The dream of many cities is to re-create the light-rail success of Portland, which just celebrated its 20th year of service. Back then, Portland decided to forgo building an east-west freeway and instead built the first 15 miles of its popular mass-transit system, which eventually spurred economic development.

Portland deserves credit for this forward-looking decision, but the fact that taxpayers nationwide covered $178 million of the costs certainly made it easier.

Spokane County has long been studying the possibility of light rail, with the thought that the federal government would subsidize its startup costs, too. But three years ago, the feds said traffic congestion here didn’t warrant it, thus 60 percent of the funding for the initial proposal was lost.

Nonetheless, transit officials scaled back plans and decided on a 15-mile starter system that wouldn’t exceed $300 million (in 2006 dollars) and would be available by 2014. They’ve held more than 300 workshops and public forums spreading the news and listening to public feedback. Now comes the hard part: asking voters if they would be willing to help pay for it by accepting a tax increase.

Two advisory votes are on the ballot. One asks whether voters want the STA board to devise a financing plan for light rail. The other asks whether STA should spend $5 million on preliminary engineering work.

This isn’t Portland, Part II. Residents there – at least initially – didn’t have to weigh the costs of building the first 15 miles versus other needs. Plus, the capacity and tolerance for tax increases is lower here than in wealthier cities.

Political leaders can only go to the voters so many times with public projects before they say, “Enough!” Voters need to weigh this expenditure with others that will soon be pulling into the station.

Among them: a new wastewater facility ($100 million), a new jail/courts complex ($85 million to $450 million), funding for basic bus service when the temporary sales tax expires in 2008, funding for street maintenance when Spokane’s 10-year bond expires and funding for basic services such as fire, police and libraries.

Given the challenges ahead for the region, it’s asking voters a lot to pay for a $263 million transportation system (in 2006 dollars) that wouldn’t be a practical option for residents of north and south Spokane, Airway Heights, Cheney and other areas.

In fact, it’s asking too much.

Certainly the region needs a strong mass-transit option, because the population is expected to increase by 35 percent in the next 20 years. But it might have to turn to a system such as Bus Rapid Transit, which delivers more service per dollar.

BRT offers a higher quality service than regular buses, without the high costs of building and maintaining rail. The buses have the look and feel of light-rail vehicles, which draws riders turned off by traditional buses. Rapid transit is achieved by construction upgrades along existing roads, building some BRT-only lanes, preferential right-of-way treatment in congested areas and limited stops. Passengers prepay to keep the system moving more quickly.

Eugene, Ore., is expected to complete construction of a BRT system this year, and it got funding help from the feds. Perhaps the future for mass transit in Spokane County lies in another Oregon city.