One key problem for our future is the $3.2 billion in mass transit projects in the Transportation Investment Act, or TIA. As our metro population has grown during the past 20 years, transit ridership has declined. More commuters telecommute than ride transit.

It’s illogical to conclude that taking an enormously subsidized transit system – also approaching $3 billion in red ink for operations and maintenance, and which 95 percent of commuters don’t use – and making it bigger will solve anything.

I have to agree with state Rep. Ed Setzler, R-Acworth, who says the TIA will do very little to relieve traffic congestion. The TIA turned into a special-interest wish list. This poorly constructed plan, with no financial accountability, represents an immense risk to the future economy of metro Atlanta. Every dollar spent bailing out a mode of transportation that commuters choose not to use is a dollar that could have promoted private enterprise and generated tax revenue for viable solutions.

The TIA will impede economic growth. First, half the funding will go to a mode of transportation that will not relieve traffic congestion. Our traffic is a significant impediment to our economy and the only reason the TIA was created.

Secondly, in order to pay the exorbitant costs of the future operations and maintenance of expanded mass transit, there will have to be a permanent regional sales tax. Such a permanent tax, providing little in economic production, will bleed our region of billions of dollars of funding that would otherwise fund the purchase of goods and services in the private sector, which is what creates sustainable jobs.

I even had someone on the very liberal end of the political spectrum call me today after reading my op-ed in the AJC. He expressed serious doubt about trying to shoehorn the non-urban counties into the MARTA box. The list is extremely flawed.

The legislature has been going back and forth for years on how to implement a regional or state-wide sales tax to generate much needed revenue for transportation projects and here we are on the cusp of a referendum and we still can't decide whether it is the right thing to do or even if it's legal. I suggest that we quit trying to re-invent the wheel and utilize the existing method, a gas tax but with an increase, to generate the funds. Some of the reasons for this include: 1) A gas tax is a user fee. If you use the roads, you pay for gas and the tax goes directly toward maintenance, repair and additional capacity of roads and bridges. 2) The gas tax is constitutionally restricted from going toward transit. 3) There is already a structure in place to administer the gas tax without the additional layer of bureaucracy created by the SPLOST. That structure is GDOT which has a board member from each of the 13 congressional districts who are selected by the legislators that we elect. The tough part is that the Tea Party is against or is at least viewed to be against any kind of tax increase, even one for a necessary purpose and the legislature is scared of the Tea Party. So, I further suggest that the Tea Party leadership meet with the legislative leadership and agree to give them political cover to generate funds the right way. And if someone argues that the gas tax is ineffective because cars get better gas mileage than they use to, the answer is to simply index the gas tax to inflation and average fuel economy.

First, it pretty much kills rail except for an extension of MARTA into 2 counties who want that. And of course even if you could find two counties that do want it, the cost would be impossible for them.

Secondly, because it effectively kills rail, someone will holler "Racist". Maybe even someone on here.

And it certainly makes local county commissioners much more accountable to the voters than ever before. I mean they are actually going to have to be leaders and cooperate with neighboring governments. Plus they will have to be much more knowledgable about transportation issues and real solutions. Take for example the 74/I-85 entry and exit ramps. Fulton, Fayette and possibly Coweta could participate and divvy up the cost somehow that would seem fair to the voters and I think that would have a much better chance of passing than the $7billion fiasco.

However, if we get district voting on county commission, one can see that falling apart as the districts farthest away from the improvements would not want to be taxed.

I am really impressed with Matt Ramsey. He's a rising star.

Many Fayette County citizens have been fighting for the defeat of this proposed regional sales tax and the potential harm it would impose on our citizens who do not benefit. Thank God Rep. Matt Ramsey is standing up and fighting for its defeat. There are numerous methods counties could develop to handle local transportation issues without getting swallowed up by poorly crafted legislation. My prayer is for HB938 to be passed. Then our county officials can address local issues without outside county encumbrances. Thank you Matt Ramsey.