Community Corner

Lawmaker: Clifton Corridor Improvements Depend on Transit Tax

DeKalb lawmaker attends regional transit meeting Wednesday evening

A plan to reduce congestion in the area is just one of the transportation projects that may never become a reality unless Virginia-Highland and Druid Hills residents – and voters across metro Atlanta – approve a regional, one-cent-sales-tax referendum next year.

That was the message from state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, who attended a regional transit meeting of local mayors and legislators Wednesday night. Oliver also said that voters in the area will need some persuading to support the tax.
 
“My constituents have to be absolutely convinced that there will be equity in terms of governance for these regional transportation projects,” Oliver said. “My constituents have been paying for MARTA for almost 40 years, and we want everyone to pay the same.”
 
The meeting, held in the old Atlanta City Hall council chambers, was organized by metro Atlanta leaders to build support for the special local option sales tax (SPLOST). Several metro counties and municipalities have submitted multi-million-dollar “wish lists” of projects for their area, which could be funded if voters approve the sales tax next year.
 
A final list of projects will be released in August.
 
The Clifton Corridor proposals include a three-phase light- and heavy-rail system running from the Lindbergh Center MARTA station to Emory’s main campus, the Clairemont campus and the .
 
The city of Decatur also has requested a shuttle connecting the Decatur and Avondale Estates MARTA station to the Clifton corridor, as well as bicycle and pedestrian paths from Clairemont Avenue, Commerce Drive and Church Street to the Emory/Clifton area.
 
On May 19, MARTA will host an Open House from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Emory University Conference Center to discuss improving mobility in DeKalb’s Clifton Corridor.

Find out what's happening in Virginia Highland-Druid Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Virginia Highland-Druid Hills