By Deborah Tuff
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved calling for a referendum on transit at its recent meeting. The transit referendum is to be placed on the 2024 November ballot, if it is approved as expected by the Atlanta Regional Commission, and officially voted on again by the Commission.
It’s the necessary step that sets the stage for us to place the power in the hands of our residents to determine the future of transit in Gwinnett. Over 18 months, we received input directly from our residents, business leaders and municipalities and the result is a Transit Plan that enhances access to job opportunities and education, improves health and well-being and fosters economic development through enhanced mobility options.”
An integral aspect of the plan proposes a shift in the county’s current mobility funding model to a one percent dedicated sales tax. A Transit SPLOST aims to distribute financial responsibility more equitably among all residents, businesses and visitors, alleviating the burden on Gwinnett’s property owners.
In September, the Board approved its Transit Plan which aims to expand the county’s current transit system, Ride Gwinnett. The new Transit Plan provides 100 percent transit coverage across the county, including two connections from Gwinnett County to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the expansion of its shared-ride service. Additional projects in the plan include county ride, quick ride, rapid ride and new transit transfer facilities that allow for greater connectivity and mobility across the county.
In the next steps, the county will submit the referendum project list, taken from the Atlanta Regional Transit Plan to the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority for approval during the ATL Board Meeting on February 1.
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