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Reed discusses transportation improvements at the Atlanta Press Club

The Atlanta Press Club hosted Atlanta’s Mayor Kasim Reed at a Newsmaker Luncheon Tuesday. Mayor Reed discussed a variety of subjects, including the Falcons’ proposed open-air football stadium, the upcoming presidential race, and Atlanta’s ever-present 5 p.m. traffic jam.

Reed mentioned the referendum that would add a one-cent sales tax in order to raise money for transportation improvements. Reed said he believes that this referendum, which comes up July 31, will pass but by a narrow margin. Ten metro Atlanta areas will vote on the proposal, and only those regions that pass the tax will be subject to it.

Referencing difficult decisions of past Atlanta mayors, Reed said, “Mayor Shirley Franklin came up with a way to fund $3 billion in water and sewer infrastructure. Andrew Young made the decision to move forward with Georgia 400 and opened up the entire northern corridor. So our history is hard… All of these undertakings were close.”

Most Atlanta citizens agree that the city desperately needs transportation progress, but can voters afford improvements in this economic climate? Only time will tell if Reed’s prediction comes true.