Senate Candidate Silvia Delamar: Pro Trail + Rail Platform

Where are we going?: Transportation
During the past few decades in Georgia, our transportation dollars were largely spent to make it easier for people to drive cars farther and faster, as well as to build new roads to open up new land for development.

In the past several years, however, the emphasis has begun to shift. Instead of talking about the growth and expansion of infrastructure, instead of talking single-mindedly about highways, I propose we talk about providing greater transportation choices-a diversity of transportation modes.

This shift in priorities is necessary. After all, old road-building habits are tough to break. But there are a number of motivations, including changing state priorities, new budget constraints at the state levels, and a growing understanding of how highway expansion promotes destructive urban sprawl. In addition, more citizens are realizing how automobiles have been allowed to dominate the landscape, degrade our quality of life, pollute the air and waste energy.

It will take strong public support to get this transportation plan moving in a more sustainable direction. Here are some of my transportation goals and ideas for this state:

Transportation goals I favor transportation projects that will:
• Provide greater transportation choices so people do not have to be totally dependent on the automobile (i.e., maximize use of pedestrian, mass transit and bicycle-friendly options).
• Reduce the need for travel by promoting compact, mixed-use development.
• Minimize duplication of infrastructure.
• Preserve open space.
• Minimize public health threats from air pollution.
• Preserve or enhance a sense of neighborhood and community. ·
• Do not substantially contribute to further erosion of the tax base of any existing urbanized community in the region.

Rail alternatives are looking more and more like an economically and environmentally preferred alternative

• Increased use of trains reduces America's dependence on foreign oil.
• Trains are safe.
• Trains contribute to development that is more compact and less wastefull than auto-oriented development.
• Trains pollute less than other modes of transportation

"The public is saying they want changes to our state government's public policy toward transportation spending. People are tired of congestion and they want to use commuter trains as the way out."

Source: www.delamar.us