"Atlanta is spending far less money on transportation than several other large, fast-growing metropolitan areas, potentially putting its economy at a major disadvantage, according to the author of a new study.What other alternatives do we have?
The report by the Reason Foundation, a Los Angeles-based free-market think tank, shows the $53 billion in combined federal, state and local funding Atlanta is expected to spend through 2030 pales in comparison with the more than $100 billion budgeted by Seattle, the $88 billion planned by Denver or the $77 billion estimated by Houston.
And too much of that $53 billion -- 40 percent of the total, in fact -- has been allocated to transit, given that a comparatively small percentage of Atlantans use MARTA and the suburban bus systems to commute, said study author and Reason founder Bob Poole. Houston, by contrast, spends a scant 23 percent of its total on transit, though it is just now getting into the arena."
Texas does it with higher gas taxes and more toll roads..
"But Texas has a much higher gas tax than Georgia, which gives it more money to work with, said Tim Lomax of the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University. It has also turned to toll roads -- primarily government-run, though there are some public-private deals on the way -- to raise additional capital and is experimenting with other financing options.
"The toll roads have been wildly successful," Lomax said. "With the tollway authority's extra money, they've made other projects happen a lot faster."
"We don't lack for ideas in Atlanta in terms of solving the problems," Meyer said. "We just don't have the money to do it. This is the way that metro areas are going to be in a position to deal with the problems they are facing."
Until the money is raised, we better start practicing these road rage management tips.
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