From: "Friends of Transit" To: Subject: Prop. 400 gets thumbs-up Date: Wednesday, November 03, 2004 4:39 PM Prop. 400 gets thumbs-up Vote is seen as sign for future unity Pat Flannery and Bob Golfen The Arizona Republic Nov. 3, 2004 12:00 AM Extension of the Valley's half-cent transportation sales tax cruised to easy victory at the polls Tuesday, giving life to an ambitious freeway and mass-transit plan whose popularity with voters was in question to the end of an acrimonious campaign. Jubilant Valley mayors called Proposition 400's strong showing a sign of positive public sentiment about public transit and a good omen for future regional cooperation on other issues, like water conservation and air quality. "The fact that we were successful gives us all confidence that we can succeed elsewhere," Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross said. Opponents, meanwhile, vowed to get onboard with the plan in the wake of the convincing defeat. "Obviously, the voters decided what they want to do and we'll support it," said Gilbert millionaire businessman Dave Thompson, who financed the $1 million-plus opposition campaign. Voters agreed to extend Maricopa County's half-cent sales tax for another 20 years, helping fund a $15.8 billion regional transportation plan that includes new and expanded freeways, expansion of bus and light-rail systems, and improvements to major streets. State and federal transportation funds also will contribute to its cost. Crafted over 2 1/2 years by Valley mayors through the Maricopa Association of Governments, its earliest projects will include the construction of Loop 303 in the West Valley, widening of U.S. 60 in the East Valley and improvements to Loop 101 in the central Valley. "The passage of this is the future of the West Valley," said Jack Lunsford of Westmarc, a West Valley business and civic coalition. "If this hadn't passed, we would've choked on our own growth." Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon crowed that the light-rail system being built by Phoenix and Tempe passed another critical test, the first being when Phoenix voters approved the initial 20-mile segment in 2000. That segment's construction is just getting under way. The new plan will finance $2.3 billion worth of extensions into Valley suburbs. "While this is a regional transportation plan, the opposition made this a referendum on light rail, and it passed big," Gordon said. "This shows the voters are continuing to invest in the future of this Valley." Opponents were surprised by the margin of victory after spending heavily on a late advertising blitz that seemed to be moving undecided voters into the "no" column up until the election. "The voters can make the decision, and they can't say they weren't informed," Thompson said. "If the voters decide that's what they want, then I'm going to get on the light rail." Former Gov. Fife Symington, whose consulting group, Strategic Vision, managed the No on 400 campaign, said the goal was to present the opposition on an equal footing with the pro side. "We gave the voters a chance to be fully informed and make a wise decision," Symington said. Former U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon, an avid supporter of the plan, said the margin of approval "tells us very, very clearly that people want not only freeways but mass transit." Political consultant Edward Sanchez of Jamieson & Gutierrez also credited a heavy grass-roots education campaign that began early this year. It was designed to tell voters how they would benefit from the various transportation elements. Heavy voter turnout helped the measure, but Thompson also attributed the opposition campaign's failure to Yes on 400's "very negative campaign that bombarded the airways in the last week." Thompson himself was targeted by some of the ads. He said he and his committee will meet during the next few days to decide whether to pursue initiatives in Phoenix, Glendale, Mesa and Tempe that target the 20-mile starter light-rail line or extensions already approved by those cities. One of those disappointed by the result, however, was Gene Nyman, 56, a union activist from east Mesa who said he doesn't believe light rail will help most Valley residents, who, like him, have an attachment to their cars. "I don't see how the light rail will help," Nyman said. "I was hoping to see the freeways quite a bit more." _____ To unsubscribe, please Click Here