Best of MARTA

Atlanta’s biggest obstacle is arguably the state of Georgia. If the city wants to try something progressive — say, levying a SALES TAX TO PAY FOR TRANSIT EXPANSION — oftentimes it must first ask permission from the GOP-controlled Gold Dome. It appeared this year that Fulton and DeKalb counties, plus the city, would get a chance to ask voters to tax themselves to build more transit options. North Fulton mayors started bellyaching about needing more cash for roads than rail and the measure died. Thanks to House Majority Leader Jan Jones, a Milton Republican (!), a compromise was brokered allowing Atlanta to seek a half-percent sales tax to fund at least $2.5 billion for new rail and buses inside the city — and just the city. Sure, there still isn’t any meaningful statewide transit funding. And asking residents to carry the burden — like we’ve done for the sewer system overhaul, which the state was also expected to assist — can be a bittersweet gift. But we can’t get out of our car-oriented hellscape without the Gold Dome. less...