News Wrapup, July 1997   July 30th, 1997

  • “Misperception fuels mass-transit resistance” My Turn by Bill Hegarty, Mesa Tribune, 31 July, 1997, page A21. QUOTE: “Increased spending for the public transportation systems can expect opposition from the remnants of the highway lobby, auto manufacturers and dealerships, auto insurance companies and repair facilities. The scare tactics take the form of ‘they want to take our wheels away.’ It won’t wash.”
  • “Perils Loom for Amtrak in Unsettled Tax Issues” By Don Phillips and Paul Blustein, The Washington Post, 31 July 1997; Page A13
  • “Panel acts to revise Amtrak labor rules” Philadelphia Inquirer, 31 July 1997
  • “More money, more buses” by Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 30 July 1997.
  • “Phoenix-Tucson ‘bullet train’ gains favor among lawmakers” The Arizona Republic, 30 July 1997, page B1. QUOTE: “Governor Fife Symington said a high-speed rail link between Phoenix and Tucson was inevitable.”
  • “Mass transit can work with right plan” Letter, Don Purfeerst, Mesa Tribune, 30 July, 1997, page A12. QUOTE: In both Dallas and Northern Virginia, “The final outcome was that transit ridership in both those regions exceeded all forecasts and out-stripped scheduled delivery orders for rail cars. The same is being experienced with Saint Louis and Denver… To do nothing is unjustifiable. To express concern about previous taxes and previous plans accomplishes nothing. But you need all the pieces of the pie to have an effective system.”
  • “Rail study routed to fast track for action: Momentum builds for high-speed train to Tucson” Mesa Tribune, 29 July 1997, page A3. QUOTE: A study “was commissioned last week by the governor’s High Speed Rail Task Force… ‘What we’re trying to do is have a package available for legislative action in January 1998′ said Joe Neblett, senior transportation planner with the Arizona Department of Transportation…” According to State Rep. Lela Steffey (R-Mesa), “It’s a different ball game now. It looks like there’s going to be cooperation.”
  • “Transit foe has `hidden agenda,’ accomplice” Editorial, Robert H. Bohannan, Business Journal of Phoenix, 28 July 1997.
  • “Notoriously bad service asks for taxpayers’ help” By Mary Jo Pitzl and Alexa Haussler, The Arizona Republic, 27 July, 1997. ABSTRACT: Phoenix’s meager bus system could well use improvements the ballot issue would provide.
  • “The transit election: A matter for conservatives to decide” Editorial, Joel Nilsson, The Arizona Republic, 26 July 1997, page B6.
  • “Tempe transit not a success” Letter, John Semmens, The Arizona Republic, 24 July 1997
  • “Backing for half-cent transit tax slips a bit, but is still strong in poll” The Arizona Republic, 23 July 1997, page B1. Latest poll shows 66% of citizens favoring Phoenix transit proposition.
  • “Opportunity to test light-rail transit idea” Letter, Jim Howl, Republican candidate for governor, Mesa Tribune, 23 July 1997, page A13. QUOTE: “…it’s possible to know right now how light-rail service will work in getting cars off the road and clearing our air. How? A commuter rail pilot run… The mass-transit folks should plan, right now, for a two-month trial run next summer.”
  • “Phoenix Transit: Countering critics” Editorial, The Arizona Republic, 20 July 1997, page H4. Statistics used by transit opponents are based “upon a grossly distorted premise.”
  • “Silent bus drive may backfire” Stephen Tuttle, The Arizona Republic, 20 July 1997, page H3
  • “Tempe transit failure should be warning to other cities” Guest column, John Semmens, Tribune papers, 18 July 1997, page A15. Mr. Semmens classifies the Tempe transit tax as a failure in spite of its adding over 1,000 boardings a day to Tempe’s bus system — a 31% increase.
  • “Mass transit is costly, inefficient, unproductive and not necessary” Letter, Cliff Cowles Jr., East Mesa Independent, 16 July 1997, page 4. QUOTE: “The current [bus] system… needs to be shrunk down to just a few routes that might carry a worthwhile bus full of passengers during rush hour and then some provision made for carrying a few hardship cases…”
  • “Public-transit parasite” Letter, Mildred Giordano, Mesa Tribune, 16 July 1997, page A12. QUOTE: “Public transit lives as a parasite off the earnings and production of other activities in the community…”
  • “A new spin on fledgling Purple People Movers program” Guest column, Norman L. Helber (chief probation officer of the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department), The Arizona Republic, 14 July 1997, page B4. Mr. Helber rebuts Messrs. Flake’s and Franciosi’s implication that the Purple People Movers program is a failure. In fact, says Mr. Helber, the program is quite successful… and not a harbinger of failed transit.
  • “We’re on wrong track: If mass transit is to work, we need a whole new attitude about it” by Clare L. Goldsberry, Mesa Tribune, 14 July 1997, page A9. QUOTE: “Making mass transit work in the Valley of the Sun will require a major shift in thinking on the part of people who need to use mass transit.”
  • “Valley public transit: Learning by example” Editorial, Mesa Tribune, 13 July 1997, page F2. QUOTE: “It is much more convenient to ride the bus in Tempe than it was a year ago, and people are responding by leaving their cars at home. If we’re serious about cutting traffic and pollution, and we should be, we cannot ignore this encouraging response.”
  • “Transit supported” Letter, Diane Brossart, President, Valley Forward Association, Mesa Tribune, 13 July 1997, page F2. QUOTES: “Everyone knows getting around town is taking longer and longer. We need to prevent gridlock before it happens.” “Valley Forward urges your YES vote on September 9!”
  • “Clean-fuel buses, light rail approved by Committee” The Arizona Republic, 12 July 1997, page A1.
  • Letters, The Arizona Republic, 12 July 1997, page B5:
    • “Anti-transit column, letter were flawed,” Brent D. Yonkovich
    • “Better transit is the answer,” Scott Hume. QUOTE: “The few remaining transit naysayers should take their heads out of the clouds (of pollution)…”
    • “Ridership poor? So is service,” John A. Bivens. QUOTE: “Phoenicians need a choice. Many of the public transit problems will be corrected by the Phoenix Traffic Congestion Relief Plan. I will vote ‘yes’ and improve our transportation system while reducing congestion and improving the quality of our lives.”
    • “Issue deserves more thought,” Jeff Williamson. QUOTE: “A review of federal records indicates that as a practical matter, the auto, oil and highway industries are significantly more subsidized than mass transit. In 1980, assistance to transit across the U.S. was $5.8 billion, to highways it was $39.7 billion… not more than 60 percent of highway costs are covered by user taxes or fees…”
  • “Light rail rolling toward East Valley. House panel approves $8 million for design” Mesa Tribune, 12 July 1997, page A1. QUOTE: “The initial rail segment would span a 10-mile stretch from downtown Tempe to downtown Phoenix… serve the most heavily traveled corridor in the Valley using existing rail lines.”
  • “Good public transit no waste of money” Letter, Harold Berge, Mesa, Mesa Tribune, 12 July 1997, page A16. QUOTE: “People who write that we don’t need public transit and say that it is a waste of money should look at Tempe where better service has increased ridership.”
  • “Vote yes on transit plans” Letter, Diane Brossart, President, Valley Forward Association, The Arizona Republic, July 12, 1997, page B4. QUOTE: “We need to prevent gridlock before it happens… While [initiatives in Phoenix and Scottsdale] alone will not solve the Valley’s air-pollution problem, it is a key component in transportation planning…”
  • “Quiet reasoning behind loud optomism about transit vote” Joel Nilsson, The Arizona Republic, 12 July 1997, page B4.
  • “Tempe buses offer free rides Sundays” The Arizona Republic, 11 July 1997. The City of Tempe has teamed with businesses to publicize the new expanded Sunday service.
  • “Coalition speeds efforts to spur transit funding” Mesa Tribune, 9 July 1997, page A6. QUOTES: “The Valley [metro Phoenix] would need 96 lane miles of new freeway if the area’s 19,775 current public transit commuters suddenly hopped into cars…” “More than 18,000 additional cars are being kept off Valley roads each day because of commuters using the Phoenix area’s bus system…” “Local officials are hoping the latest rewrite of [ISTEA] will include $129 million for a 10-mile light rail-transit system linking Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix.”
  • “Phoenix transit tax bad deal for Valley” Letter, Beth Schmidt, Mesa Tribune, 6 July 1997, page F2.
  • “Vote against transit tax” Letter, Jack McVaugh, The Arizona Republic, July 6, 1997, page H4. QUOTE: “cars carry 99 percent of the transit in Phoenix. If the proposed transit expansion actually meets all of its goals, autos will still carry 98 percent of the travel. That’s billions of dollars for a one percent impact…”
  • “Trial run on Phoenix buses goes OK, but doesn’t become habit” by Joel Nilsson, The Arizona Republic, July 5, 1997, page B4. Columnist finds bus system acceptable.
  • “Transit votes hold interest of Tempe” by William Porter, The Arizona Republic, July 4, 1997, page H4. QUOTE: “‘The strength of transit is in a regional system, not just local,’ said Carlos deLeon, Tempe’s assistant transit manager. ‘Our citizens want to go everywhere, not just Tempe.’”
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