Richert: The streetcar could derail other transit projects

- Idaho Statesman

Copyright: © 2009 Idaho Statesman

Published: 10/15/09

Local governments and public transit advocates have had enough trouble trying to convince lawmakers to give them local-option taxing authority.

I can't imagine that the brouhaha over the Downtown Boise streetcar will make things any better. More likely, it could make matters even worse.

The streetcar campaign personifies the boogieman the local-option critics like to invoke. Skeptical legislators suggest that if local governments get the chance to pursue voter-approved sales taxes, they will exert this authority by trying to jam through costly and unpopular transportation projects.

Sure, it's a bogus and patronizing argument against local option. I believe that if we trust voters enough to choose their legislators, we should also trust them to decide whether they want to pay for expanded bus service. It's just another excuse to say no to local option, and on this issue, legislators are uniquely adept at conjuring up excuses.

They don't need help from Dave Bieter. But with his full-court press on the streetcar - in the face of vocal opposition to the 2.3-mile, $65 million project - the mayor has long since abandoned any appearance of objectivity. The City Council would have followed right along, had it agreed to spend up to $90,000 on a "public outreach" contract that would certainly border on publicly funded advocacy.

The contract is on hold, but I can't imagine this whole fiasco is doing any favors to the cause of public transportation - especially with lawmakers outside the Valley, who already cast a suspicious eye toward Boise politics.

The irony is that the streetcar is less a public transportation project than it is an economic development project. The argument for the streetcar is that a public investment in steel-wheeled transit will encourage private development Downtown. The streetcar wouldn't do much good for the Boiseans who really depend on transit - the elderly, the disabled, the refugees and the kids who are forced to use the city's spotty bus service.

Alas, the streetcar is really the only transportation project City Hall can pursue. It's the only project that qualifies for $40 million in federal economic stimulus funding - dollars that could be make-or-break for the streetcar.

In the absence of flexible local-option taxing authority, the streetcar project is the only game in town. Which is why it's troubling to see the way City Hall is playing this one. Locals are watching. So too, I suspect, are legislators.

TAKING THE STREETCAR ISSUE FOR A RIDE

City Hall has bungled the streetcar issue so badly that it has handed a nice fat opening to Dave Litster.

The council candidate wants to launch a petition drive to put the question to the voters, one way or the other. Said Litster last week: "I say to the city: 'Before you saddle us with a ridiculous trolley, get our permission.' "

His petition drive proposes an ordinance requiring a public vote on the streetcar. If he gets 6,500 signatures from registered voters, the ordinance goes before the City Council. If the council rejects the ordinance, Boiseans would get to vote up or down on the ordinance.

Simple, huh?

TJ Thomson, who is also seeking to replace Jim Tibbs on the council, accused his opponent of grandstanding.

Thomson is uncommitted on the streetcar, and said he wants to wait on the results of economic engineering and feasibility analysis before taking a position. "My opponent apparently will do something different - he'll begin the discussion by throwing the first hand grenade."

I don't think Litster is launching a petition drive out of sheer altruism. It's no secret that the city council elections have been a snoozer, while the streetcar is the hottest topic around City Hall. The petition drive allows Litster to get his name out.

Gamesmanship? Sure. But City Hall has (almost) handed Litster the high road.

TIBBS' ENDORSEMENT

With Tibbs' endorsement, Litster has further positioned himself as the anti-establishment candidate in what is becoming Boise's most interesting council race.

A longtime police officer who briefly served as police chief, Tibbs has been something of a contrarian voice during his four years on the council. Most recently - and on the issue of the day - Tibbs has voiced skepticism about the streetcar.

The Tibbs endorsement gives Litster some name backing and also draws the battle lines in clear relief. Thomson has endorsements from Bieter and four sitting council members: Vern Bisterfeldt, Elaine Clegg, David Eberle and Maryanne Jordan.

How much juice does Tibbs' endorsement carry? Here's a number to consider. Two years ago, Tibbs ran against Bieter for mayor; Bieter won with 64 percent of the vote.

Kevin Richert: 377-6437