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Thinking outside the box in transportation

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Contributed by: Eva Kosinski on 3/30/2008

A lot of times folks who object to high-debt public projects are accused of only being able to tear down what other folks are trying to build. Sure, we've all heard the talk show hosts perfectly willing to dump on folks without ever having any kinds of alternative solutions to the ones they're making fun of.

But transportation is something that a lot of people care deeply about. Some because they feel that everyone should be doing their part to stop global warming, some because they can see that as the country continues to grow, there will be nothing but concrete from sea to shining sea, some because they just plain want to see everyone else on the bus so they can drive in less traffic. Whatever the reasons, people in general have a vested interest in seeing public transportation succeed.

The problem is, of course, the HOW. Thus far, the mechanisms that have been put in place to try to get transportation projects done generate a good deal of anger in the citizenry because of their obvious unfairness. Tax increment financing puts the cities in debt for the benefit of developers needing up-front money to start projects (yes, those needs are there, but should tax money pay for them?). Even when they are successful, and there are no guarantees, it takes many years to pay these bonds back. Eminent domain, and it's evil twin, the blight study, make it possible for folks to lose their homes to new projects, without getting anywhere near what the land will be worth the second it transfers to the new owners.

But what if there were alternative choices? With the huge number of people in Boulder County who are interested in seeing public transportation grow and thrive, it should be possible to put together a mechanism for reducing the practices that have been the order of the day for years. Let's say there was a non-profit created (I have no idea if this name is in use, so please assume it's fictional, and if it is, another, not taken, would be chosen) that could be called something like Resources Allocations for Public Transportation.

This organization would act like a Community Foundation with one important difference. The funds donated from the public would be earmarked to solving the problems of funding acquisitions and development for public transportation projects. Money could go to make sure those who have to leave their homes are paid, as the constitution requires, "just compensation."

While there are those who do not wish to leave under any circumstances, most people who felt they were justly compensated and could afford to find equivalent property elsewhere would do so without the kind of heartwrenching situations that often occur. Funds could be acquired to buy municipal bonds for the specific transportation projects, or funds could be donated to pay off the massive debt directly, thus making it possible for communities to pay off bond debt much sooner, or to get the developments off the ground much sooner. Donations could be given in-kind from organizations (for a tax break, of course) that make products that might be used by transportation organizations.

Here's where the question comes in that makes the difference. WOULD people actually put their money where their mouth is when it comes to public transportation? Or can they only support it if they are sure everyone else is paying with tax dollars? If we really had mechanisms that would ensure that there was a way to make public transportation more robust, would we do it? Maybe had such an organization existed earlier, we might even have been able to pay the extra money to get light rail instead of diesel for FasTracks,

This organization could work with organizations like the Transit Alliance, and others, putting private funds into use for common purpose. Private donations do not have the political problems that come when it's necessary to take money from everyone, or when the fears of not being re-elected that come with that territory start to take their toll. The organization could even give citizen's awards for large donations, making it clear which folks are really civic-minded and which are not. And, where services are needed that public monies cannot supply, they could give a hand to help small transit services like ride sharing groups get off the ground.

I believe that even if the donations were not tax-deductible (although really, they should be since this is to support a civic project), there are plenty of folks in groups very interested in seeing public transportation succeed that would be willing to participate; environmentalists, seniors (not all of whom are struggling financially), civic groups, and even schoolchildren might want to participate in making public transportation work without the unfairness inherent in the present system.

The top-down, take-it-or-leave-it design that we've seen trying to push one path only is not likely to be able to bring the kind of public transportation that we really want and need. It pits citizens in communities against one another, often has to make a lot of concessions (because they either can't get the added funding or because the public is opposed), and in the end are likely to give us something far less than what we anticipated.

I would be happy to investigate the creation of such an organization. If you are interested in such an approach, please contact me, or contact your local transportation board, to see what options are available.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Eva Kosinski

Louisville , CO

Eva Kosinski has posted 129 stories and 16 comments since joining on 12/18/2005. Eva Kosinski 's average story rating is 4.82.

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