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Vote may be held on transit levy
Arlington, which has the advantage of being contiguous with Fort Worth's The T and its half-cent sales tax requirement, is looking once again at joining the transit authority. While it's a half cent cheaper to join The T than to link up with DART, Arlington has a problem shared by its eastern neighbor, Grand Prairie. Both cities have committed sales tax dollars to sports venues, and voters may not approve a transit tax without a repeal of the arena (or racetrack) tax.This article is copyright 2000, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Vote may be held on transit levy;
Sales tax that funded The Ballpark could be replaced by a new measure
By J. Taylor Rushing
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
ARLINGTON -- Voters may see a sales tax referendum for a public transit system as early as May, but some residents contend it will pass only if officials first eliminate another tax.
Neighborhood leaders said the half-cent sales tax imposed to finance The Ballpark in Arlington must go. That tax is expected to be lifted by November 2001, and they said that until then they won't support a tax to fund a $17 million a year bus system that consultants recommend.
"It has to stand on its own and only after voters see The Ballpark tax go away," said Larry Glover, president of the Interlochen Homeowners Association, which includes about 150 homes in northwest Arlington. "It will be an easier sell then."
A Houston consulting firm this month said the city should join the Fort Worth Transportation Authority and impose a half-cent sales tax to finance a fixed-route bus system with links to neighborhoods and connections to the Trinity Railway Express, the commuter train that now runs between Richland Hills and Dallas. The firm's report says Arlington is the largest city in the nation without public transportation for the general population.
City Councilman Pat Remington, who heads the council's Mobility Committee, which is reviewing the recommendation, said a referendum could be held in May or August. He agreed that a transit tax should only be levied after the half-cent imposed tax to pay for The Ballpark in Arlington is dropped.
"There's no question that after The Ballpark tax is gone, the idea would be much more palatable to voters," Remington said. "I don't know if there would be enough support on the council otherwise."
A May transit tax referendum would coincide with the spring city elections. The mayor's post and four other council positions will be on the ballot. Mayor Elzie Odom said he would support combining a transit referendum with the regular May city elections if there is support from a council majority.
"There's nothing wrong with May," Odom said. "I don't fear standing for election along with an issue as important as this."
Remington said he will schedule a committee meeting with Fort Worth transit officials sometime in December. He said if voters support a tax, he would back joining the authority.
"Certainly our best opportunity to have transit service in Arlington is to join an existing authority . . ." he said. "We could have buses within 30 to 60 days."
Arlington's sales tax is 7.75 cents per dollar, a half-cent under the state cap of 8.25 cents. After the half-cent sales tax for The Ballpark ends next year, the city's sales tax would be 7.25 cents per dollar.
Howard Livingston ,coordinator of the Far South Arlington Homeowners Association, said after The Ballpark tax is eliminated, voters may become more aware of the need for public transit. Livingston's group includes about 350 homes in an area between U.S. 287 and South Cooper Street, from East Eden Roadurry Road to the southern city limits.
"Arlington has needed public transportation for too long, and our congestion is growing every day," Livingston said.
Frieda Bayer ,president of Partnership for North Arlington, said she believes details of the bus proposal will determine the referendum's fate.
"Our voters are pretty intelligent, and they have to be shown a plan that has some chance of working," said Bayer, whose group represents about 60 residents and business owners. "There can't be empty buses riding around and a subsidy that's growing each year because of a lack of ridership."
Sue Phillips ,president of East Arlington Renewal, said she thinks most residents want a system implemented incrementally.
"The thing I'm hearing the most is to start small," said Phillips, whose coalition represents about 50 Arlington residents and business owners. "Our city has grown, and we may have a need for extra transportation. But I'm not sure people would support the idea of buses riding around half-empty."
Staff writer John Austin contributed to this report.
J. Taylor Rushing, (817) 548-5411
Send comments to jtrushing@star-telegram.com
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