Coweta County to hold TSPLOST vote in Nov. 2019 (Atlanta, Newnan: appointed, credit)

[Airforceguy]

I'm surprised that Coweta is pursuing a TSPLOST tax. It will be interesting to see if it passes.

The TSPLOST would likely bring in around $100 million over five years, said Coweta County Administrator Michael Fouts. He based that estimate on the projections for the 2019 SPLOST, which is projected to bring in $140 million. A SPLOST runs for six years, instead of the five years of TSPLOST, and there are some items that are exempt from TSPLOST taxes – most notably, motor fuel.

TSPLOST projects sought for November 2019 vote - The Newnan Times-Herald

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

I'm surprised that Coweta is pursuing a TSPLOST tax. It will be interesting to see if it passes.


TSPLOST projects sought for November 2019 vote - The Newnan Times-Herald

It has no choice. Coweta's "growing up" as it continues to get absorbed by Atlanta.

It's facing similar issues as Forsyth and Henry Counties as far as not being able to expand road infrastructure fast enough for its growth.

Parts of Newnan proper in particular are becoming gridlocked because so many of the roads are still 2 lanes. Just to widen Lower Fayetteville Road to 4 lanes is estimated to cost $60 milllion, and that's not even including the cost to widen Poplar Road or Sharpsburg-McCollum Roads (both served by I-85 interchanges), which now back up because they're both still 2 lanes.

BTW, Newnan and Coweta County's 2020 census population count will be interesting. I think along with Paulding County, it showed the biggest increase in home value appreciation in all of Metro Atlanta since the recession per a recent report, which suggests very strong demand but a severe lack of supply. Yet, housing permit numbers (which is what population estimates are based on) now are just shy of 1,000 homes per year, when they were averaging 2,000+ before the recession. This suggests the census could be underestimating the growth.

http://snip.ly/5hjnq#https://atlanta...-worst-county/

[autolycus25]

Originally Posted by citidata18

It has no choice. Coweta's "growing up" as it continues to get absorbed by Atlanta.

It's facing similar issues as Forsyth and Henry Counties as far as not being able to expand road infrastructure fast enough for its growth.

Parts of Newnan proper in particular are becoming gridlocked because so many of the roads are still 2 lanes. Just to widen Lower Fayetteville Road to 4 lanes is estimated to cost $60 milllion, and that's not even including the cost to widen Poplar Road or Sharpsburg-McCollum Roads (both served by I-85 interchanges), which now back up because they're both still 2 lanes.

BTW, Newnan and Coweta County's 2020 census population count will be interesting. I think along with Paulding County, it showed the biggest increase in home value appreciation in all of Metro Atlanta since the recession per a recent report, which suggests very strong demand but a severe lack of supply. Yet, housing permit numbers (which is what population estimates are based on) now are just shy of 1,000 homes per year, when they were averaging 2,000+ before the recession. This suggests the census could be underestimating the growth.

Atlanta's inventory shortage is worst in this county

I hope they focus as much on building alternative routes as they do on widening existing ones.

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by autolycus25

I hope they focus as much on building alternative routes as they do on widening existing ones.

New roads are being built as well.

The first phase of McIntosh Parkway, which will connect downtown Newnan with the CTCA, opened in August. The second phase is under construction now with an expected open date in 2019 (plans for nearly 300 new units consisting of townhomes have already been submitted to the city).

Also, an extension of Newnan Crossing Bypass opened last year from Turkey Creek Road SR 16, to improve comnectivity with Exit 41 on I-85.

The developers of the massive Orchard Hills Business Park are currently paving the roadway west of I-85 that will connect SR 16 with Turkey Creek Road.

The big new road project one will be around the proposed Lake Amlajack interchange (future Exit 49 on I-85). The developers for both industrial parks north and south of the proposed interchange west of I-85 have agreed to pay for extensions of their access roads that will connect with the new roadway to service the interchange, while the county has already purchased the right a way for the interchange service road that will connect with Highway 29 (west of I-85) and terminate at Hollz Parkway and Highway 34 east of I-85.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by citidata18

It has no choice. Coweta's "growing up" as it continues to get absorbed by Atlanta.

It's facing similar issues as Forsyth and Henry Counties as far as not being able to expand road infrastructure fast enough for its growth.

Parts of Newnan proper in particular are becoming gridlocked because so many of the roads are still 2 lanes. Just to widen Lower Fayetteville Road to 4 lanes is estimated to cost $60 milllion, and that's not even including the cost to widen Poplar Road or Sharpsburg-McCollum Roads (both served by I-85 interchanges), which now back up because they're both still 2 lanes

Atlanta's inventory shortage is worst in this county

Never really thought about it until reading your post, but Sharpsburg-McCollum Road is a STATE HIGHWAY and should have been widened the short 2.5 miles from 85 to Thomas Crossroads 20 years ago when that part of the county first started to boom ... and probably all the way south to at least Lower Fayetteville Road by now. I know lots of folks go that way between PTC and Newnan to avoid GA 34 / Bullsboro ... but it's such a pretty area. I hate to see it ruined by a 4-lane highway.

[citidata18]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Never really thought about it until reading your post, but Sharpsburg-McCollum Road is a STATE HIGHWAY and should have been widened the short 2.5 miles from 85 to Thomas Crossroads 20 years ago when that part of the county first started to boom ... and probably all the way south to at least Lower Fayetteville Road by now. I know lots of folks go that way between PTC and Newnan to avoid GA 34 / Bullsboro ... but it's such a pretty area. I hate to see it ruined by a 4-lane highway.

I think part of the issue is state highways still require *SOME* contribution from local municipalities.

Coweta County is very fiscally conservative (to a fault). They're extremely skittish about paying for stuff using bonds / credit and instead try to fund every project dollar for dollar with tax revenue. I think despite a $74 million budget, it only has like $500K in debt owed.

It's nice in that they're responsible with taxpayer dollars, but bad in that much needed infrastructure improvements keeps getting put off (while not getting any cheaper).

This is happening currently with a new Middle School that planned, now being delayed again indefinitely (despite "chronic overcrowding" aa describesby the Superintendent) because the latest cost estimates are "over-budget."

The other part is that while Coweta's growing fast, it's not growing as fast as Forsyth and Henry Counties (plus, it's smaller). So the projects here fall lower on the priority list when it comes to state funds being allocated.

On a somewhat related subject, leaders in Fayette County were very disappointed when it was announced that GDOT was going to table the much-needed overhaul to Exit 61 (Fairburn) on I-85 for several more years, as it was expected to get funding for construction in 2019.