Be informed. Know the facts. Vote on July 31

In less than 50 days, metro Atlanta residents will be voting on a referendum that will fund $8.5 billion in transportation improvements through a regional one percent sales tax on July 31.

The Midtown-based office of commercial real estate services provider Cassidy Turley has released the third of its 10 videos as part of its campaign supporting the passage of metro Atlanta’s historic TSPLOST ballot initiative.

Each week until the July 31 vote, Cassidy Turley will release a two-minute video featuring an interview with a prominent Atlanta business or community leader to educate the public about the importance of the TSPLOST initiative, which would fund a series of transportation projects aimed at alleviating the traffic congestion plaguing metro Atlanta.

The videos will appear on Cassidy Turley’s new “Why Atlanta?” blog.

This week, Mark Toro, North American Properties managing partner, emphasizes the importance of transportation investments that will be made possible by the TSPLOST. North American Properties is the real estate firm that owns and manages the retail shops and restaurants at Atlantic Station.

“We’re something like 48th or 49th in investment per capita in transportation, and yet we consistently maintain some of the longest commute times in the U.S.,’’ Toro says in the video. “Everyday we choose not to invest in our infrastructure is a day we slip behind Dallas and Birmingham and Charlotte and Denver and those cities that are competing for our jobs that we’re trying to create and grow in the metro area.”

See more in the accompanying video.

Of course, not everyone is on board with a possible regional one percent sales tax. TrafficTruth.net boasts on its site that “Another tax won’t help your traffic jam.”

It’s hosting several information meetings around the metro area including one from 7-10 a.m on Tuesday, June 26 at 188 14th Street in Midtown. See here for more information.

On July 31, how will you vote and why?