The Emory community is invited to attend "Decision Time: The Clifton Corridor & Atlanta's Transportation Future," a special town hall meeting to discuss the July 31 regional sales tax referendum that would support development of light rail service along the Clifton Corridor and transportation improvements throughout metro Atlanta.
The free event, which will feature government and transportation leaders, panelists and a public question-and-answer session, will be Wednesday, April 25 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Glenn Memorial Church, 1660 North Decatur Rd.
Sponsored by Emory's Office of Sustainability Initiatives, Bike Emory and the Office of Governmental and Community Affairs, the meeting will examine a regional transportation referendum that proposes adopting a 1 percent sales tax that would generate $7.22 billion for transportation projects within the 10-county metro Atlanta region over a 10-year period.
On July 31, Atlanta voters will consider the measure, which is designed to reduce traffic congestion by funding a series of regional transportation projects, including the Clifton Corridor Transit Initiative, which would receive $700 million to construct a light rail line and $25 million for a new bridge and improvements at Clifton and Haygood roads.
A panel discussion addressing the impact of the referendum upon the Clifton Corridor and Atlanta will include DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis; Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd; John Crocker, director of development and regional coordination at MARTA; and Mike Alexander, chief of the Atlanta Regional Commission's research division. Local broadcast news reporter Sally Sears will serve as moderater.
The event will also feature Emory representatives Mike Mandl, executive vice president of finance and administration; Betty Willis, senior associate vice president of governmental and community affairs; and Ciannat Howett, director of the Office of Sustainability Initiatives.
Voter registration and absentee ballot requests will be available at the meeting.
A town hall "tweeting" will take place simultaneously via @EmoryGreen and #TIA2012.
Community members are encouraged to bike, walk or take public transit to the event, which will be served by MARTA Route 6. Parking is available at Fishburne Parking Deck, on North Decatur Road, and also at Lowergate South and the Oxford Road Building. If accommodations are needed due to a disability or chronic medical condition —including mobility, visual, auditory, or parking concerns — contact 404-727-9877 (voice) or 404-712-2049 (TDD).
For more information on the transportation referendum, visit Transform Metro Atlanta online.