ATLANTA-- Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed broke news about plans for a massive infrastructure re-haul for the city of Atlanta during his interview with 11Alive's Karyn Greer on 11Alive News at noon.
Hundreds of questions came into 11Alive's Facebook and Twitter accounts for the planned interview. One of them was from Justin Cullifer: "It looks like there are thousands of new apartments being built throughout Atlanta, but the roads around those new buildings have not been expanded or even paved. Does the mayor believe it's OK to pack in more full time residents without improving traffic flow?"
"I don't believe it's OK," Mayor Reed said. "Which is why in the first quarter of 2015, we're going to propose an infrastructure bond between $150 million to $250 million to take on traffic light synchronization, road repair, sidewalk repair, and infrastructure repair."
"I'm confident it will be the biggest infrastructure investment above ground that we've had in the city of Atlanta in more than 30 years," he added. The "above ground" distinction is necessary because the city is under federal mandate to improve its sewer system.
"It's good that the city is in a financial position where we can take on $150 million to $250 million in debt without raising the property taxes," Reed said during the live interview.
Do you have questions for Atlanta's mayor? Use the hashtag #AskATLMayor. Every month, we'll use your questions during our Ask The Mayor segment on 11Alive news at noon.