Mayor Reed with environmental groupsAtlanta Mayor Kasim Reed joined more than 20 metropolitan Atlanta environmental groups Wednesday as those organizations endorsed the regional transportation referendum.
On July 31, voters will decide whether to approve a one-percent sales tax. If approved, the tax would generate roughly $6 million to go toward a variety of transportation projects in the 10-county metro Atlanta region. Many of the projects include transit alternatives such as rail and bicycle lanes.
"The benefits of air quality alone should be enough to pass this referendum," Reed said. "If we're successful on Tuesday, we will move the equivalent of 72,000 cars each day from our roads."
Reed has said that the extra penny on every dollar spent would be a worthwhile investment in the region's future.
Judy Knight is a spokeswoman for Southface Atlanta which hosted Wednesday's press conference.
"It goes to the public health opportunity where we have cleaner air, which means less smog alerts because we have fewer cars on the road," said Knight. "It's the opportunity for children to be able to walk to school more easily, to be able to bicycle to school."
Opponents have said that the plan focuses too heavily on rail and not enough on building and maintaining roads.
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