Chances dwindling for transit plan input

It boils down to trains, buses or automobiles.

For the past few years, Spokane Transit Authority has studied a variety of ways to transport large numbers of people from fast-growing Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley to downtown Spokane and points in between.

The coming weeks offer the public its last chance to help shape an array of rapid-transit alternatives that range from a $657 million electrified train system running every 10 minutes, to doing nothing other than maintaining and expanding the current bus system. Only one of the options is likely to be selected for voter consideration.

In just a few months, after the STA board has chosen its preferred option, the public’s only choice will be yes or no to that proposal.

“We’re certainly getting to the wire,” said STA board member and Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richard.

All of STA’s work to this point has culminated in a draft Environmental Impact Statement on the various options – a precursor to any federal funding and a one-stop information source regarding details of each alternative.

Options include variations of electric trains, diesel trains, special buses and assorted combinations of those technologies.

The least polluting, most time-saving options are also those most likely to encourage economic development, because fixed tracks attract more investment than bus routes. But train systems also cost a lot more.

Is the extra benefit worth the extra cost?

That’s something the public will have to determine, said Light Rail Project Manager K.C. Traver.

“Maybe we should set a budget for what is realistic and affordable for the community, and with that budget evaluate what we can afford,” Traver said.

Previous surveys and non-scientific questionnaires have shown people prefer the more-expensive train systems to less-expensive bus options.

The results of a telephone survey conducted earlier this month will be presented Thursday to the Light Rail Steering Committee. While previous polls questioned the general public, this one went straight to those who will ultimately decide whether a light rail system is built – the voters.

STA Board members have repeatedly said they won’t pursue light rail without voter approval.

That’s in large part because any system will require levying additional local taxes.

Spokane likely would have trouble competing for some federal grants that use traffic congestion levels in formulas to determine which projects to fund. Compared with other urban areas, Spokane’s traffic congestion would be considered light, said Jerry Lenzi, director of the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Eastern Region.

“Those that are trying to do the right thing and plan for the future are penalized,” Lenzi said.

But Spokane may be a better candidate for a new federal transit program that addresses small projects with budgets no larger than $250 million. Going after such a grant would rule out the most-expensive light rail projects on the table.

Richard said the safest bet is to assume most, if not all, of the money needed to build a light rail system would have to come from local sources such as sales and property taxes.

“I’m skeptical that this thing can pencil. I’m skeptical that the voters will support this,” he said.

Some of the options could be modified to make them more or less expensive, as well, Traver said.

Subtracting cars, shortening passing tracks and scaling back stations can all lower the cost of systems.

For instance, the shared-track system calls for dual-car trains traveling along a single track with several passing lanes.

But scaling back that system to one-car trains, reducing the passing track and building less elaborate stations takes the price from $408 million to $226 million.

So after each option’s benefits and drawbacks are weighed, there remains the question of what the public will pay for to enhance the community’s transportation system.

“Are people willing to provide money?” Lenzi asked. “And if so, how much?”