Tigard HCT Vote

The Tigard Times reports that both the Tigard City Council and their Chamber of Commerce - the "movers and shakers" of the community as the paper calls them, have come out against the High Capacity Transit measure on the March ballot.  Why does this not surprise me.  Perhaps it's because the same players took the same position in a Lake Oswego a few years ago with the Portland to Lake Oswego Streetcar.  At that time, the citizens of Lake Oswego, in a valid, third-party survey, turned a thumbs down on a streetcar.

The measure on the ballot next month is asking Tigard citizens if they want a streetcar or a BRT using up half of Hwy. 99, but the measure has HUGE differences from the Lake Oswego survey:  1) The measure would allow Tigard citizens the opportunity to vote on future high capacity transit systems, and 2) The decision requiring a vote is binding - the City Council cannot make the decision to have a HCT system without the support of its citizens.  The backers of the measure believe that decisions that will signigicantly alter their city is better left to its citizens.

The Tigard "movers and shakers" have joins ranks with developers, labor unions, consultants and others with an interest in seeing HCT built and have formed a PAC and funded the campaign against the shoe-string-budget, citizen-led group.  (See SW Rail Vote funding here.)

In an article in The (Tigard) Times, the Tigard Chamber of Commerce tips its hand in its opposition to the Measure 34-210:  Tigard is "geographically positioned as a transportation and business hub in the metro area."  Thanslation: High Capacity Transit isn't necessarily good for the citizens of Tigard, but it is good for the Chamber of Commerce and the Metro area.  Sadly, their political leaders feel the same way - future citizens and Metro matter more than current citizens whose quality of life is on the line and who will have to pay the bills.  

Chamber takes stand against measure
From The Times, February 20, 2014

Excerpt:

The ballot measure asks Tigard voters to decide the fate of high-capacity transit in the city.

If passed, the city would formally oppose any form of high-capacity transit, including MAX light rail and rapid bus service. The city would be required to send letters to several county, state and federal leaders declaring its position, and would not be able to make amendments to city code to make way for high-capacity transit without a public vote.

Supporters claim the ballot measure will force the city to negotiate better with Metro and other regional leaders on issues of transportation, because it will need final approval from voters before anything can be built.

But opponents, including the Chamber, say the measure would tie the hands of city leaders as they try to plan for the transportation needs of the future.

The area is expected to grow by 40 percent by the year 2035, Mollahan said, and cities like Portland, Tigard and Tualatin will need to keep their options open for new ways for people to get around town.

“Tigard is geographically positioned as a transportation and business hub in the metro area,” she said. “More people live in and conduct business in Tigard than ever before, causing significant traffic congestion. Understandably, residents cite congestion as their number one area of concern associated with growth.”