🐈 Welcome to Thursday and National Cat Day.

• Give your fur baby some extra love and treats today.

🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny Highs in the upper-70s and lows in the mid-50s.

Today’s newsletter is 1,005 words — a 4-minute read.

An $8.9 billion plan to expand metro Atlanta's toll-lane network on Interstate 285's congested north end could spark years of construction and community impacts in the quest for congestion relief.

Why it matters: The I-285 East Express Lanes project kicks off one of the Georgia Department of Transportation's biggest to date and allows a private consortium to collect toll revenue for half a century.

Driving the news: The State Transportation Board on Oct. 15 approved the selection of Top End Mobility Group, a group of international infrastructure companies, to design and build the toll-lane project.

Zoom in: The project's $8.9 billion first phase calls for two outer-loop express lanes heading west from Henderson Road near Tucker to Northside Drive near Sandy Springs.

• The new lanes would connect to I-85 and Georgia 400 and have a 2034 target opening date.

The subsequent phase would add two inner-loop express lanes heading in the opposite direction.

A later phase would extend those east-side express lanes to I-20. Estimated completion date: 2040.

How it works: A private development group designs, finances, builds and operates the toll lanes in exchange for retaining the toll revenues.

• Under the proposed deal with GDOT, the consortium would pay the state a $23.6 billion concession fee in six annual installments. The group would collect tolls for 50 years.
• The state would oversee the project. The operator would set dynamic tolls within contractual limits established by the State Road and Tollway Authority.

Between the lines: Public transit buses and state-registered vanpools would be allowed to use the express lanes.

• However, the project scope does not include additional transit infrastructure like stations.
• GDOT said it's working with other agencies "to advance Express Lanes Transit (ELT) to create more regional connectivity."

Threat level: Nearby communities on the project's east side like Montreal Woods and Lindmoor Woods have raised concerns about noise and the elevated express lanes becoming eyesores.

• GDOT spokesperson Natalie Dale told Axios the agency is committed to maintaining open communication with communities and plans to minimize "construction-related impacts where feasible."

What's next: GDOT and Top End Mobility Group are expected to sign a comprehensive agreement in December and spend the next year finalizing the design. Construction could begin in late 2027 or 2028.

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👋🏽 Delano here!

Look, y'all, the Dream are one loss away from elimination. Whether you're taking PTO, calling in sick or "working remotely" with your camera off, Atlanta needs to show up for this team.

Why it matters: The Golden State Valkyries lead the series 3-2. Atlanta must win Thursday to force Game 7 on Saturday.

• Otherwise, the Dream's pursuit of their first WNBA championship will end at State Farm Arena.

Friction point: The game tips off at 12:30pm — yeah, I reacted the same way when the WNBA announced that unconventional start time.

Between the lines: The lunchtime tipoff allows the Dream to play at State Farm Arena before the Hawks host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 8pm. The Hawks pushed their game back an hour to accommodate the Finals.

• Dream ownership wasn't happy. In an open letter Tuesday, the owners said they warned the league months ago about scheduling conflicts and questioned whether it expected Atlanta to make the Finals.
• They also thanked the Hawks and State Farm Arena for making room for the Dream.

Yes, but: Tickets were still available for Thursday's game. So if you haven't figured out your PTO, sick day or "work remotely" situation, you've still got time.

Zoom in: Bars and restaurants across the city will be showing the game, including Dream-promoted official watch parties.

How to watch: USA Network and Peacock.

The bottom line: It's on the Dream to win. It's on Atlanta to make some noise.

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Voters who stick around to the end of the ballot will be met with three constitutional amendments to consider.

Here's a quick cheat sheet to the ballot questions:

💵 Property tax breaks

Georgia would increase the amount of land a single owner can enroll in the state's conservation-use property tax program from 2,000 to 4,000 acres if voters approve this measure.

• Advocates like the Georgia Farm Bureau argue that the policy would help preserve family-owned farms and timberland and reduce pressure to develop the property.
• However, larger landowners would see the most benefit and local governments could experience a drop in property tax revenue.

🧑‍⚖️ Probate judge elections

Another question asks if every county probate judicial race in Georgia should be nonpartisan.

• The move would bring the judges, who handle wills, estates, guardianships, conservatorships and other matters, in line with nearly every other elected Georgia judgeship.
• Some opponents argue the change could reduce turnout and would make it more difficult for voters to evaluate who's on the ballot.

🚨 911 funding

If approved, this constitutional amendment would allow state lawmakers to create a dedicated fund to help pay for the transition to a new 911 system across Georgia.

🗳️ Local ballot questions

Some voters across Georgia, including metro Atlanta, will decide local ballot measures involving education and transportation sales taxes, property tax breaks and redevelopment powers.

• Check your sample ballot at Georgia's My Voter Page for more information.

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Three people, including a juvenile, are accused of conspiring to commit a shooting at Cherokee High School in Canton. (AJC)

⚖️ Families of the former Midtown International School have filed a lawsuit, alleging they did not receive a refund for tuition they already paid. (Decaturish)

📚 Darkly Rooted Books, a Black-owned bookshop catering to fans of sci-fi, fantasy and horror, has opened in Atlanta's English Avenue neighborhood. (The Atlanta Voice)

👀 The mayor of the town of Milner said he put a tracker on the police chief's truck because he was concerned about his time sheets and city vehicle usage. (WSB)

• The city's entire full-time police force has since resigned.

😂 Thomas is watching Atlanta-born comedian Mandal's new stand-up special "$$$$$$."

🤣 Kristal knows it's ridiculous, but this Kindle page turner would be perfect for her.

This newsletter was edited by Crystal Hill.