Politics & Government

Roswell Shares Plans for Local TSPLOST Funding

If the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax passes for the Atlanta region on July 31, Roswell has some tentative plans for spending its $1.9 annual portion.

If the Transportation Initiative Act - better known as the TSPLOST - passes on July 31 Roswell is ready to manage the 15 percent local share it will receive over the course of the 10 year tax through the prioritization of projects into three categories focused on sidewalks, congestion relief and redevelopment support.

"This is not a discussion on whether or not [the TSPLOST] should pass, but what would happen if it does pass, so we're prepared," said Roswell City Councilwoman Betty Price.

In addition to the for the controversial penny sales tax, which some contend won't actually relieve metro area congestion, the city is also expected to receive approximately $1.9 million annually - or 15 percent - over the next 10 years for its own transportation projects.

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Roswell's approved TSPLOST projects include: $48 million for improvements at the Ga. 400/Holcomb Bridge Road interchange; $20.4 million for the removal of the reversible lanes; and $18.6 million for improvements to Houze Road/Rucker Road intersection, from Mansell Road to Rucker Road. The city will have to decide what to do with the $1.9 million per year in local share funds that is expected in addition to the three approved projects.

At the most recent meeting, Monday, July 9, Roswell City Council members voted to approve "organizing" the local share into specific "pots."

Find out what's happening in Roswellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Transportation Director Steve Acenbrak said the sidewalk pot would go toward projects such as gap closures; congestion relief or complete street projects might include new turn lanes and roundabouts; while revelopment support could invest in projects that would encourage redevelopment or add vitality to different areas.

Potential projects might be similar to those included in the council packet, below:

Sidewalks

Old Mountain Park Road (Cobb County to Mountain Park Road)

$350,000

Sidewalks

Over 150 other projects on the Sidewalk Program Matrix

Varies

Complete Streets

Hardscrabble Green Loop Phase 2 including Hardscrabble/King intersection (Target/SR 92 area to King Road)

$500,000

Complete Streets

Any Roswell Loop-related project

Varies

Redevelopment/ Connectivity

Oxbo Road ROW and/or CST

Up to $7 M

Redevelopment/ Connectivity

Sun Valley Road Phases 1, 2 and/or 3 ROW and/or CST

Up to $8.5 M

Redevelopment/ Connectivity

Over 200 other projects on the Connectivity Program List

Varies

Though Mayor Jere Wood said he didn't want council to specifically plan too far out, he did believe having a plan in place for citizens to see before they head to the polls was important.

"The intention of this vote [by council] is to let citizens know that if they approve the referendum, this is how the city will spend the money," he said.

Wood said one of his top priorities for any transportation funding would be to complete the sidewalk along one side of Holcomb Bridge Road from Cobb County to Gwinnett County, an estimated cost of $8.5 million.

"With transportation you never know what's going to happen that could shoot something up on the list," said Councilwoman Becky Wynn, agreeing that a fluid, but transparent plan, was necessary.

"It's mostly categorical and prioritizing the things we know we'd like to do and start moving ahead on, [if the TSPLOST should pass]," said Price.

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