HOT Lanes, Hot Under the Collar and Not Too Hot Economic Times

It has been two weeks and it doesn’t look as if the toll lanes are gaining in popularity despite Gov. Nathan Deal’s attempt to make the trip cost more palatable. Did Gov. Deal’s response to the public outcry indicate officials really are listening to the public regarding this issue? I do not know, but some people are not taking any chances. Be sure to read “” for more on one man’s effort to stop the HOT lanes cold.

Not only are some people upset about the impact the toll lanes have had on the non-Lexus lanes, some people are also questioning the entire rationale behind the HOT lanes. Were they really built for traffic management or were they created as a way to generate additional revenue? So far, more than 95 percent of poll respondents say the lanes were built for revenue generation only. What do you think? Take our poll or comment below and let us know.

Speaking of issues that have people hot under the collar, the TSPLOST is once again making headlines. This week, the Atlanta Regional Roundtable finalized the project list that will go before the voters during the July 2012 referendum. Given the sour taste the HOT lanes have left in many voters’ mouths, TSPLOST may be a very tough sell to a very skeptical electorate. Are you willing to pay an additional 1 percent tax on purchases for the next 10 years to finance the transportation projects on the list?

Another tough sell could be the E-SPLOST or educational special purpose local option sales tax. This 1 percent tax is a continuation of the existing SPLOST. Typically, E-SPLOST referendums pass easily. This year, the E-SPLOST is the only measure on the Gwinnett County ballot, which likely means only the people who are really passionate about the issue will turn out to vote. What we do not yet know is if the anti-tax crowd is as passionate as the pro-school crowd. The comments on the above mentioned article were fairly evenly split. Do you plan on voting Nov. 8? Will you vote for or against the E-SPLOST?

If you have driven around the Dacula and Hamilton Mill areas lately, you know how much empty retail space there is. Several businesses have gone under in recent weeks and no doubt many more are struggling to remain open. Please try to support our local shops and restaurants as much as possible. A healthy local economy is good for everyone, not just those running businesses.

Be sure to check in during the week for the latest news and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates throughout the day. Have a great week and thanks for reading Dacula Patch.