American Dream American Dream CoalitionCoalitionPresentation byPresentation by

Representative Steve Representative Steve Davis Davis

Georgia House of Georgia House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

Transportation Committee Transportation Committee MemberMember

Getting the Story Getting the Story Straight!Straight!

Taxpayers have already paid for millions of dollars of consulting and planning(15 years worth).Taxpayers have already paid close $3 Million in interest on the bonds for a passenger rail line that has never been approved!

Taxpayers will pay for all track improvementsTaxpayers will purchase all park and ride lotsTaxpayers will purchase all locomotivesTaxpayers will purchase all rail passenger carsTaxpayers will pay all insuranceTaxpayers will pay all right of way maintenanceTaxpayers will pay to improve all signal crossingsTaxpayers will pay for all marketingTaxpayers will pay all fuel costs

Taxpayers will pay NS for labor to maintain signalsTaxpayers will pay NS as subcontractor for Engineers to run the trainsTaxpayers will pay NS to lease limited use of the tracksTaxpayers will pay NS 12% of fare boxTaxpayers will pay NS a per passenger incentive

Taxpayers will be obligated to FTA for $87 million if line fails (Lovejoy).

Taxpayers (local municipalities) will pay all operations and maintenance shortfalls no matter how much and with absolutely no control of expenses!

The taxpayers will not own the rail line.

This is called Corporate Welfare!

Competitive Bids?Competitive Bids?

The FTA and USDOT require The FTA and USDOT require competitive bids for all new rail competitive bids for all new rail projects however no bids have been projects however no bids have been used. Lovejoy has been exclusive used. Lovejoy has been exclusive with Norfolk Southern and the with Norfolk Southern and the Athens line has been exclusive with Athens line has been exclusive with CSX. And this is on all aspects of CSX. And this is on all aspects of the project!the project!

Example of impact simplified:

Current situation100 Acres = 100 units100 Units = 200 cars on roadAll new taxes from new houses used for new infrastructure improvements.

Transit Village situation100 Acres = 600 units600 Units = 300 transit riders and 600 cars on the roadAll new taxes from Village goes to Maintenance and Operation of Rail.How do you pay for the new infrastructure needs?

Such as Police, Fire, Water treatment plants, Schools, libraries, roads, parks and more!

Infrastructure impactInfrastructure impact

Schools!Schools! WaterWater PolicePolice FireFire ParksParks Libraries Libraries ElectricityElectricity

Economic Development?Economic Development?

“Urban rail transit investments rarely ‘create’ new growth,” says a federally funded study, “but more typically redistribute growth that would have taken place without the investment”

Federal Transit Administration

Public Commitment?Public Commitment?

Brain Train Survey sends wrong messageBrain Train Survey sends wrong message Only 400 people surveyed with only 18% Only 400 people surveyed with only 18%

being actual commuters to Atlanta!being actual commuters to Atlanta! We placed a non binding referendum on the We placed a non binding referendum on the

ballot in July this year in Henry County. The ballot in July this year in Henry County. The results were as I predicted, 84 % supported results were as I predicted, 84 % supported voter approval of any new transit project voter approval of any new transit project being funded with local tax dollars.being funded with local tax dollars.

Why do transit supporters try to block voter Why do transit supporters try to block voter referendums on new projects? Hummmm….referendums on new projects? Hummmm….

Land use impactLand use impact

Tax Allocation Districts (TAD)Tax Allocation Districts (TAD) Community Improvement Districts Community Improvement Districts

(CID)(CID) Livable Community InitiativesLivable Community Initiatives

TaxesTaxes

Alphabet SoupAlphabet Soup GDOT USDOT FHWA FTA SRTA ARCGDOT USDOT FHWA FTA SRTA ARC

GRTA GRPA RTP FTA TPB NHTS NTSGRTA GRPA RTP FTA TPB NHTS NTS TSI TSAR CTP GTMC BTS IMTI NTIMCTSI TSAR CTP GTMC BTS IMTI NTIMC

STIP JOP HOV HOT TOT GPTQ STIP JOP HOV HOT TOT GPTQ SASHTO GRIP SUE PDF CSD TIMESASHTO GRIP SUE PDF CSD TIME

TEA HERO GHP EPD EPA AFV MPOTEA HERO GHP EPD EPA AFV MPO AQI CCT C-TRAN GCT TMA TLIAQI CCT C-TRAN GCT TMA TLI

GOHS HEAT RFP AASHTO DDS LCIGOHS HEAT RFP AASHTO DDS LCI SOV TDM TAQC PAG UPWP PPI LUCCSOV TDM TAQC PAG UPWP PPI LUCC

What should we do?What should we do? Focus on true congestion relief measuresFocus on true congestion relief measures Encourage TeleworkingEncourage Teleworking Encourage businesses to stagger work Encourage businesses to stagger work

timestimes Ramp meteringRamp metering Encourage corporations to site large Encourage corporations to site large

employment sites outside downtown!employment sites outside downtown! Reduce Regulations on Rail providers to Reduce Regulations on Rail providers to

promote profitable free market solutions! promote profitable free market solutions!

Improve Traffic Flow!Improve Traffic Flow!

Intersection improvements Intersection improvements Turning lanesTurning lanes Road wideningRoad widening Road improvementsRoad improvements New Roads!!!!New Roads!!!! HOV – HOT – TOT LanesHOV – HOT – TOT Lanes New toll roadsNew toll roads New bridges over rail crossingsNew bridges over rail crossings