Why the TSPLOST is important for Atlanta business (sales tax, buses)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bu2

Beltline light rail will increase congestion on east-west routes because it will run on our already limited city streets.

People in the Houston Medical Center predicted running light rail down Fannin would be a traffic nightmare and it was. However, unlike Atlanta, Houston had a plan and built two bridges to provide new alternative north/south routes, so its tolerable now.

Its already bad getting east/west. If this passes, it will get intolerable. As for north south, it has to go near people who want to ride and take them where they want to go. Virginia Highlands is mostly single family and therefore not very dense. Same is true for much of the beltline. And there are not major employment destinations along the beltline. It is a cute toy train for upper middle class people to ride to the zoo on weekends. And there is not going to be significant development in the next 10-20 years to change that. Atlanta is overbuilt in high rise condos (like anyone in V-H or Grant Park would allow one to be built) and 4 story luxury apartments. The beltline will only get a few projects here and there for a very long time. And it may get those because of the parks, not because of a light rail line.

We need to spend limited transportation funds on projects that move people, not on questionable economic development plans.

It will take cars off the road, therefore reducing congestion. The BeltLine goes nowhere near the Zoo, and there is some dense development along it in Inman Park and Old 4th Ward. It will also connect to the downtown streetcar, allowing people to commute to downtown business district. Let's not forget it will provide much needed transit to neighborhoods on the west and southwest sides.

[K-SawDude]

A complete rundown of the economic benefits (and some concerns) of the TSPLOST can be found in this new article:

Does T-SPLOST pave way to metro Atlanta's economic future? *| ajc.com

A sample:

The study found the region would produce more goods and services if the project list is built. In the first year after the projects are complete, 2025, they would increase the region's productivity by more than $1 billion, according to the study. As years progress, the benefit would get bigger. The region currently produces about $241 billion a year in goods and services.
"Think of a truck sitting idling — if that truck can do a little more a little faster, that really adds up over the region over time," said Mike Alexander, the ARC's research chief.
According to the ARC, the total increase in the region's goods and services resulting from the tax by 2040 would be $34.8 billion. The campaign to pass the tax calls it a 4-to-1 return on investment.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by K-SawDude

A complete rundown of the economic benefits (and some concerns) of the TSPLOST can be found in this new article:

Does T-SPLOST pave way to metro Atlanta's economic future? *| ajc.com

A sample:

The BeltLine has already seen a 3 to 1 investment on just building the parks. The 4 to 1 is a low ball number.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by cqholt

The BeltLine has already seen a 3 to 1 investment on just building the parks. The 4 to 1 is a low ball number.

I'd like to see the fuzzy math that somehow shows a return on investment specifically on the construction of a park.........

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by BobKovacs

I'd like to see the fuzzy math that somehow shows a return on investment specifically on the construction of a park.........

All the high density apartments in the Old 4th Ward, Inman Park, Reynoldstown. People investing in property in Peoplestown and West End. Much of this would not have been possible without the proposed BetlLine projects.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by cqholt

All the high density apartments in the Old 4th Ward, Inman Park, Reynoldstown. People investing in property in Peoplestown and West End. Much of this would not have been possible without the proposed BetlLine projects.

So in other words, it's not tied specifically to the park, but rather on the overall Beltline project- both current and proposed, so the 3-to-1 return comment is based on nothing.

[cqholt]

So in other words, it's not tied specifically to the park, but rather on the overall Beltline project- both current and proposed, so the 3-to-1 return comment is based on nothing.

How is that based on nothing? Vacant land is being turned into a liner park system with future transit. Even is the TIA doesn't pass the BeltLine will have transit! Looks like your master home building skills lost out of this opportunity.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by cqholt

How is that based on nothing? Vacant land is being turned into a liner park system with future transit. Even is the TIA doesn't pass the BeltLine will have transit! Looks like your master home building skills lost out of this opportunity.

What I mean is that the growth along the Beltline can't be attributed directly to the park as you're saying with your "3-to-1 return" comment. There's no way to say that if the park hadn't been built, or if it had been built on a lesser scale, what the impact on the surrounding development would have been, so you can't attribute some arbitrary ROI to the park.

[cqholt]

What I mean is that the growth along the Beltline can't be attributed directly to the park as you're saying with your "3-to-1 return" comment. There's no way to say that if the park hadn't been built, or if it had been built on a lesser scale, what the impact on the surrounding development would have been, so you can't attribute some arbitrary ROI to the park.

Since the Historic Fourth Ward Park opened, home prices in Old 4th Ward have risen and the market is hot. Parks do a lot to encourage growth and development. The whole BeltLine project does even more. I am not saying just parks, those high destiny apartments were also built in anticipation of transit. Some developers are forward thinking, unlike yourself.

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by bu2

Beltline light rail will increase congestion on east-west routes because it will run on our already limited city streets.

What are you talking about? The transit portion of the Beltline will run completely on it's own dedicated ROW separate from street traffic except at a few intersections. It will not run in the street with regular traffic like Houston's light rail. Perhaps you are confusing the new Streetcar routes that are being lumped in with the improvements coming with the TSPLOST.