With two weeks until metro Atlantans vote on the TSPLOST referendum, Governor Nathan Deal announces the tolls on Georgia 400 will be coming down in 2013.

Deal has been under been under harsh criticism for issuing bonds to allow the tolls to stay up for another decade. Thursday he announced a change in plans.

“We will end the tolls on Georgia 400,” Deal said. “The tolls themselves will end by December 2013.”

Deal says there is definitely a link between this decision and the July 31^st transportation sales tax vote.

“One of the arguments against TSPLOST has been that you cannot trust government to do what it says it will do,” Deal said. “I want to remove that impression.”

But WSB political analyst Bill Crane says it still may not matter.

“This timing will appear, particularly to voters leaning or trending to vote no against the TSPLOST, as a bribe,” Crane said.

Crane says you can consider this an “October Surprise” in July. He applauds the Governor for making the move, but it might be too little too late.

“It more reminds people of the broken promise that it will shift the opinion of the TSPLOST,” Crane said.

Crane says you can expect to see more high-profile endorsements of the TSPLOST before the July 31^st vote.

While there are likely thousands of Fulton County residents thrilled that they will save at least a buck a day, others are worried about what the state will do with the money generated by the tolls.

“I don’t mind the tolls on Georgia 400,” said Jason Haley co-owner of Fisheye Media Productions in Alpharetta.

Haley is worried that -- without toll money -- much-needed improvements along Georgia 400 will fall by the side of the road. He likes the idea of saving money on the tolls, but not at the expense of traffic jams that could cost him business.