Why We Can't Afford Inaction Anymore

Spaghetti Junction in Gwinnett County- this year's legislative focus: transportation and infrastructure

This month the General Assembly opened up its 2015 legislative session. Top issues this session range from continued prison reform led by Governor Deal to controversial educational reform about state-control over failing school systems. But, the issue that will take up the majority of the attention this session is over transportation funding. Last year, a legislative task force on transportation funding released their recommendations that told us something we already knew: Georgia needs to reinvest itself in its transportation system and quickly.

Their study found that we need to raise $1-1.5 billion in revenue for infrastructure improvements and repairs. With the facts now laid out on the table, its time for our representatives to act on this issue because if we don't, not only will we not have alternative transportation options, but we won't even have adequate roads for our car-centric region. We might be the number one state to do business in currently, but in the near future, we won't be if we are stuck in traffic on failing roads and bridges that are falling apart beneath our tires. To me, the regular citizen, the answer seems obvious: raise taxes for transportation so we can move on to life's more pressing issues.

Governor Deal hopes for action on transportation funding this year in the Georgia Assembly

Unfortunately though, there is a current faction within the Republican party known as the Tea Party whose mission seems to be never raising taxes EVER. This is unfortunate since we still need $1-1.5 billions worth of transportation improvements and repairs for our roads and transportation systems, and we have no other source of funding for this except through raising taxes. Governor Deal, Casey Cagle, David Ralston, and many other republicans understand and agree that something has to be done, and currently, they believe the best way to raise these funds is through a gas tax. But with about half  of the Republican party out the picture in supporting this tax, Republican State Senate and House leaders will have to reach out to the other side of the aisle to pass this bill. Democrats in Georgia generally support investments in infrastructure, but they will probably only support this tax if some small portion of it goes toward an alternative transportation fund. This means there will be a lot of debating, bickering, and hopefully compromise in the 2015 legislative session.

But all of this is expected in a Red State such as Georgia. What is unexpected and gives this tax an actual chance (unlike T-SPLOST 2012) is that the economy in Metro Atlanta and Georgia is booming like it was before the Great Recession, gas prices are lower than they have been in years due to the introduction of more American-produced oil in our market, and MARTA's new leadership and improvements are improving the region's image of public and alternative transit in Atlanta. Firstly, a strong economy provides consumers' confidence at home meaning that traditionally conservative households this year will be more open to allowing their representatives to vote yes to an indirect tax increase. Furthermore, with gas prices being so low, people will be more open  to the idea of a gas tax since they can actually afford paying a gas tax currently. Also, MARTA had a stellar year last year, and as a result, government officials have more confidence and trust in the agency and its ability to function as a viable alternative to driving within the region. So the strong economy, low gas prices, and high opinion of MARTA can provide the recipe for success for a gas tax to raise transportation funding, but what cannot happen is doing nothing like in times past.

If we do not act on transportation funding during this legislative session, our governmental officials are putting our region's future at the risk. If they care about not only our reputation as an international city to do business and work, but also, the sustainability and livability of the residents living in Metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia, they will find a way to pass this gas tax. We cannot allow inaction anymore because it is not a solution when we have over $1 billions worth of infrastructure repair and improvements needed. The federal government will not come to our rescue, private investment will not come to our rescue, only the representatives in the Georgia Assembly this legislative session can provide for this region and state's future. So it is time to act up and make some actual progress this year.

"We can debate how much it costs to do something, but let us not forget how much it will cost to do nothing." -Governor Deal at the start of the legislative session this year