Long resistant metro-Atlanta county votes on mass transit

ATLANTA — Approval of a contract with Atlanta’s public transportation provider that could bring a significant expansion of transit options is on the ballot in one north-metro county.

Gwinnett County’s referendum Tuesday asks if voters want to authorize a contract with MARTA and impose a 1 per cent sales tax for transit expansion.

Advocates say approval will help alleviate traffic problems and air pollution from cars idling in rush-hour gridlock.

While the historically white, affluent suburban county has previously resisted a transit connection to the racially diverse centre of Atlanta, Gwinnett County has transformed considerably in recent decades.

Between 1990 and 2016 the county grew from roughly 353,000 residents to 920,000, while the proportion of non-Hispanic white residents went from 89 per cent to 39 per cent.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Associated Press

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