Those of us who live and work in metro Atlanta know first hand all that it has to offer. We benefit from vibrant communities that each offer their own high quality of life and a diverse range of industries that leverage our prime location and ample workforce.
The benefits of living in metro Atlanta are no secret. Comcast, Mercedes, Walmart and TSYS are just a few of the recognizable brands that have announced in recent months they would be creating new jobs in the region. Forbes magazine has ranked us as one of the top 20 places for business and careers and 15 Fortune 500 companies call metro Atlanta home.
Yes, our region has a lot going for it, but we also have some significant challenges. In particular, the lack of investment in transportation infrastructure that has resulted in the 7th worst traffic in the nation and a cost to our citizens of an average 51 hours every year as a result of congestion.
Time is not the only cost; there is a financial one as well. A recent report by the national transportation research group, TRIP, shows that the combination of congestion, accidents and lack of maintenance costs drivers nearly $2,000 each year.
There is only one solution to this very real threat to our economy funding. Our state is faced with a $1 billion to $1.5 billion gap between the level of transportation funding currently available and what is needed to adequately address our maintenance needs. Not closing that gap puts our safety at risk and ensures that our congestion will only continue to grow.
Increasing our investment in transportation simply makes sense. It will improve our roads, highways, transit options, and enhance our mobility. It will make travel safer and commute times shorter. In addition, it will grow the economy with a return of up to $7.80 for every $1 spent on transportation-related projects.
It is encouraging that our state’s elected leaders have recognized that our transportation infrastructure needs must be addressed. Legislation has passed the House and Senate and is being considered by a conference committee made up of three members from both the House and Senate.
This legislation will help create the funding we so critically need. We are hopeful that what is ultimately adopted will provide a predictable, dedicated source for funding that will allow us to both address our short term needs and our long-term plans.
We commend the members of the General Assembly for taking on this critical debate. There is no easy solution, but we simply cannot afford for one not to be found. Our region has far too much going for it for our future to remain stuck in traffic.
Michael Stephens
2015 Chairman, Regional Business Coalition of Metropolitan Atlanta and Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking, ServisFirst Bank, Douglasville, Ga.
[This letter comes via the Regional Business Coalition of Metropolitan Atlanta (RBC), which describes itself as “an organization of over a dozen of the largest and most active Chambers of Commerce throughout the metro Atlanta region. RBC member chambers represent over 15,000 member companies who employ millions of metro Atlanta residents.”]
