A MARTA train passes over the mural at the corner of Dekalb Ave. and Arizona Ave. on Thursday, April 17, 2014. File Photo by Jonathan Phillips

Legislation calling for a sales tax vote to expand MARTA in DeKalb County, similar to a tax recently approved by city of Atlanta voters, has been rejected by a state Senate committee.

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the bill was defeated by a 3-4 vote in the Senate Transportation Committee. If it had been approved, it would’ve allowed for vote on a half-cent sales tax to expand MARTA’s reach in DeKalb County.

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State Sen. Fran Millar, R-Dunwoody, was opposed to it, according to both publications, because he said DeKalb needs to fix roads and bridges and because he was opposed to having a higher sales tax in DeKalb County.

The sales tax bill for MARTA that was passed by Atlanta voters is expected to generate $2.6 billion in revenue over the next 40 years. The possibility of some of that money going to pay for a the Clifton Corridor light rail project enticed Emory University to consider filing a petition to annex into the city of Atlanta.

To read the Atlanta Journal Constitution story, click here.

To read the Atlanta Business Chronicle story, click here.

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