Cobb launches transit tax website for November referendum

Cobb County government has begun its rollout of an “education” campaign for the proposed 30-year, $11 billion transit tax referendum.

What’s being called the Cobb Mobility SPLOST (Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax), or M-SPLOST, is the main ballot issue for local voters in the November general election, and this week the official information website for that referendum was launched.

It contains a project list, maps, financial figures, ballot language and more. Here’s what voters will see on their ballots:

“Shall a special 1 percent sales and use tax be imposed in the special district consisting of Cobb County for a period of time not to exceed thirty years and for the raising of funds for transit and transit supportive projects? These projects will be as defined in O.C.G.A. § 48-8-269.40, and will be inclusive of the approved project list within the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority Regional Transit Plan (ARTP).

“If imposition of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of Cobb County in the principal amount not to exceed $950,000,000 for the above purpose.”

Like the Cobb government and Cobb school SPLOSTs, the M-SPLOST would collect one percent of sales tax revenue on the dollar to fund the creation of more than 100 miles of new bus routes, along with transfer stations.

That includes restoring bus routes through East Cobb that were cut during the recession, as well as construction of a transfer station in the Roswell-Johnson Ferry area.

In June, Cobb commissioners approved putting the transit tax out to referendum on a party-line 3-2 vote, with the majority Democrats voting in favor and Republicans against.

Those supporting the tax say Cobb needs more transit options with a growing population that’s expected to surpass one million by 2025. Opponents say the tax is too long and that ridership figures haven’t demonstrated enough demand for such a system.

A consultant hired to produce the website also is conducting a ridership survey.

Earlier this year, the MDJ reported that ridership across the overall Cobb bus system has plummeted from 3.7 million annual trips in 2014 to just under 1 million trips in 2022, and that the decline began well before COVID-19.

A total of $6 billion from the referendum would be used to build out and expand “high capacity” transit, including the East Cobb route.

But that route—designated as an Arterial Rapid Transit route, or ART—wouldn’t be built during the first decade of the transit tax, according to build-out projection maps on the M-SPLOST website.

Another East Cobb route is a “Rapid Route” that would connect the East Cobb transfer station with the Dunwoody MARTA Station, heading down Johnson Ferry Road.

Here’s a further breakdown of what transit-tax revenues would fund if the referendum passes:

• 73 Miles of Bus Rapid Transit
• 34 Miles of Arterial Rapid Transit
• 325 Miles of Expanded Local, Commuter, and Rapid Transit
• 6 New/Enhanced Transit Facilities
• 100% Countywide Microtransit Coverage
• Increased Paratransit Service
• $1 Billion investment in Transit Supportive Projects
• Transportation Technology
• Direct Connections to 3 MARTA Stations
• Commuter Route Connections to 4 MARTA Stations

The full project list can be found by clicking here.

Earlier this year, the MDJ reported that ridership across the overall Cobb bus system has plummeted from 3.7 million annual trips in 2014 to just under 1 million trips in 2022, and that the decline began well before COVID-19.

The county estimates that average daily ridership on the transit system could surpass 40,000 by 2025, near the end of the sales tax period. Currently, that figure is only around 3,000 riders a day.

The consulting firm Kimley-Horn put together the website and is responsible for flyers, brochures and other forms of communication, as part of a $287,000 contract with the county.

The M-SPLOST website and other materials are supposed to be neutral on the subject of the referendum—not advocating a position on the issue.

But transit tax referendum opponents are skeptical. Language in the “M-SPLOST Funding” section explains what would happen either way:

If the MSPLOST is approved by voters, the MSPLOST will ensure that the cost of Cobb County Transit is shared by all consumers who purchase goods within the county. This shift would distribute the funding responsibility across all residents, businesses, and non-residents (including commuters and tourists). Additionally, increased transit funding provided through dedicated financial streams like the proposed MSPLOST enhances Cobb County’s ability to secure matching funds, making us more competitive for grant awards.

If the MSPLOST is rejected by voters, Cobb County will, for the foreseeable future, continue to operate CobbLinc with local property taxes as the primary revenue source, supplemented by standard federal funds and customer fares.

Cobb transportation staff will hold public meetings regarding the referendum in the fall, but those details have not yet been announced.

Related:

• Waterfront Drive closed temporarily for relocation work
• No parking zone established along portion of Clubland Drive
• Cobb approves $7M Lower Roswell Road project
• Cobb voters to decide transit sales tax in November referendum
• East Piedmont Road lane closures in effect due to sewer repairs
• Cobb adopts new policy for traffic-calming in neighborhoods

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