From: "Friends of Transit" To: Subject: Light-rail fight escalates - New initiative to ask Tempe, Phoenix voters to ban system Date: Saturday, October 09, 2004 1:09 AM Light-rail fight escalates New initiative to ask Tempe, Phoenix voters to ban system By GARIN GROFF TRIBUNE - Light-rail foes started organizing an initiative drive Thursday to kill the controversial system by asking voters in Tempe and Phoenix to ban the rail in their communities. This would force Phoenix voters to the polls for the second time on light rail, as they approved the system in 2000. But it would give Tempe voters their first say on a matter the City Council approved without explicit public approval. The initiative was launched Thursday by No on 400, an anti-rail group that wants to defeat Proposition 400 because the regional transportation plan includes extensions of an already-approved, 20-mile rail system in Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix. No on 400 hopes that killing the already-approved system would automatically eliminate the need for extensions. This tactic drew a furious response from Proposition 400 supporters, who said new elections are a laughable diversion. "Out of revenge, they're attempting to revisit history and prevent progress from being made," said Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. "Their attempt is to hurt this Valley and to hurt this city and that's unconscionable." No on 400 wants to eliminate the rail segment of Proposition 400, trim the amount of bus service and, instead, build more freeways. Proposition 400 would build 27 miles of rail extensions - which is 15 percent of the measure's $15.8 billion plan to fund freeways, street projects and bus service. The primary source of funding is a half-cent sales that will expire at the end of 2005 unless voters renew it in the Nov. 2 election. No on 400 chairman Dave Thompson said he's organizing the initiative because Phoenix voters approved light rail with too little information - and in too small a force at the polls. Voters approved the rail in a March special election that drew 25 percent of registered voters. Thompson wants another special election. Tempe voters were misled, Thompson said, because they authorized only a study of light rail at the polls and were promised a later vote on construction. The second vote never came. Thompson noted the promise in a 1999 letter signed by the mayor and City Council that said "The Council has stated clearly that there will be a vote on rail construction." "The Tempe City Council reneged on that promise," Thompson said. "The citizens of Tempe never voted on light rail and we don't think they will." Thompson is aiming for a March election in Phoenix and a March 2006 vote in Tempe, even as light-rail construction is slated to start by the time of the first vote. Gordon questioned the legality of such a vote for a project once bonds have been issued and construction has started. Already, about $140 million has been spent on the system. Expenses include a contract for vehicles and a contract on a maintenance facility that workers are scheduled to start building next week. Thompson said the vote would require construction to stop immediately, even if hundreds of millions of dollars had been spent and streets torn up. Proposition 400 supporters blasted Thompson's reasoning on the Phoenix vote. "You don't get a do-over because you don't like the turnout," said Jay Thorne, spokesman for Yes on 400. He and others said rail opponents are trying to confuse voters by blurring the lines between existing rail plans and extensions in Proposition 400. Also Thursday, Proposition 400 supporters staged an event with Gov. Janet Napolitano and her rival from the 2002 gubernatorial election. Napolitano and Matt Salmon said Proposition 400 is vital to the state's economy because businesses demand good transportation systems. Salmon said the plan is key to the East Valley because projects near Williams Gateway Airport will help the area become a major employment center. _____ To unsubscribe, please Click Here