STA sets aside light rail proposal

Light rail plans ran off-track Thursday evening when the Spokane Transit Authority disbanded the group charged with planning rapid transit between Liberty Lake and downtown Spokane.

STA Board members unanimously voted to set aside the project, although they commended the Light Rail Steering Committee for its work.

Their decision comes just a month after voters turned down two light rail advisory questions.

Some called the lengthy questions on the ballot confusing.

“I don’t know that we’ll ever know what the voters were saying or why they said it,” said STA Board member and Spokane City Councilman Al French.

Others said the issues’ failure alone is enough to indicate that now isn’t the right time to move forward.

“If people aren’t willing to pay for it, we can’t make them pay for it,” said STA Board member and Spokane Valley City Councilman Richard Munson.

Past promises regarding a 0.3 percent sales tax increase approved by voters in 2004 figured heavily in the decision.

That tax increase, which saved STA from drastic service cuts, will be up for voter renewal in 2008. Board members said they wouldn’t spend any of that money on light rail without voter approval — buy-in that didn’t come in November.

“We have the potential of going back on our word if we’re not careful,” said Spokane County Commissioner and STA Board member Mark Richard. “I do think that if we don’t respond to the vote in the proper way we threaten the future of this organization.”

The board did leave open the possibility of a light rail system some day, however. It approved setting aside $5 million of its 2007 budget for right of way purchases.

“Now is not the time to build light rail, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t preserve the right of way for the future,” said Spokane City Councilman and STA Board member Brad Stark.

The trouble is just what right of way to purchase. Engineering studies to determine how much land and where it’s needed have not been completed.

Several light rail supporters made one last effort to save the project, testifying that to postpone it now would only raise the price in the future and squander an opportunity to improve the community.

“We’ve got to look forward for our grandchildren,” said Richard Bryant.

Light rail was touted by its fans as a catalyst for economic growth. Development would be attracted to stations along its route, they said.

One study found that a light rail system between downtown Spokane and Liberty Lake could increase property values along its length by as much as $780 million, and spur the creation of more than 16,000 jobs over 20 years.

It’s estimated the system would have cost $263 million to build.

Munson pushed for the Board to further explore bus rapid transit as a cheaper alternative.

Bus rapid transit was examined earlier in the light rail process but was rejected because fewer people were interested in using it than in riding trains, and it didn’t have the same economic development benefits as light rail.

Light Rail Steering Committee Chairwoman Phyllis Holmes said one last possibility for light rail in Spokane is the Spokane Regional Transportation Council — the only other local group authorized to study regional transportation projects. Its board could take light rail under its wing.

But that might be problematic.

At least three SRTC directors also sit on STA’s board.