOST.

The .