Measure threatens Lovejoy rail line

Commuter rail projects in Georgia would need local voter approval under a bill proposed by a Henry County state legislator.

The bill threatens a proposed $106 million rail line from downtown Atlanta to tiny Lovejoy in south Clayton County that is poised to become the state's first commuter rail line.

The bill comes several months after the Clayton County Commission agreed to cover the Lovejoy line's future operating debt, estimated at $4 million a year.

State Rep. John Lunsford (R-McDonough) said he drafted the measure because he feels local residents should have a direct say on big-budget projects, whether it's a school bond, sales tax levy or a commuter rail line.

"It's really not about a commuter rail line as much as it is about rights and justice," he said Wednesday, addressing members of the House Transportation Committee.

The bill has generated considerable controversy. Opponents say it undermines the power of local elected officials and unfairly singles out commuter rail. Supporters say commuter rail is an expensive and risky venture that necessitates voter approval.

The transportation committee on Wednesday agreed with Lunsford's suggestion that the legislation be sent to a subcommittee to provide time to study the bill's potential impact and to clarify its language. It's not clear whether the bill will be voted on by the full committee this session.

The bill is the latest curveball for the 26-mile Lovejoy line, which seemed a done deal when the federal government appropriated $106 million to cover building costs.

But the start of construction has been held up for several months by two freight rail companies who say $8 million in further improvements are needed on a heavily used part of the line.

The bill's critics question why it targets commuter rail. Local governments help subsidize road projects and other transportation initiatives, they say, without needing voter approval. Clayton voters, for instance, were not asked to approve the county's bus system, C-Tran, or state roads that are served by local police and fire departments.

"Atlanta needs to diversify its transit infrastructure," said Lee Biola, president of Atlanta-based Citizens for Public Transit. "Wedon't need to be putting up roadblocks for one type of transportation unless we do it for all types of transportation."

Lunsford, who stressed he isn't for or against commuter rail, said he has heard from residents in communities south of Clayton,including Henry County, who fear they'll be forced to help subsidize the rail line's operating costs if it's extended to Macon as planned.

The bill would require each community along a commuter rail route to hold a referendum if local tax money is to be used to help pay for it. The Lovejoy line, in contrast, was approved by the state Department of Transportation board and the Atlanta Regional Commission board, which considered the project as part of a comprehensive regional transportation plan.

An ARC committee voted Wednesday to oppose the bill, citing concerns that it would usurp the power of locally elected officials.

Some in Clayton and Henry say they would welcome a referendum, contending the price tag is too high for a rail line that's projected to be used by only 3,000 people a day.

"We don't want to have our tax money paying for commuter rail," said Synamon Baldwin, who heads the Clayton County Wide Homeowners Association.

Staff writers Add Seymour and Eric Stirgus contributed to this article.