From: "FRIENDS OF TRANSIT NEWS" To: "Friends of Transit" Subject: Transportation - In the Arizona Republic Opinions Section Date: Sunday, August 26, 2001 9:52 PM Transportation task force sadly single-minded Aug. 27, 2001 The Arizona Republic http://www.arizonarepublic.com/opinions/articles/0827brossart27.html We are disappointed in the narrow focus of the Governor's Vision 21 Transportation Task Force in tackling our state's transportation issues. Its singular focus on the automobile as the panacea to our state's transit issues is unacceptable. The task force recommendations place a priority on roads, at the expense of other critical alternative transportation modes. We cannot pave our way out of the Valley's transportation challenges, and we cannot address our Valley's transportation needs in an isolation booth. Land uses and density, air quality and noise impacts are all relevant components of a viable transportation plan. Valley Forward Association, a 32-year-old organization dedicated to improving the Valley's environment and quality of life, has consistently expressed its commitment to regional cooperation and governance, and we have historically supported regional transportation systems. Additionally, we have advocated a regional transportation impact fee to address larger developments that may affect more than one jurisdiction. Our concerns about the task force recommendations are based on these long-held positions. Transportation and land use planning must be integrated to support sound growth management strategies. This belief is consistent with Growing Smarter Plus, which requires integrating transportation and land use planning in urban areas. The balance between economic development and environmental quality depends on this integrated approach. Valley Forward strongly recommends that, in finalizing its report to Gov. Jane Hull, the task force adopt a "multimodal philosophy" that embraces alternatives to the automobile. Auto dependency unfairly isolates our children, the elderly, and others with limited access to cars. Meanwhile, public transportation promotes our city centers, allows more compact, walkable neighborhoods and encourages residential and commercial development along transit routes. We further support development that encourages walking to destinations near transit stops. Valley Forward recognizes that rural communities may have different needs than urban centers. You cannot create off-the-rack solutions in a customized world. In our emerging New Economy, people can live anywhere, but will choose to live somewhere. That somewhere needs to be able to attract businesses and further investment. The current transportation system drains the vitality from our urban centers, hampering our ability to compete with other regions. The present road-influenced model of development gives one lifestyle a monopoly over others. While that lifestyle is certainly valid and worthwhile, public funds should be spent more broadly, so the entire community benefits. As long as road construction dominates the attention of our senior appointed and elected officials, the automobile will remain the only viable form of transit. Arizonans will have no option but to continue to drive, and development will continue to cluster along highways and freeways, propagating sprawl - ironically, requiring even more pavement and time wasted in cars, which is exactly what the task force was supposed to help us avoid. Diane Brossart is president of the non-profit Valley Forward Association. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Get involved with Valley's transit vision Aug. 27, 2001 The Arizona Republic http://www.arizonarepublic.com/opinions/articles/0827schultz27.html For decades our state has played catch-up, attempting to build a comprehensive transportation system of highways, freeways, bus and light-rail systems. Under Gov. Jane Hull, Arizona has adopted a progressive solution to financing local education and school construction. Hopefully, another facet of her public service will be an adequate transportation system. Two years ago, the governor appointed a task force to make recommendations on a transportation system. After extensive work, public meetings and testimony, Transportation Vision 21 has come forward with "preliminary recommendations" for the next 20 years of what is projected to be phenomenal growth. By 2020 there will be more than 6 million Arizonans, plus startling increases in daily vehicle miles traveled. Without action, congestion is inevitable. Vision 21 recommendations emphasize performance-based planning and programming, accountability and a statewide implementation strategy for transportation. Among the recommendations: . Greater coordination of land use and transportation planning, including a reduction of commuter travel through improved land use. . Increased accountability, including a long-range financial management system, a restructured Board of Transportation and Urban Regional Transportation Districts to build new capacity in urban Maricopa and Pima counties. . Expanded state highways, freeways and urban transportation, including light rail and express buses, and rural transit needs. Funding includes an extension of the half-cent sales tax that expires in 2005. Several recommendations address transportation governance. Vision 21 believes statewide needs are the responsibility of statewide officials, regional needs the responsibility of regional officials, and local needs the responsibility of local officials. Task force members appreciate the mission of cities, but having individual cities tax and then implement transit systems on a city-by-city basis is ludicrous. Data show most workers travel across the Valley to their jobs, crossing as many as four or five city boundaries on their way. Regional governance is a difficult issue for our communities, but Vision 21 believes that some model of regional governance, designed to deliver multimodal transportation services and avoid LA-type congestion, is necessary. Each year Maricopa County grows by about 100,000 people, bringing with them approximately 50,000 cars. If we do not invest now, we lose the battle and congestion gets worse. This comprehensive transportation plan will take a few years to implement. It will be an item of consideration beyond Hull's term, the term of the current Legislature, and that of many local elected officials. I'm urging you to learn more about the recommendations of Vision 21, which can be seen at www.dot.state.az.us/vision21. Please become active. Write, e-mail, fax, or call your elected officials about your views. Remember, when the traffic stops, the economy stops; When the economy stops, we all lose! Martin L. Shultz is co-chairman of Gov. Jane Hull's Transportation Vision 21 Task Force. He is past chairman of Valley Forward Association and vice president of government affairs of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this corner ... The Arizona Republic Aug. 27, 2001 12:00:00 http://www.arizonarepublic.com/opinions/articles/0827intro27.html This fall, the Transportation Vision 21 Task Force will wind up more than two years of work when it sends Gov. Jane Hull its recommendations for handling Arizona's transportation needs through 2020. The task force is sifting through public testimony that was gathered this summer as it shapes what will be a $61 billion plan. Its preliminary recommendations included a $20 billion hike in taxes and fees to pay for transportation improvements and expanding the state Transportation Board to nine members from seven. In addition, regional elected boards would be created to fund and develop transportation improvements, a recommendation that has already raised the hackles of Valley mayors concerned about giving up local control. The next task force meeting will be at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the Arizona State Capitol. For more information, call (602)-712-7865. Today, Martin Schultz, co-chairman of Vision 21, and Diane Brossart, president of Valley Forward Association, square off on where the task force should put its emphasis. On the development of more roads? Or on rail and other alternative forms of transportation? One in a series of editorials and commentaries on the challenges facing Arizona in managing its growth. For more commentary and editorials on growth, visit http://www.arizonarepublic.com/growth on the Web. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Schwartz info@friendsoftransit.org http://www.friendsoftransit.org