NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Several recent editorials have criticized Ozark Regional Transit’s proposed sales tax as too big. We think differently. So does the public.
The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission created a 2035 Transportation Plan. Public input included in the plan shows that ORT’s current public transit system is too small and needs to be expanded and improved. The 2011 University of Arkansas Research Survey indicated that a majority of people in Northwest Arkansas would vote for a one quarter of one percent sales tax for transit in both Benton and Washington counties. The Area Agency on Aging of NWA, Youthbridge Inc., Lifestyles Inc., the Washington County League of Women Voters, Northwest Medical System, EOA of Washington County, Seven Hills Homeless Shelter, Community Clinic and Fayetteville Forward Economic Action Committee are part of a growing list of organizations that support a larger transit system that meets the current and future needs of individuals and employers.
A large majority of transit systems in the United States are funded by a sales tax, making the words of one critic - “let the users pay for it” - ring hollow.
No transit system in the U.S. is funded solely by user fees. Here and abroad, governments pay for the majority of public transit and road construction. This is done because it’s good public policy to provide benefits like reduced congestion, improved air quality, a cleaner environment and an enhanced overall quality of life.
Many of the suggested funding recommendations for transit - increased local government funding, cash from businesses, charitable giving, privatization and grants - just don’t work.
Transit, like roads, waterways and airports, needs a dedicatedsource of tax funding if it is to remain viable.
The reality is that roads, fire and police protection, solid waste removal, sewer and water are publicly funded. We haven’t heard anyone saying these services are not necessary for the health, safety and welfare of Northwest Arkansas. In the past, community leaders showed courage and foresight in building Beaver Lake to supply water for our industries and households, Northwest Regional Airport for national travel, and Interstate 540 for commutes to Fort Smith and Bella Vista. The list goes on and on. Those who support the ORT proposal think having a balanced transportation system that includes transit is a necessary infrastructure improvement for this region. Numerous studies have praised our community for its many great qualities. But they also fault our region for an almost non-existent public transit system.
Public transit lags woefully behind in comparison to other areas of infrastructure. Can you imagine if an aversion to funding had occurred during the tremendous growth era of the last 20 years? A local community needing to build a water line has come up with a figure for building it and then says, “Cut it in half.” A planning department designs a road and then says, “This road is too expensive so let’s reduce lanes and cut capacity.” The idea of limiting costs in this way doesn’t work for infrastructure of any type, including public transit.
Our critics don’t deny that the need exists in NorthwestArkansas for public transit. Their main criticism is with the size of the budgetary increase. We think our plan’s greatest asset is that it addresses the need for convenient, reliable transport in this region.
The public has indicated that our public transit needs to be greatly expanded and that routes need to run near where people live, work, and shop.
Only Washington County is on the May 2012 ballot for replacing lost ORT funding. The revised, one-county plan would increase both the budget and the service level three times over. The expansion, at least in Washington County, would increase the quality of life for everyone.
We encourage our critics to remember that this plan was and is driven by the public. We ask our critics to consider changing their minds and supporting our proposal to enhance and expand a crucial piece of this region’s infrastructure. We also encourage our supporters to keep the betterment of this community in mind and to come out this spring and approve new funding for Ozark Regional Transit.
(This column was co-signed by: Dr. Nancy Hairston of Youthbridge; Dr. Grace Donoho and Ms. Lynn Donald-Carver, Advocates for Public Transit;
Mike Lanier, Executive Director of EOA of Washington County;
Jerry Mitchell, Executive Director of Area Agency on Aging for Northwest; Kathy Grisham, Executive Director of Community Clinic at St. Francis House;
Keith Vire, Executive Director of Arkansas Support Network;
Randy Mulliken, Mulliken Advertising Agency; Jerre M. Van Hoose, Chairman of ORT Board and a Michele Halsell on behalf of the rest of the Ozark Headwaters Group of the Arkansas Chapter of the Sierra Club.)
PHIL PUMPHREY IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OZARK REGIONAL TRANSIT.
Opinion, Pages 5 on 09/19/2011