Cobb Chair Denies SPLOST Project List Includes Funding For Controversial Bus Line

“Those projects need to be done with or without the bus rapid transit project just simply because we’re at the point where we need to make adjustments along the corridor,” said Lee.

The ballot measure, which is not yet finalized, would ask voters to reauthorize a special purpose sales tax for six years beginning in 2016. If passed, the SPLOST is expected to generate $750 million. It would fund a range of projects including road resurfacing and park upgrades.

The county’s proposed project list would allow any funds beyond $750 million to be used for “tier 2” projects, which currently include itemized enhancements along US41/Cobb Parkway that would effectively eliminate a portion of costs for a bus rapid transit, or BRT, project.

Lee says the individual enhancements are needed regardless of the BRT.

“We have a dual reversible lane project being put in by the Georgia Department of Transportation which is going to impact the 41 corridor, I believe, significantly when it gets built and delivered in the 2018 time period. We are going to need to make improvements along that corridor to accommodate the projected growth,” said Lee.

Some Cobb activists say Lee is deliberately obscuring $100 million in BRT-related funding. They say if voters understood the funds were related to the bus project the ballot measure would be more likely to fail.  

Lance Lamberton, head of the Cobb Taxpayers Association and a member of the SPLOST oversight committee, spoke with WABE Monday.

“I think it’s an effort to get it through the backdoor because if you put it directly in front of voters and call it bus rapid transit…chances are the whole SPLOST is less likely to pass,” said Lamberton.

Lee insisted surplus funds are unlikely, but he did say in that event, SPLOST funds probably could be used to attract a federal matching grant for the BRT project.

“If there’s enough money over and above the ‘tier 1’ projects and if the board then votes to move those projects up into ‘tier 1’ and make them a priority they will probably be eligible to count towards local match towards any federal funding that might be available during that time,” said Lee.

In a recent opinion piece in the Marietta Daily Journal, Ron Sifen of the Cobb County Civic Coalition referred to the project list as a “grand deception” and said it’s clear Lee is trying to push forward the BRT project using SPLOST funds.   

“The description of these new projects makes them sound like intersection improvements, but the actual projects are components of the BRT project,” wrote Sifen. “Obviously, if these projects were not implementing components of the BRT project, they would not qualify to be part of Cobb’s matching investment in the BRT project.”

Lee, who in the past has been an unapologetic supporter of the BRT project, says he’s withholding a decision about whether the county will officially pursue BRT until two studies are completed in the fall.

In the meantime, Lee is optimistic about the ballot measure’s chances.

“I respond to what I hear from the district commissioners and the community as to what they would like to see their tax dollars invested in so if we win by two votes and it survives the recount then it’s a win. Winning by a few votes, I guess, is the Cobb way,” said Lee.

Cobb residents can learn more about the SPLOST project list at one of several upcoming public information meetings. Cobb commissioners are expected to finalize the list July 22.