The Marietta Daily Journal – Chairman rails against statement by Atlanta mayor that light rail will make move with Braves

MARIETTA — Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who claims the Braves’ move to Cobb County means Cobb would need to have light-rail in place, is wrong, county chairman Tim Lee said.

Reed said in a press conference this week that “Because of the transportation issues, if Cobb goes forward with this, they’re going to have to have rail, which would be the first introduction of light rail.”

The MDJ asked Lee whether Reed’s statement was accurate.

“No, absolutely not,” Lee said. “We’re not going to use that, we’re going to use bus rapid transit, if we do, it will be BRT.”

Lee said he didn’t know why Reed would say that rail would be required to lure the Braves.

“I can’t comment to why he says what he says,” Lee said.

Yet, Reed knows the controversial history of light rail in Cobb from his days campaigning to pass the failed $8.5 billion tax increase for the 10-county metro region known as TSPLOST that voters soundly defeated in 2012.

via The Marietta Daily Journal – Chairman rails against statement by Atlanta mayor that light rail will make move with Braves.