OP/ED: It’s time for heavy rail transit in South DeKalb

It's simple, the people of South DeKalb are no less deserving of high-quality public transportation than anyone else.

And despite public commitments to expand MARTA's heavy rail system into South DeKalb, there has been no progress. It is time to recommit ourselves to expanding MARTA's heavy rail transit line to serve our community. This is the only sensible option to congested roads, pollution that disproportionately impacts Black and low-income communities, and to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that are warming our planet and dangerously changing our climate. Heavy rail transit is also necessary to ensure more people, especially low-income people, have access to jobs and essential services. Driving is expensive. It requires fuel, maintenance, and insurance, in addition to the steep cost of the vehicle itself. Too many people in our community cannot afford to drive, and many more are unable to drive due to disability or other reasons. Without a heavy rail extension, these people will be effectively locked out of economic opportunity

We cannot let that happen.

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