Light rail measures to decide next steps

In a season of hotly contested congressional and legislative races, two advisory ballot measures about light rail have garnered little attention.

The outcome to light rail supporters and opponents alike, however, is great.

Spokane Transit Authority will use the election results to determine whether a 15.5-mile light rail system between Spokane and Liberty Lake should be pursued or dropped entirely.

Proponents say the time is now to prepare for population and traffic growth, and they contend that a light rail system will spur economic development.

“This is one of those moments in time that is an incredible opportunity,” said STA Light Rail Steering Committee chairwoman Phyllis Holmes. “This is one of those windows that’s open briefly.”

Opponents say the system is too costly for the number of passengers it will carry, that congestion in Spokane County isn’t bad enough to warrant light rail, and Spokane County residents can’t afford the $263 million price tag, in 2006 dollars.

“The budget on the initial offering for the trains is at $263 million, but by the time it’s completed and ready for travel it will be a budget of $385 million to construct it completely,” said David J. Levitch, who helped write the opposing viewpoint for Spokane County’s online voters guide.

Neither question on the Nov. 7 ballot would commit voters to new taxes at this time, but the first asks if STA should nail down a funding package to pay for the $263 million project. Such a package would most likely include a local sales tax increase of up to 0.3 percent – 3 cents on a $10 purchase.

The second question asks if Spokane Transit should use its existing resources to pay for engineering studies and design work for the proposed 14-station, diesel-powered system.

There are several scenarios, depending on the outcome of the twin votes:

“A “no” vote to both questions would effectively kill the project for the foreseeable future because the STA Board has indicated it won’t spend more money on light rail without voter buy-in.

“”Yes” on both would give STA the go-ahead to come up with a specific payment plan and continue work on designing the system.

“”Yes” to only the first would tell STA to come up with a funding plan, but to not spend any more money on light rail until and unless voters approve new taxes.

“And “yes” to only the second question would indicate a desire for STA to use its existing funds to finish up designing a light rail system.

Citizens for Light Rail formed recently to support the ballot issues. The group’s signs have begun to appear in yards and windows, declaring “Light Rail, Right Track.”

“Spokane is going to grow. Spokane is in 20 years going to have congestion we don’t believe we have now,” said campaign chairwoman Michele Maher. “Where are you going to put another lane of freeway downtown? There’s nowhere.”

“This area needs to have a solid basis for economic development, and I’m a firm believer in not doing knee-jerk reactions. If we wait 20 to 30 years, we may be in a position where we wish we had moved ahead,” Maher added.

Citizens for Light Rail has raised about $3,730 in cash so far, said campaign treasurer Mike Brewer, who described the campaign as “low key.”

At $500, the group’s top donor is John Gustafson, who works for an engineering firm in Pennsylvania.

The group also has collected two $250 contributions, from Bob Voris and from Pat and Linda Dockrey; and three $200 donations, from Liberty Lake City Councilman Brian Sayrs, John A. Lackey and Ray Bohn.

Sayrs served on the Light Rail Steering Committee and is chairman of the STA Board. Lackey, of David Evans and Associates, worked on Spokane light rail studies.

Most donors contributed $25 to $50, said Brewer.

Citizens for Light Rail has spent $2,962.10 for signs and newspaper ads.

There is no organized campaign opposing the ballot measures.

“It’s too late,” said Levitch, who added that he believes people aren’t going to vote for it anyway, especially those who don’t live on the proposed route between Spokane and Liberty Lake.

“The federal government is not going to support this project so it’s going to be completely local taxpayers’ responsibility,” he said.

Holmes concedes that federal funding is going to cities with much more congestion than Spokane but asks, “Do we want to wait until we’re in crisis?”