It’s hard for me to overstate how important the Gwinnett MARTA referendum is. There are many voices out there right now stressing the need to vote yes – local politicians, business leaders, citizens, and everyone in between. There are many outside of Gwinnett in favor of the referendum passing as well, myself included. I feel the need to add my voice to the conversation not just because of how it would improve my quality of life, but how it would transform Gwinnett for hundreds of thousands of people.
There are many reasons to vote in favor of the March 19th transit referendum. Expanding transit reduces traffic, it brings new economic development, it’s good for the environment, and it makes people’s lives easier. One aspect of increased transit that I believe has not received enough attention, however, is that it increases economic mobility.
For example, the average household spends about 19% of their income on transportation costs. For those with access to transit, the figure is closer to 9%. However, if you live in a low-income household, you may find yourself spending over half of your income just to get from place to place. That’s less money that can be spent on food, quality housing, and savings. Transit access literally has the power to transform lives by putting more money back in the pockets of people who need it most.
For people who may not have such a vital need for transit, there is still incentive to vote yes. Every car that comes off the road improves commutes for those who will continue to use the road. You don’t have to be a transit user to reap the rewards of this investment into Gwinnett’s future.
Gwinnett is growing too fast to continue down this path of limited transit. By 2040, the county is projected to add an additional 500,000 residents which means Gwinnett will house over 10% of the population of the entire State of Georgia. That’s not a challenge that can be addressed with roadways alone. If Gwinnett citizens wish to continue the progress they have made and make life better for struggling families, then the only option is to vote yes for transit on March 19th.
Tharon Johnson is a consultant with Paramount Consulting Group and a Democrat strategist.
