Can a penny help spare us from traffic?

In the battle against Atlanta’s traffic, the Atlanta Regional Commission has proposed a new weapon: a penny.

More specifically, the ARC plans to recommend to the General Assembly that a 1 percent sales tax in 10 metro-Atlanta counties is the best way to fund transportation and road projects — projects that will make driving in metro Atlanta less excruciating.

In a statement released today, ARC Chairman Sam Olens says:

Traffic congestion is one of the biggest problems we face and we desperately need a new source of funds to fight that congestion through a variety of new ways. We’re not going to stop growing, and this new funding strategy will ensure that the region stays on the move.

The proposal, approved by the ARC today, is already under consideration by the Legislature, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. What’s more, the ARC is hoping to control the funds — an estimated $3.1 billion over the first five years. Typically, the money would be administered by the state.