Traffic/Transportation

May 11th, 2008 by admin

Problem: too many vehicles on the roads, rush-hour traffic jams

 

Solutions – short term:

  • Improve traffic flow by coordinating traffic lights

Get cars off the roads by

  • Expanding commuter bus service to Atlanta and points south from Woodstock, Canton

  • Offering tax-credits to commuters on public transport

  • Encouraging telecommuting – tax incentives to companies

 

Benefits: by offering these tax incentives, we can take cars off the road immediately, but that is not all. 

  • We will reduce the amount of emissions polluting our air and preventing us from getting Federal Money to expand our roads. 

  • Residents of Woodstock, Holly Springs and Canton will see immediate savings in fuel cost.  I spend $70/week commuting to Mid-Town, if I could telecommute I could keep more of that money and spend more locally.

  • An expanded bus line is more attractive to commuters.  We currently only offer 4 trips into and out of Atlanta each day.  By increasing the number of buses during the day, we can get even more cars off the road.

 

Solutions – long term:

 

Invest in upgrading/expanding regional infrastructure

 

  • Better roads

  • Public transit system – expanded bus service, light rail system

  • Attract business investment/local employment by investing in water resources, sewer system, power grids, digital infrastructure, better schools – well-educated/trained workforce

Benefits:

  • Once we accomplish these long term goals, we can attract business investment/local employment reducing the need to commute south to Atlanta.

Health Care

May 11th, 2008 by admin

Problem: strained health care delivery system, lack of trauma care

Solutions:

  • Review needs and resources in view of high population growth

  • Establish County and regional planning

  • Establish funding formula for trauma care (legislation)

  • Ensure that any regional trauma care network includes Cherokee County

Education

May 11th, 2008 by admin

Problem: explosive enrollment growth, steep cuts in state funding, high local taxes

Solutions:

  • Increase state funding growth to match enrollment growth

  • Review state mandates on our educational system and ask the questions, “does this still make sense?”  If not, remove it.

  • Push for cost-based state funding formula for unfunded/under-funded mandates

  • Fully restore state austerity reductions
  • Maintain local control