Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tespla Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Athens-Clarke County Commission endorses T+ 2026 projects list after public comment on greenway
Summary
The commission voted to endorse the T+ (Tesplas/T+) 2026 final projects list, sending it to the February approval step that will place the measure on the May 2026 ballot; public testimony largely supported greenway funding while one speaker urged delaying the greenway to prioritize sidewalks and safety.
The Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission voted to endorse the T+ 2026 final projects list, a package of capital projects that the commission will consider formally on the first Tuesday in February before sending the measure to the May 2026 ballot.
Supporters at the public-comment period urged the commission to keep greenway investments on the T+ list. Dana Schffin, a member of Friends of the Greenway, told the commission, "When we moved here, we made the decision to live along the greenway so that we could bike to work," and described the corridor as essential to her daily commute and health. Meritt Melansson, a Friends of the Greenway board member, thanked the commission "for including a strong down payment for the middle county greenway in this list." Representatives of the Electric Bike Group — including Damon Allen and David Allen — also voiced support for expanded greenway access.
Not every speaker agreed. Benny Coleman, who identified himself as a candidate for District 7 commission, urged caution: "The greenway stuff can wait. It really can," and argued the county should focus first on other needs.
Commissioner Davenport moved to approve the final projects list; after a short debate and an unsuccessful amendment attempt to reallocate funds from a bus-shelter project to traffic calming, the commission held a roll-call vote and commissioners recorded support. Clerk Howard read votes from the dais; commissioners including Link, Wright, Fischer, Johnson, Co Pepper, Myers and Thornton registered "yes." The motion carried to advance the list to the February session for final action that would place the package on the May ballot.
The discussion included technical questions about funding sources and project eligibility. Commissioners asked staff whether a bus-shelter line item (project 31) was restricted to the East Downtown tax allocation district (TAD) or whether an area-wide bus-stop-improvement bucket (project 56) could permit shelters elsewhere. Staff and Attorney Drake said project descriptions could be adjusted in forthcoming agenda language (for example, removing references to a specific mall) and that TAD restrictions warranted verification.
Mayor and staff said commissioners will have another opportunity to review refined language before the February vote. The endorsement means the list will move forward in the formal calendar and — if approved in February — will go before voters in May.
