January 12, 2003: Arizona Daily Star Endorses Light Rail

In the lead editorial in the Arizona Daily Star today, the editorial board endorsed light rail and other forms of high-quality public transit with convincing arguments. The editorial follows:

Taxing gridlock

Arizona needs to make sacrifices if it is to avoid an environmental hell.

A campaign has been launched advocating that rules governing the use of state gasoline taxes be changed to generate more money for mass transit systems. At present, vehicle registration fees and gas taxes can be used only for building roads. Considering that many parts of the state are already choked with cars and trucks and the lung-polluting emissions they generate, it makes sense to dedicate more money for a variety of cleaner and more efficient transportation alternatives.

The idea of changing the state's Constitution to permit more flexibility in the way the gas tax and vehicle registration fees are used comes from the Arizona Conservation Alliance. It represents 60 groups with varying environmental interests. This is an idea that deserves serious attention from the Legislature and the governor's office.

Despite the American love affair with the internal combustion engine, it seems clear that if we don't look to alternatives to personal cars and trucks and bigger and wider roads, we will face diminishing returns in several important areas: Traffic will move even slower than it now does on Oracle Road at 5 p.m., foul smelling air laden with carcinogenic gases will increase, the rate of respiratory ailments will mushroom and eventually Tucson will take on the toxic brown-gray hue of downtown Phoenix during a winter inversion. That's just the beginning, of course, but it's not inevitable.

Every major American city that rolled into the second half of the twentieth century with new interstate highways ended up with more and more freeways until vehicular strangulation made their eyes bulge wide enough to see that electric buses, trolley cars, a light rail system, commuter trains - indeed, a real system - was essential for the continuance of personal and commercial health.

For far too long, Arizona has spent most of its energy steadfastly ignoring innovative approaches to transportation and pollution reduction. Our conservative politicians are convinced that we cannot afford vastly expensive transportation improvements beyond the quaint technology of steel and cement freeways. Even that antiquated solution, however, has been consistently scoffed at in Tucson, where residents will simultaneously gripe about the terrible spector of a crosstown freeway while lamenting the fact that their speedometers seem permanently stuck at 30 mph.

It seems clear enough, judging by the evolution of other American cities, that Tucson and other Arizona cities will eventually make huge sacrifices to develop transportation systems and rescue themselves from gridlock and emphysema.

But, first they must go through a step-by-step process: They must experience embryonic gridlock and air degradation, such as we see these days in Flagstaff and Prescott Valley; then, eventually, they become Scottsdale and Tucson, where hazy brown air slithers in washes and riverbeds; and sooner or later they become the center of Phoenix, where air pollution health alerts have become a way of life.

No city or state is obligated to accept such a fate. With enlightened political leaders and an involved electorate, we can make changes that will get us off this treadmill to environmental hell. The proposal from the Conservation Alliance is a good beginning. The gas tax and vehicle registration fees now generate approximately $1 billion a year. The law governing the use of that fund is broad enough to allow the state to dip into it for the Highway Patrol, but narrow enough to make it illegal to pave bike paths or build trolley, bus or subway lines.

Changing the law to give the Legislature more flexibility in how those funds are dispensed is a good first step toward making the Arizona of the future a place where we might still want to live.

October 16, 2002: Tucson Chamber of Commerce Supports Public Transit

Following a meeting with members of TST, The Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce has issued "The Chamber's Position on Transportation". Included in the position is this statement:

"The Tucson Chamber supports public transit and recognizes its importance in fulfilling the transportation needs of the community's workforce and reducing congestion on the existing roadway system.

"The concept of incorporating light rail in Tucson's transportation system is significant. Unfortunately, the Tucson population is not familiar with the light rail issue and needs to be educated.

"Light rail can work in Tucson as long as a concrete plan is developed and presented to the public. Tucson also needs a dedicated funding source prior to submitting the plan to the Federal Government. A reasonable timeline needs to be offered. This outline should include revamping an express bus system as soon as possible.

"With proper planning and education, the probability of light rail being placed on a future ballot can be a reality."

October 24, 2001: Tucson Downtown Alliance Executive Committee Unanimously Supports TST

The Tucson Downtown Alliance (TDA) is a large and influential group of Downtown businesses and residents who care deeply about Tucson's future and the revitalization of Downtown. After hearing about TST's high-quality transit plan, the TDA executive committee voted unanimously on October 24 to support Tucsonans fo Sensible Transportation with the following statement:

"Any regional transportation plan should include Light Rail as an essential element of a comprehensive transit system that includes Downtown as its hub."

They are sending a letter to that effect to the Citizens' Advisory Committee (which will decide on the May transportation ballot proposal), Mayor and Council, the CIty Manager, and the press.

We at TST thank TDA for taking this position, and encourage any other Tucsonans to arrange similar public statements of support from any group with which you are associated, from gardening clubs to neighborhood associations to business groups. We need to make our voices as loud and public as possible.

The transportation ballot proposal will be set the first week of December, so it is crucial that we all spread the word right now on the importance of high-quality transit in Tucson's future, or else we could end up with a ballot proposal from the past with nothing worth supporting.

September 6, 2001: TST's General Membership Unanimously Endorses High-Quality Transit Plan:

In a Thursday night meeting, TST's General Membership unanimously endorsed the TST High-Quality Transit Plan for Tucson's Future, as developed by the TST Steering Committee. Response was enthusiastic and the membership is now galvanized to go out and spread the word on this plan to make sure that Tucson voters have a chance to approve it come next May's special election.

TST member Bob Cook perhaps summed it up best when he said, "When I see this map (of the routes on our plan), I see the city I have always wanted to live in."

Members also edited and unanimously endorsed the TST Five-Point Platform, which can be found on this website.

Report by TST Co-Founder Gene Caywood

The TST steering committee and membership was well represented at the Women's Transportation Seminar City Council Candidate Forum held July 12 at El Parador Resturant. Observed in attendance were Steve Abernathy, Joy Herr-Carrillo, Ron Spark, Gene Caywood and Dale Shumway. All but one of the candidates for city council were present.

When asked if they would support an east-west cross-town freeway, no one said they would. Several said we needed to improve our roads with Jessie Lugo (Ward 5 candidate) coming out the strongest in support of a system of parkways.

When asked "Would you support the investigation of the possibility of a rail transit system?", a question submitted by Steve Abernathy, every candidate stated they would. It was obvious, however, that many of them had doubts about many of the details and were concerned about the cost and where the money would come from. Stongest support came from Gayle Hartman (Ward 6 candidate) who was the only one to mention and support light rail prior to the specific question being asked.

July 2, 2001: Mayor and Council unanimously vote to gather public comment to create a transportation initiative:

By Tony Davis, Copyright 2001 ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Residents will get to tell City Hall how it should improve streets and the bus system and how to pay for it, the City Council agreed Monday, July 2. The council voted unanimously to tell its staff to return Aug. 6 with ideas about how to get public comment about what kind of transportation package the city should put on the ballot for voter approval either next March or May. The city also will expand the 16-member Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee to include representatives of other groups. The committee will help put together the transportation proposal by December.

While council members showed some division Monday on how to raise the money for the transportation projects and how to spend it, they were united on the need to act quickly to get a transportation program on the ballot and to use what Councilman Fred Ronstadt called a "bottom up" approach in soliciting ideas from residents. "This is the most important issue facing this community," Mayor Bob Walkup told the council. "We talk about roads, transit, vans and sidewalks. We all agree we need to get the best plan we can. The only way we can do a lot of this is with public input."

Council members tossed out the idea of a November transportation tax vote on the grounds that it would be almost impossible to come up with an acceptable package and meet legal deadlines to get on the ballot by early August. City Council members also seemed to agree that the money should be spent on roads and transit. And some council members said they wanted to look at other possible fund-raising measures besides the half-cent-per-dollar sales tax increase that City Manager James Keene has proposed. The tax would raise $40 million a year for 10 years.

"We've talked and talked and talked about this issue. I've had two town halls on transportation," Councilwoman Carol West said. "My constituents come to them and they're so disappointed with my saying that the money isn't there. In my neighborhood, I go get my mail after dark so I don't have to hear my neighbors come talk to me about their streets."

Councilman Steve Leal said the sales tax is regressive because it hits the poor the hardest. But spending half the money on transit and a significant portion on fixing city streets would make it less regressive, he said.

To begin public comment right now, go to our Get Involved page to find emails for Mayor and Council and the City Manager, then let them know that you want dedicated funding for public transit with Light Rail as a flagship. We will advise you of all upcoming opportunities to comment via this website.

Report on TST's First Public Meeting on June 20, 2001:

It was standing-room-only in the somewhat labyrinthine but cozy basement of Downtown Tucson's El Charro restaurant. We sent out invitations to about 400 people in all, and 53 of those folks came to have their voices heard as we called for Light Rail to be brought to Tucson. By the end of the evening, the atmosphere was electric, as all of us left the building galvanized to spread the word to all of our friends, neighbors, relatives and elected officials that sensible Tucsonans want Light Rail now, and we are willing to pay for it.

About half of the attendees arrived at 6pm for no-host dinner and discussion, and by 7:10 we began the formal program with a 1990 video called "Light Rail: The Proven Alternative." Despite its age, it did a good job of explaining the attributes and benefits of Light Rail as primarily experienced in Portland and San Diego. (We're working on finding a video on more recent systems in Denver, Dallas, Salt Lake CIty, and others.) After the video, co-founders Gene Caywood and Steve Farley addressed the crowd and asked how many had ever been on Light Rail before. Just about everyone raised their hand, so Steve encouraged them to go out and tell everyone they meet how great it is, and how much we need it here. This is a grassroots, all-volunteer organization which aims to create public demand in Tucson for Light Rail; in pursuit of that goal, we need everyone to help however they can.

There was a lively session of questions and answers from the audience, and it was decided that TST supporters should email any questions about Light Rail and arguments against Light Rail to Steve at info@TucsonLightRail.org who will post them and their responses on the website. (Those pages are now up and ready for input: Questions and Arguments.) The website will then act as a central clearinghouse to help our grassroots supporters fight for light rail more effectively.

We passed around a sheet asking for names of those who would like to volunteer and/or be considered for the steering committee; 40 people (75% of those attending) signed up. Volunteers will be contacted within the next month by our Volunteer Coordinator (yet to be named) and the steering committee of 8-12 people will be formed sometime in the next few weeks.

Among those attending were representatives of the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee, the Tucson Department of Transportation, the Pima Association of Governments, the Ward 6 City Council Office, Old Pueblo Trolley, the Metropolitan Energy Commission, along with concerned citizens from all walks of life and all parts of Tucson. All were united in their determination to make Light Rail happen in Tucson, and to start the process right now.

For news of upcoming events, see How to Get Involved.