GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Voters in Gwinnett County have rejected a $17 billion transit plan that would have overhauled the county’s transportation system.

Cobb and Gwinnett voters have historically rejected invitations to join MARTA. Based on the outcome of previous referendums, county officials came up with new plans that would expand their own transit systems, CobbLinc and Ride Gwinnett, without heavy-rail extension.

A referendum on the ballot was an extensive transportation project for more local transit options. It included a one-percent sales tax for work over 30 years. The project was set to include micro transit expansion, new transit transfer facilities, ride routes to the airport, and rapid transit routes. Voters rejected it by a seven-percent margin.

Voters in Cobb and Gwinnett counties on Tuesday appeared to shoot down proposed sales taxes to fund billions of dollars in fancy buses, on-demand "microtransit" and bike trails. Why it matters: The failed votes mark the latest time the sprawling suburban counties have rejected a tax to fund transit.

Davidson County voters approved Mayor Freddie O'Connell's transit referendum on Nov. 5, according to tallies from the Davidson County Election Commission. The ballot issue sped to victory by a 2-to-1 margin, with about 183,000 votes cast in favor to about 96,000 votes against.

The transit referendum would have increased sales taxes in the county by 1% over 30 years to pay for a variety of projects, including an expanded Bus Rapid Transit system.

The bulk of Cobb County voters rejected a 1% sales tax increase to help the county expand bus and shuttle transport over the next 30 years.

Any hope that Gwinnett County leaders had that transit’s time had finally arrived this year crashed Tuesday night when voters rejected a proposal to expand transit for the third time