Voters in Cobb and Gwinnett counties in metro Atlanta rejected at the polls Tuesday plans to expand public transportation through a proposed one percent increase in the sales tax.

The referendums were intended to generate billions to fund new bus routes, transit centers and various other transportation projects over a 30-year period.

However, both counties saw voters deny additional funding, leaving public transportation advocates concerned about the lack of access in the counties.

Darin Givens, public transportation advocate and founder of the organization ThreadATL, expressed disappointment with the decision.

“It really hurts because it’s going to be longer and longer before traffic improves in these places,” Givens said.

For him, the failure of the referendum seems personal.

“I have a neurological condition; I can’t drive. I rely a lot on public transportation. My mother still lives in Cobb County,” he explained.

On the other side, Lance Lamberton, leader of the Cobb Taxpayers Association, celebrated the result and called it a “great victory.”

In an email, Lamberton wrote, “The tax junkies in county government can be relied upon to try to impose their transit tax over and over again.”

He argued that the $10 billion proposed for new bus routes and transit centers would have gone to projects that would likely be underutilized.

However, Givens considered the proposed transit expansion essential.

“It would allow someone like me, who doesn’t even know how to drive, to get to places in Cobb County that I can’t get to now,” he said.

Cobb County Board of Education President Randy Scamihorn took a stance against the expansion on the district’s official websitesuggesting that greater access to public transportation could lead to “poor academic performance and a higher rate of disciplinary problems.”

Givens dismissed these concerns and emphasized the unmet transit needs of county residents.

“It’s upsetting to think of all the people in these counties who really desperately need this additional service,” he said.

Gwinnett County’s proposal alone would have raised $17 billion over 30 years, funding up to 75 transportation projects, including new bus services and microtransit expansions. from Gwinnett County President Nicole Love Hendrickson acknowledged the projected population growth. It will cause more congestion on the roads.

“Since beginning my term in 2020, I have been vocal about the need for transit and mobility solutions in Gwinnett. Realizing previous referendum efforts, we went back to the drawing board to design a Transit Plan that addressed mobility needs of residents, businesses and stakeholders in Gwinnett,” he wrote, adding that they will still try to find funding for expansion elsewhere. “We will seek and leverage potential funding from state, federal and local sources as we continue to strive to achieve our goal of mobility for all,” he said.

Givens reflected on the human impact of the failed measures. “It’s just a human issue. True. Not all of us can have a car or drive. And that affects me on a very emotional level. That’s why I’m having a sad day,” he said.

This marks another setback for transit expansion in the area. In 2019, Gwinnett voters rejected a MARTA proposal. that would have expanded the county’s bus system and introduced rail service. Cobb County leaders have also resisted similar efforts for decades.

“Today’s results on the Mobility SPLOST referendum reflect the clear and resounding voice of Cobb County voters and the strength of our democratic process,” said Drew Raessler, director of the Cobb County Department of Transportation. “Although the Mobility SPLOST was not approved, we remain committed to ensuring Cobb County remains a leader in growth, innovation and opportunity in Georgia. The conversation about our transit future will continue and we will continue to work diligently to find solutions that meet the needs changes in our community.

In other metro Atlanta counties, Hall and Jackson also rejected sales tax proposals aimed at funding transportation and infrastructure improvements.