By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
JAN. 15, 2019 | The March 19, 2019 referendum concerning Gwinnett County becoming a partner the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit System (MARTA) may be the most important election that Gwinnett has ever had.
It will show if Gwinnett County is ready to adapt the modern conveniences of the future, or is stuck in the mud in antiquated transportation systems.
It may be our last chance to providing better options for our citizens regarding transit.
Yes, we are being hyperbolic in the assertion of how important the vote will be. But we think the vote is seriously important to Gwinnett’s future.
Just to make sure you understand, let’s go over the older forms of transportation. First there was walking, something that most of us barely recognize in going any distance any more. Then there were animal conveyances, horses and buggies and wagons. Then came the motorcar, and later the ‘big brothers’, buses and trains. And even for greater distances the airplane.
Rapid transit service has been in Metro Atlanta since 1979. Gwinnett turned up its nose to join the system when it was first proposed in 1971. Given another opportunity in 1990, Gwinnett again rejected the heavy rail system.
The thinking in saying ‘No” to MARTA in two previous votes was that Gwinnett would contribute its penny in sales tax, but would get little out of it.
In the 28 years since Gwinnett has last voted on MARTA, there has been a tremendous change in the make-up of the county. In 1991, there were 362,800 people living in Gwinnett. The estimated populated in 2018 in Gwinnett is 950,807—a difference of 588,007 people—a 140 percent growth! And we’ll venture that many of those 588,007 new residents of Gwinnett have come from areas where there is viable public transit. These people wonder: “Why isn’t there better public transportation in Gwinnett?’
Our guess is that these newcomers will go to the polls and vote “Yes!” on Gwinnett joining the MARTA team and work for rapid transit in our county.
There’s a new element in the 2019 vote on public transit: how the Gwinnett penny going to MARTA is to be spent.
County Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash points out that the contract that both Gwinnett County and the MARTA Board have approved has a critical difference between this vote and any earlier votes in Gwinnett regarding participating in the MARTA system. She says: “Our contract is so different that we term our relationship with MARTA as ‘structured membership’ to distinguish it from what our relationship would have been under earlier votes.
“We worked very closely with the authors of HB 930 and state legislative leadership in crafting the language and ensuring it was part of the adopted legislation. Gwinnett’s pivotal role in the future of regional transit for the Atlanta area served as an impetus to include this language.”
The “Gwinnett language” grants authority to Gwinnett County over funds, expenditures, debt and projects, as well as standards of service. It envisions that Gwinnett County will be a full partner with MARTA in planning and implementing transit improvements.
Nash notes: “It will have the final say on delivery of transit to Gwinnett. It also provides three seats on the MARTA Board to Gwinnett.”
The wording on the ballot, specified by state legislation, will read:
Gwinnett County has executed a contract for the provision of transit services, dated as of August 2, 2018.
Shall this contract be approved?
YES __________ NO ____
There you have it. It’s an important vote. Your job is to tell others in Gwinnett how important this vote is, and work for its passage.
- The entire 11-page contract with MARTA and Gwinnett can be accessed here.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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