As predicted here months ago, CATS is creeping closer to a plan to start running part of the South Blvd. light rail line ahead of the November 6th election — an election that will almost certainly give voters a chance to repeal the half-cent transit tax that hands CATS $70 million a year.
Mary Newsom says that Ron Tober even has a target date of October 27th in mind, one week before the election. Surprise, surprise.
And little wonder that Tober goes public with this idea immediately after the city gets a commitment from Scaleybark Partners to “reimburse” CATS up to $500,000 for a temporary park-and-ride lot at the Scaleybark station. As we told you, the real hang-up with the previous Bank of America deal was that there would be no park-and-ride lot on the site quick enough to meet CATS’ pre-election deadline.
Can I prove that? Absolutely not. But the electioneering angle does not escape Newsom either:
City Manager Pam Syfert says the City Council will be asked to look at the pros and cons of an early opening.
Betcha they’re looking at that Nov. 6 election, when the kill-the-transit-tax measure is likely to be on the ballot. Generating a lot of positive community enthusiasm right before the election surely couldn’t hurt. But any glitches, and they’re toast.
Two absolute requirements here. How much additional money will the early open plan cost taxpayers? What, exactly, is the latest cost estimate for the entire South line and when will the entire line be finished?
