One of Fayette County’s notoriously slow commuting arteries has gained regional notoriety.
In fact, on a recent online survey, it came in as having the highest percentage of local support for an interchange improvement in the entire 10-county metro Atlanta region.
If you commute to the airport, downtown or parts beyond, it’s no secret to you that traffic backups are a regularity where Ga. Highway 74 meets Interstate 85.
And that’s both in the morning (outbound) and evening (inbound) commuting hours.
Some 70 percent of local survey respondents tagged the interchange, located in Fairburn, as a project they would support as part of a regional transportation sales tax.
That vast support dwarfed that of the interchanges finishing in second through fifth place, just two of which were supported beyond the 50 percent mark: the interchange of I-285 and I-20 west of Atlanta, and the I-285 interchange with Ga. 400 north.
The unscientific survey was undertaken by the Atlanta Regional Commission. About 350 Fayette County residents responded to the survey, which was promoted solely by word of mouth, social networking and the like.
Interestingly, the I-85/Hwy. 74 interchange was the only project of local impact to gain more than 50 percent support from survey respondents. Just one regional project eclipsed that mark: as 54 percent were in favor of “improved traffic flow” at the interchange of I-285 and I-20 west of Atlanta.
While it’s early to gauge public opinion, the survey results are of significant consequence to those hopeful of passing the regional transportation sales tax in June 2012.
The tax proposal will face a regional “yes or no” vote. If approved region-wide on an aggregate vote, it will still be assessed in Fayette County, even if Fayette voters turn it down.
The tax is estimated to gather about $8 billion over its 10-year lifespan if approved by regional voters. Of that figure, some $205 million is estimated to come from Fayette County.
Fayetteville Mayor Ken Steele, and Fayette County Commission Chairman Herb Frady are representing Fayette on the 21-member Regional Transportation Roundtable that is compiling the list of projects up for funding through the tax.
Both men have said they won’t support the tax unless it has enough return on investment for Fayette residents.
Critics of the tax have claimed that it will result in Fayette County “donating” tax dollars for transportation projects in the remainder of the 10-county region.
For more information, visit www.atlantaregionalroundtable.com.
