T-SPLOST passes in River Valley - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

Tuesday voters in the River Valley approved a 1% sales tax for transportation.  T-SPLOST was defeated in 9 of 12 districts in Georgia.  It passed in Muscogee County with a 53% vote, but voters in Atlanta overwhelmingly rejected the proposal.

Colin Martin with the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce explains the projects that would come along with the new sales tax.

"[We could have] a bridge over the spider-web which has been a nightmare for drivers along Buena Vista Road for many, many, many years," said Martin. "We're going to widen Veterans Parkway from Maple Ridge on into Harris County. We're going to put a new exit ramp on interstate 185 at Cusseta Road."

Martin says T-SPLOST could bring in about $594 million to the 16 county River Valley region which includes Muscogee, Harris, Randolph, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, Chattahoochee, Stewart, Quitman, Webster, and Marion Counties.

Over a period of ten years, he says you could see more jobs. "We expect the direct number of jobs created, in other words those will be in the construction of the roads, to be 16,000 plus," said Martin.

T-SPLOST votes by the county in the River Valley District:

Muscogee County
YES   52.53%
NO    47.47%

Harris County
YES  45.51%
NO   54.49%

Talbot County
YES   64.59%
NO   35.41%

Taylor County
YES  44.69%
NO  55.31%

Chattahoochee County
YES   50.92%
NO    49.08%

Schley County
YES  49.66%
NO   50.34%

Marion County
YES   60.03%
NO   39.97%

Stewart County
YES  67.57%
NO  32.43%

Sumter County
YES  54.56%
NO  45.44%

Webster County
YES   62.72%
NO   37.28%

Randolph County
YES   61.23%
NO    38.77%

Quitman
YES   62.27%
NO    37.73%

Three Rivers District 

Troup County
YES 31.22%
NO 68.78%

Meriwether County
YES 42.16%
NO 57.84%