Galambos Works to ‘Build Up Steam’ for Transit Sales Tax

Several Sandy Springs-based transportation projects – from widening Peachtree-Dunwoody Road inside the city limits to replacing the Crooked Creek bridge – may never become a reality, unless Sandy Springs residents and their metro Atlanta counterparts approve a regional, one-cent-sales-tax referendum next year.

“We’re trying to build up steam for this metro-wide transportation initiative,” said Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos, who was one of the primary organizers of a regional transit meeting of local mayors and legislators Wednesday night.

“Fulton and DeKalb counties are already paying for transit programs. There’s going to be a great reluctance to pay for any more unless Cobb, Gwinnett and Clayton counties at least get on board,” Galambos said.

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 SPLOST next year.

“There’s got be something that recognizes the future of the Atlanta region is dependent upon there being a quality mass transit system,” said State Rep Willard.

A final list of projects will be released in August.

Here are the projects requested by the city of Sandy Springs:

• Improving Hammond Drive from Roswell Road to Georgia 400;
• Reducing congestion on Georgia 400 from I-285 to Spalding Drive;
• Improving Sandy Springs Circle from Allen Road to Northwood Drive;
• Widening Peachtree-Dunwoody from Abernathy to Spalding;
• Improving Boylston Drive from Hammond to Carpenter;
• Widening Glenridge from Royer Vista to High Point;
• Improving the intersection at Roswell at Glenridge;
• Improving the intersection at Spalding at Winters Chapel, including replacing the Crooked Creek bridge;
• Improving the Cliftwood at Carpenter intersection;
• Adding advanced traffic management systems along Roswell Road from the Atlanta city limits to Abernathy Road;
• Building out the Sandy Springs fiber network;
• Adding sidewalks and streetscapes along Roswell Road from the Atlanta city limits to I-285;
• Adding sidewalks and bicycle lanes along Lake Forrest from I-285 to the Atlanta city limits, and along High Point Road from Glenridge to Windsor Parkway; and
• Adding bus and rapid transit service along I-285 and Hammond Drive to connect to DeKalb County.