Infrastructure bond approved, but final list of projects still to come

By Collin Kelley and Joe Earle

Atlanta voters on March 17 overwhelmingly approved a $250 million bond issue to pay for infrastructure projects across the city.

The money – to be raised without a tax increase, according to Mayor Kasim Reed – is to be used to repair bridges, provide new traffic signals, fix city buildings and pave streets.

But the final list of projects hasn’t yet been set in concrete by the city. While the great majority of the projects have been publicly identified, members of Atlanta City Council are to vote on the final list this month. The current list is available on the city’s website at infrastructuremap. org.

“It’s a work in progress,” City Councilman Howard Shook said. “I’m hopeful the day is not far off when we’re going to wrestle with the list and get all this nailed down.”

City Councilwoman Yolanda Adrean told the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods on March 12 that she was frustrated that a final list of projects wasn’t available before the vote.

“I apologize to the voters,” Adrean said. “It’s been very frustrating to me. We have reached agreements on projects and the council members have their own internal lists of projects, but those were not updated on the [bond infrastructure] website for voters.”

But final list or not, voters overwhelmingly approved the plan, which includes money to repair city buildings. Turnout was low – only 20,762 voters, or about 7.5 percent of those registered, cast ballots – but on each of the two bonds, more than 85 percent of the voters cast “yes” ballots.

Reed welcomed the vote, saying the results “demonstrate that Atlanta residents are ready to improve the look, feel and experience of our city above the ground.”

“The infrastructure bond will be the most consequential single investment we will make to repair our city’s roads, bridges, sidewalks and greenspaces without raising taxes,” Reed said in a statement issued by the city.

“I look forward to working with the Atlanta City Council to ensure that our essential projects get started right away. Today, for the first time in nearly 20 years, we have decided that we will do the hard things necessary to be first to the future.”

Shook said he felt confident the council would hammer things out.

“I’m an optimist,” he said. “I think we’re going end up with a good list and get projects done that will really improve things for people.”

City officials have said the bonds are expected to be the first of several needed to address nearly $1 billion backlog in projects.

Voters saw two items on the March 17 ballot: one for $187 million in bonds for transportation projects, and a second for $64 million in bonds to upgrade municipal facilities.

Adrean said each councilmember would get $5.2 million in their discretionary fund from the bonds to help with projects in their districts.

“There’s an opportunity to leverage dollars and partner on projects,” Adrean said.

At its March 16 meeting, the city council voted unanimously to create an oversight committee for the $250 million bond package. The 13-member committee will hold public hearings at least once per quarter to review the status of projects. The council also voted for an independent audit of the projects to be conducted throughout the 20-year lifespan of the bonds.

“I look forward to our city completing critical infrastructure projects and I appreciate the city council authorizing the Renew Atlanta 2015 Oversight Committee which will provide important oversight and assistance to the city's administration, ” said Councilmember Mary Norwood.

Lynley S. Durrett, M.D.

Obiamaka Mora, M.D.

State of the art Pelvic & Bladder Surgeries

Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy daVinci Robotic Surgery

Bio Identical Hormone Therapy

Comprehensive Women’s Health Services offered

» Incontinence Testing & Treatment

» Abnormal Bleeding Treatment

» Annual Exams & Contraception

» Nutrient Deficiency Screening & Counseling

» Saliva Testing & Pellet Hormone Therapy

» Plus Aesthetic Services

Great News!

For the convenience of our patients, we have a new office location at Northside Hospital Campus. Appointments being accepted now! Call to schedule for either office today: 404-352-2850

Julie Sayers, PA-C