On Friday, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney delivered a letter to visiting U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Rodney E. Slater, which addressed the existing transportation problems in DeKalb County. Secretary Slater was in Atlanta to address a convention for the Commuter Choice program, a proposal that would allow businesses to encourage employees to use mass transit options by offering tax incentives to the employers.

Congresswoman McKinney requested assistance with a county-wide study of transportation needs and possible rail routes, for investment in Transit Oriented Development (TOD) that would improve density and business access near present and future MARTA stations and asked for increased access to 'flex' highway money for the purposes of mass transit investment. "We need to improve the opportunities for MARTA rail expansion in DeKalb County." Stated McKinney.

In addition to this request, McKinney trumpeted the new Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, and asked the Secretary to support a number of the agencie's new projects.

The Congresswoman also inquired about federal assistance for increasing sidewalk construction on streets such as Buford Highway and Candler Road, a potential study of Bus Rapid Transit express-service for the South DeKalb area leading to rail service.

Congresswoman McKinney continued, stating that "waiting too long to provide adequate mass transit anywhere in this county will only burgeon it with increased air pollution, traffic and lost economic investment."

Constituent Services | House Legislation | News Briefs
Guestbook | Congress Online | Tours & Flag Info | GA's 4th District