Boise transit facing legislative gridlock

Anyone familiar with ValleyRide knows that it needs vast improvement and is severely lacking in productivity. The majority of the routes stop running after 6-7 p.m. and there is no service on Sundays. Many residents have been scared away from using public transit because of this lack in service.

“I would not want to rely on the bus system as it currently stands,” said Mark Carnopis, Community Relations Manager of Valley regional Transit, which runs and operates ValleyRide.

While it’s easy to blame the transit system, people must know they have a limited budget. The money comes from fares, ads, federal grant money and local contributions. Idaho is known as one of the stringent states when it comes to public services and is one of four states along with Alaska, Hawaii and Mississippi that do not provide state assistance for transportation funding.

Valley Regional Transit has an extensive proposal that would exceptionally improve public transit. This revised transit system is highlighted by the return of streetcars and will be part of a multi-mobile center located downtown.

“The development in downtown Boise and the rest of the Treasure Valley will continue to blossom,” Carnopis said.

This proposed plan would extend transit service to more efficient times and would serve areas as far as Parma. In order to fund the project Carnopis said the city needs a dedicated local funding source, such as a sales tax or employer tax. Carnopis says these forms of local funding have worked wonders for Salt Lake City and Portland, Ore.

However they are facing a giant hurdle from state and local legislation.

“We’ve made efforts the last two years to convince legislation that this would benefit the public but discussions have not gone anywhere,” Carnopis said.

State legislation is requiring a supermajority for the system overhaul local funding plan to pass.

“Republicans have had in place a rigid ideology that they don’t want to be seen as supporting any taxes,” Sen. David Langhorst said.

Langhorst suggests students attempt to form a statewide lobbying presence. Students should connect schools from Boise to Pocatello to Coeur d’ Alene in an attempt to put added pressure on legislators not in favor of the measure.

State legislation is skeptical of the potential productivity of an improved transit system. Carnopis points to increased ridership in the past fiscal year as evidence that more people are riding and even more will if an improved system is in place.

“Legislature cares about business lobbyists before people,” Carnopis said.

“The Transit Authority is in the midst of aggressively reaching out to businesses, letting them know it’s out there,” Carnopis said.

Boise State students can do their part as well by making use of public transportation services when they can. Valleyride needs more support but students need to recognize the benefits of public transit. It’s free for all staff, faculty and students and extends to downtown and some other areas.

I recognize that there needs to be heedful handling of the budget. When it becomes exceedingly obvious, however, that the public good is at stake, the legislature needs to put aside paltry symbols of status and work to help the public. They need to recognize how important and beneficial an efficient public transit system is with gas prices on their way toward $5 a gallon. A state like Idaho experiencing substantial expansion must adapt.

“Residents of the area need to recognize that life is different here in the Treasure Valley and we need to address this growth” Langhorst said.

PHIL BODE
Opinion Journalist

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