From: "Friends of Transit" To: Subject: 2 light-rail foes lead key panels Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 1:25 PM 2 light-rail foes lead key panels Pair vow Capitol oversight Mike Walbert The Arizona Republic Dec. 14, 2004 12:00 AM As two Gilbert Republicans settle into their posts as heads of the state House and Senate Transportation committees, their goals have become clear: Watch light rail and watch it closely. Sen. Thayer Verschoor and Rep. Andy Biggs, who represent District 22 in Gilbert and count anti-light-rail bankroller Dave Thompson among their constituents, were named to head their committees last month. While Verschoor and Biggs were the most outspoken opponents of light rail leading up to the Nov. 2 election, appearing at several news conferences and public debates, both conservative legislators say they will not make major changes to Proposition 400, the half-cent transportation sales tax that voters approved in last month's election. Instead, they say they accept voters' approval of the light-rail component and want to make sure it and the rest of the freeway and surface street projects contained in Proposition 400 are implemented efficiently. "If we're going to do light rail, let's make sure we do it right," Biggs, 46, said. Verschoor, 43, and Biggs, who carpool to the Capitol, agree that changing any form of the plan would send the wrong message to voters, 58 percent of whom approved the overall transportation initiative. "As far as I'm concerned the voters have spoken and now we're moving forward," Verschoor said. Biggs added that he does not want to "emasculate" those votes. Strong standards wanted Instead, the two Republicans say they are pushing hard to establish a strong set of standards to judge the performance of light rail, which they have derided as slow, costly and the wrong solution to the Valley's traffic congestion. That means devising a system to collect and examine data about safety, ridership, taxes and budget issues. "I think a lot of people, when they heard the term (light rail), were thinking of . . . commuter rail, rapid rail," Verschoor said. "What light rail is, it's going to be 50-plus miles of trolley." Transportation officials say they look forward to working with the two legislators. Eric Anderson, transportation director for the Maricopa Association of Governments, said he does not foresee butting heads with Biggs and Verschoor. MAG officials are expected to meet with the pair early next year, Anderson said. Valley Metro Rail, the non-profit, public corporation overseeing the starter-line segment, has yet to meet with Biggs or Verschoor, but will also do so soon. "Valley Metro Rail looks forward to working with the new leadership in the transportation committees to put in place those measures that will result in effective measurement of the system," said John Farry, governmental relations director. "There's a lot at stake." Thompson, the Gilbert businessman who poured more than $1 million into the No on 400 campaign, said he has not spoken with either Verschoor or Biggs since the election and was not aware of any action the pair might take toward light rail. The two legislators have witnessed firsthand the Valley's population growth. Gilbert, their home base, hit the 165,600 population mark in October and adds close to 1,000 residents each month. The town, which is undergoing extensive road upheaval in preparation for increased traffic and the Santan Freeway in 2006, illustrates the need for effective transportation amenities in the Valley. Biggs and Verschoor have known each other for about 16 years, and entered the Legislature at the same time in 2002. They have often criticized MAG's $15.8 billion regional transportation plan. In addition to their criticism of the $2.3 billion light-rail expansion plan, Biggs and Verschoor have argued that MAG's plan lacked true regional foresight despite the two years of public hearings that preceded it. Light rail, which uses federal and municipal funding, will cover 20 miles through Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa in its starter line. The starter segment is scheduled for a 2008 completion. Proposition 400 calls for about 27.7 miles of light-rail extensions in portions of the Valley, with an additional 10 miles planned in Phoenix and Glendale. Audits are planned According to MAG's Anderson, the entire regional transportation plan, including light rail, will undergo an independent performance audit by the Office of the Auditor General every five years, with the first one set for 2010. The criteria have yet to be set, but Anderson said he would like to see a focus on ridership, maintenance cost and safety. Light rail also must meet a series of federal regulations. If light rail was deemed a failure, Anderson said the funds for it could be shifted to "beef up" bus service or to build more high-occupancy vehicle lanes on freeways. However, the light-rail money could not go toward building freeways or streets because the plan prohibits shifting mass transit funds to them. Biggs said he is still seeking answers for a viable backup plan in case light rail fails. "I'm suspecting that light rail will underperform," Biggs said. "If light rail does underperform, then you are bound within the terms of the proposition." _____ To unsubscribe, please Click Here