Neighbor state found success in light rail funded by local-option tax

Light rail has been a big success in Salt Lake City, transportation consultant Tom Warne told Idaho’s governor’s transportation task force, in response to questioning from panel members including state lawmakers. The system has been largely funded by incremental increases in the sales tax in Salt Lake County, he said; those voter-approved hikes required just simple majority approval. “The ridership numbers are way more than anyone projected. … The public is very, very supportive and likes it.” He added, “Now, transit never makes money - nor do highways, for that matter. … But the fact is that people like it enough that they want to support it and continue subsidizing it.”