Friday, April 5, 2002
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Friday, April 5, 2002 |
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PTC Mayor building southside coalition against Northern Arc By JOHN
MUNFORD
Peachtree City Mayor Steve Brown is beginning to build opposition among south metro Atlanta cities against the state's plans to spend $2.4 billion building the Northern Arc, a east-west highway connecting four north metro Atlanta counties. Brown worries that the state's plans to build the Northern Arc will hijack road and highway funds that can be used for projects on the southside. So he is seeking support for a movement against the Arc from other southside governments. "We've got to voice our opinion now or forever hold our peace for the next 20 years," Brown said, alleging that the Northern Arc project would siphon off federal transportation funds for that length of time. If that's true, it would stall projects like the widening of Ga. Highway 74 South in Peachtree City to four lanes, which was promised to several local industries when they located here, Brown noted. Each south metro county has a similar project that's necessary to improve road infrastructure, Brown said. He added that the infrastructure is important for economic development purposes also. "They're stuffing the money up in the northern counties and down here in the south, we're starving," Brown said. "It's an issue of fairness. The Northern Arc is nothing more than a developmental highway. It has nothing to do with air quality or traffic relief." Brown said he has gained support from all the municipalities in Henry County, and the city councils in Fairburn and Hapeville have approved resolutions opposing the Northern Arc. In a letter to a task force opposing the Northern Arc project, Brown says the money for that project could be better spent in acquiring rights-of-way on the southside "to avoid the painful mistakes that fell upon the north metro counties."
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