Challenging Sprawl in the Atlanta Region
Contact: Bryan Hager, Georgia Chapter, (404) 607-1262 x226
The Atlanta area is sprawling literally all over north Georgia -- from Cartersville in the north to Hampton in the south. Rapid growth is now taking place as far away as Hall and Carroll counties, and there's no end in sight. As more land is gobbled up by relentless expansion, and as more roads are built to accommodate growth, a vicious cycle is created. Citizens move farther out to get away from the hustle, find green space, and to take advantage of lower home prices. Because of the lack of planning, greenspace is rapidly paved over. Because of lack of transportation options and spread out form of development, people must drive further, increasing traffic and congestion. Soon, the qualities that attracted people to the area are lost and they want to move again. This pattern has been repeated countless times around Atlanta with devastating impact on our families and our communities.
- Currently, Atlanta area motorists have the longest commute times in the world! Half the commuters spend more than an hour each day driving to and from work.
- The Atlanta region has the worst air pollution in the Southeastern U.S., exceeding federal standards an average of 12 times each year.
- We are consuming land and trees faster than any other region in the United States, cutting down 40 acres of forest each day.
As the middle class moves further and further from the center, the poor are left with no access to jobs and the central city becomes poorer. Neighborhoods are constantly disrupted for road expansions and commercialization. Tax rates are increased to pay for the added infrastructure. Every citizen of the region pays for sprawl with increased taxes, increased illness due to pollution, high crime rates and a declining quality of life. The many ozone alert days we have had in 1998 is a warning signal that something is terribly wrong. Unplanned and poorly planned development is taking a severe toll on the quality of life. Our air is becoming dirtier and our forests and farmlands are being destroyed to make way for development. Even our water quality is at stake, because more development causes increased storm water runoff into streams and rivers. Clean air, pure water, and food are essential to life, and in our area, two of the three are in jeopardy.
Fortunately, it's not too late to start building a more livable region. We can make a major difference by diverting public money from asphalt to alternative transportation. We can get cars off the road by building sidewalks, bike paths, and rail lines. Incentives to encourage development along mass transit lines and the redevelopment of our urban "core" areas can make a big difference.
The Georgia Chapter of the Sierra Club's "Challenge to Sprawl" campaign provides vision to our community. Working closely with homeowner groups and allied organizations, we are focusing on tree protection, streets that are safe for our kids, and creating more parks. On a more general level, our goals include comprehensive "Smart Growth" legislation and transportation reform.
- Protect Our Health: Provide travel choices that reduce air pollution and traffic.
- Make Our Streets Safer: Provide sidewalks, bike lanes and slow traffic in residential areas.
- Protect Our Streams and Parks: Restrict development near streams and create more parks.
- Protect Our Trees: Require developers to protect and replant trees whenever land is developed.
- Protect Our Pocketbooks: Require developers - not taxpayers - to pay the full cost of roads and schools for their development.
- Involve Us: Include citizens in neighborhood advisory committees for land use and transportation decisions.
- DOT Reform: The motor fuel tax must be freed for all transportation uses and Georgia DOT must be held accountable for its actions.
The Sierra Club is working to build coalitions of interested people from homeowner organizations, hunting and fishing groups, farm and forestry organizations, and religious institutions to promote a people's agenda at local, regional, and state government levels. By working together, citizens of the region can take back our government for our families and our future.
Last updated: 30 Nov 99