By Elliott Brack | The results of a poll concerning public transportation in Gwinnett, and showing support for MARTA in particular, by the Chamber of Commerce last week, should come as no surprise, though the poll was unexpected. We commend the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce for undertaking the project.
There are several reasons the results should not have been surprising.
- More and more Gwinnettians are frustrated by traffic problems, and are wanting to get something done about it.
- These same people are beginning to say that they would rather pay more, in about any fashion, to get congestion solved. Source: the growing number of people in Gwinnett using the Express Lanes.
- The fact that Gwinnett continues to be a mostly-Republican county. These voters often favor sales taxes to pay for progress. Adding another penny for MARTA would not displease them.
- Democrats, meanwhile, tend to favor public transit on its merits, and merely want an equitable way to pay for it.
- Gwinnett in 1990 had 352,910 residents. In 2014, the estimated population was 877,922, a growth since 1990 of 525,012 people. Many people moving into Gwinnett have positive experience with public transit, and wonder why Gwinnett doesn’t have it.
- Gwinnett is becoming a younger county, and these younger adults want to move around more easily than today’s clogged roads allow.
In case you missed seeing the results of the Chamber survey, here we feel are the major points.
- Three in five (63 percent) likely voters support expanding MARTA into Gwinnett County.
- There is a majority support for expanding MARTA into Gwinnett County among all gender age groups, and a stronger support among voters 18-54.
- A majority of likely voters in Gwinnett County support a one percent sales tax to fund the expansion of MARTA into Gwinnett County.
Last week about the only negative concern came from County Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash, who seemed downright strong in not wanting to see a MARTA vote soon. This is disturbing, in that in general, her administration has been an exemplary one. She has steered the county back from its recent unpleasant past, put county government on a solid footing, and given the residents a new confidence that government is efficient and its commissioners are working smoothly with the county and with area officials.
We anticipate that on further review, the county commission will recognizethat the county has come a long way since 25 years ago. It has a limited transit system, but obviously needs a more up-to-date and better transit solution for the future. Now that Clayton County has voted to join MARTA, an effort by Gwinnett to test the voters on their feeling would seem to be in order.
Granted, MARTA may not be the best answer to Metro Atlanta’s transportation solution. But until something changes, it’s the most immediate route to take now. While we may see efforts by the State of Georgia to become a larger player in transit for the Metro Atlanta, until that time comes, MARTA is the majorpresent player for us.
What we don’t need is for the county to undertake another study, with its long research and assessment period. That would only delay matters. Moving to testthe sentiment of the people of Gwinnett on public transit, say at the 2016 General Election (a presidential year, when most vote) will produce a faster solution. Until then, let the ideas and alternative suggestions flow!
Again, a tip of the hat to the Gwinnett Chamber for bringing this subject to the fore after 25 years.
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