Cobb County is considering the Mobility Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (MSPLOST), a proposed measure to fund transit improvements. Explore our site to learn about the projects on the ballot, understand their potential impact on our community, and discover how you can participate in the process.

Our transit plan is tailored to Cobb's unique appeal, offering transit options that align with its development patterns and community needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all model. With a 30-year vision through the MSPLOST, we are committed to sustainable growth and adapting to evolving travel trends. This long-term investment will enhance transit offerings within the first few years, with significant milestones and expansion occurring in the first five to 10 years. By focusing on short-, mid-, and long-term enhancements, we ensure Cobb County remains economically vibrant and environmentally responsible, meeting the dynamic needs of our community today and for future generations.

• Community-Tailored Transit: Supports Cobb’s growing population and thriving local economy with mobility options made for Cobb County that offer safe, flexible, and reliable service options.
• Expanding Opportunities: Expands mobility and access to jobs and opportunities throughout the county.
• Inclusive Access: Focuses on equity by providing more countywide transit options, ensuring access to services for those who need them the most.
• Economic Vitality: Implements generational planning and investments to sustain and support Cobb County's growth and economic future.
• Countywide Service Enhancements: Enhances the transit experience with faster, safe, and reliable service options—connecting more people to more destinations.
• Future-Focused: Charts a forward-looking path with a 30-year transit plan designed to adapt to evolving travel trends, support sustainable growth, and meet the dynamic needs of Cobb County residents and local industries.

Visit our Story Map to learn more.

Cobb County is growing fast. According to the 2020 US Census, our county is home to 766,149 residents and 415,121 jobs. But by 2050, the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) expects those numbers to rise to 914,448 residents and 495,388 jobs.

Below are some key figures:

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The MSPLOST allows Cobb residents to consider a dedicated funding mechanism to support the county's infrastructure, addressing current and future mobility needs, business growth, traffic congestion, and environmental sustainability. Informed voter participation in the upcoming ballot will shape a transportation system that serves Cobb County's diverse mobility needs.

Below are potential flexible transit options that include various right-sized modes for the community, such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Arterial Rapid Transit (ART), Commuter routes, and Rapid routes serving city centers and high-density corridors. Microtransit will operate in less populated areas, providing essential transit for seniors, vulnerable populations, and zero-car households.

• 73 Miles of BRT: Providing rail-like operations in mostly dedicated transit lanes with high-quality stations and high-frequency service; serving Cobb’s most populated corridors and activity centers and connecting to nearby rail transit stations outside the county.
• 34 Miles of ART: Featuring improvements to bypass congestion at intersections on some of Cobb’s well-traveled roadways.
• 325 Miles of Expanded Local, Commuter, and Rapid Transit Routes: Serving new parts of the county not currently covered by fixed route transit, primarily in the southern and northern cities, as well as circulator service to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
• 6 New/Enhanced Transit Facilities: Acting as hubs for different connecting routes, including Cumberland, Marietta, South Cobb, North Cobb, East Cobb, and Riverside South Cobb.
• 100% Countywide Microtransit Coverage: Providing on-demand transit service primarily to residential areas without fixed route service, within one of 14 zones, or connecting to nearby fixed route transit.
• Paratransit Service: For individuals with mobility challenges within ¾ mile of all fixed route transit service, complemented by a Transportation Voucher Program beyond the paratransit boundaries.
• $1 Billion Investment in Transit Supportive Projects: Including multi-use trails and sidewalks providing access to transit and roadway improvement projects that allow transit to move more efficiently.
• Transportation Technology Funding: Aimed to improve the user experience for all riders.

For more details, visit the Cobb County Department of Transportation's MSPLOST page.

The MSPLOST language, as approved by Cobb County Board of Commissioner (June 2024), will appear on November’s General Election ballot as follows:

Shall a special 1 percent sales and use tax be imposed in the special district consisting of Cobb County for a period of time not to exceed thirty years and for the raising of funds for transit and transit supportive projects? These projects will be as defined in O.C.G.A. § 48-8-269.40, and will be inclusive of the approved project list within the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority Regional Transit Plan (ARTP).

If imposition of the tax is approved by the voters, such vote shall constitute approval of the issuance of general obligation debt of Cobb County in the principal amount not to exceed $950,000,000 for the above purpose.

General Election Key Dates

Funding Cobb County's transit future is on the ballot this November. It’s important that residents understand the current transit funding system and the potential changes the MSPLOST initiative could bring. Currently, CobbLinc is funded primarily through local property tax revenues, with additional funding from federal sources, grants, and fares collected from customers. The upcoming vote on the November MSPLOST could change Cobb’s transit funding model as the county prepares for projected growth and sustainable economic vitality.

If voters approve the MSPLOST, Cobb County's transit funding would shift from annual property taxes to a dedicated one-percent sales tax. This countywide sales tax, paid by all consumers, would spread the funding responsibility across residents, businesses, commuters, and tourists, rather than just property owners. The benefits of MSPLOST will be realized as soon as the first new services roll out. Within the first five years, each city will have access to microtransit. Additionally, each development phase will quickly enhance our existing transportation options and lay the foundation for future improvements. Click here to learn more.

If voters reject the MSPLOST, Cobb County will continue funding CobbLinc primarily through local property taxes, along with federal funds and customer fares. Without a dedicated funding stream, residents can expect minimal to moderate transit improvements over the next 30 years, limiting countywide enhancements and expansion.