COBB COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Zan Schumpert knows how long it can take to drive from Cobb County into midtown Atlanta during the morning rush and what a headache it can be.
That is why Schumpert is happy county officials are considering a $1 billion rapid transit bus line to ease traffic congestion.
"I'm sure it would benefit a lot of people," Schumpert said.
The bus line would run along Interstate 75, from Acworth into midtown Atlanta.
The proposal comes more than a month after voters overwhelmingly rejected the special sales tax that would have added one cent to every dollar spent in metro Atlanta, and paid for massive overhauls to metro Atlanta's roads and rails.
Voters, already battered by a brutal economy, had little taste for paying more money, even a small amount.
The county commissioned a $1.8 million study to examine a new mass transit system, but officials have not stated specifically where it would get the money to pay for the proposed bus line.
Taxpayers are skeptical.
"Obviously it would be troubling. They don't know where they're going to get the money from," said Cobb County taxpayer Rob Firester.
"To me that's a big problem," said Zan Schumpert, another taxpayer. "They want to do it, but they're not sure where the money is coming from?"
CBS Atlanta News asked Cobb County Department of Transportation Director Faye DiMassimo why officials commissioned a study for a new transit line if no money was allotted for the proposed system.
DiMassimo said the county seeks federal transportation funding, which requires that the state prove it can get the job done.
"You do the feasibility studies needed so when those funding opportunities do come along, you're shovel ready," DiMassimo said.
CBS Atlanta News also asked who would pay for the proposed project if it were approved.
"Hopefully when we complete the environmental study, there will be federal funds available," DiMassimo said.
When asked if any money would come from county taxes, DiMassimo answered "not necessarily. We haven't identified that part of the funding pieces yet."
The county is waiting for the results from a $3 million environmental impact study, which could take a year and a half to complete.
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