Campbellton Road Project Part of $3 Billion Proposal

Widening portions of Campbellton Road from two to five lanes was part of a $3.26-billion list of transportation projects unanimously approved by the Atlanta City Council on Wednesday.

The projects could be funded if metro Atlanta voters approve a one-percent sales tax referendum next year. Atlanta's overall list of projects include $920 million to repair roads, bridges and sidewalks in the city; $1 billion for light rail lines between the BeltLine corridor, downtown and midtown; and $1 billion for capital investments to bring MARTA into a state of good repair.

The council approved widening Campbellton Road from two lanes to five lanes, with bicycle and pedestrian facilities between Venetian Drive and Timothy Drive, to improve access to Fort McPherson.

Several second-tier projects didn't make the final list, including improving the I-285-Cascade Road interchange; and developing a bus/rapid transit system on Fulton Industrial Boulevard and I-20 between Camp Creek Parkway and the H.E. Holmes MARTA station.

Elected officials in each of the state's 12 regions have been asked to develop a list of projects to be funded by a one-percent sales tax. Once all local governments’ lists are submitted, a roundtable group of 21 elected leaders from the 10-county metro area will choose what projects make the final list for voters. The Atlanta Regional Roundtable includes local city and county officials from Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties.

Should the tax pass in a region, all revenue collected there would stay in that region. Local governments would share 15 percent of the revenues to be spent on any projects they choose. The other 85 percent will be used to fund the list of projects created by each region's transportation roundtable.