Issues: Past Position Statement 2

Commissioners Forum: LWV & DLN

Question 9 • Public Transportation

Do you believe that public transportation in Chester County is adequate to handle the needs of our residents, and would you be willing to support a 1 percent sales tax dedicated to mass transportation in the county?

S.A.V.E. 41 is a Chester County citizens advocacy group that was founded in 1997 to address a transportation issue. It is a model organization that is also concerned with land use. S.A.V.E. often displays, in motto-like fashion, this quotation: "Transportation investments should support broad community goals, not become the goal." They realize that it is a mistake to improve roadways more than necessary because doing so creates more sprawl and, in turn, more clogged roadways. Some Chester County communities are actually returning roads to gravel surfaces to discourage traffic.

Kathi Cozzone and I support improving public transportation to lessen the need for automobile travel. Public transportation helps to stop sprawl, revitalize urban centers, protect our environment, encourage affordable housing, and preserve open space and farmland. An Objective of the 1996 Landscapes Plan is to "Promote concentrations of housing, employment centers, and commercial areas to make public transit more feasible." We will actively promote development, including Transportation Oriented Developments (TODs), along existing rail lines.

Adding rail lines is challenging but should be explored, such as Main Street Manager Barry Cassidy's plan to connect Phoenixville to the Great Valley Corporate Center. Bus transportation between developed urban centers, where rail is unavailable, is essential. It may be supplemented by jitney service to side routes. Also needed are established jitney routes within our urban centers.

The Paoli Transportation Center is a priority. Unfortunately, it has become a matter of controversy. Had the Commissioners followed the Landscapes Policy to "increase public participation in the planning process," the difficulties that developed in Paoli may not have occurred. Kathi and I will proactively exercise leadership in achieving the transportation goals of Landscapes throughout the County.

Kathi's essay includes a number of rail transit improvements that we will work toward. Additionally, we will support improving rail stations so they are user-friendly with ample parking space.

Mass transit solutions for Chester County need to be part of regional, interstate and national solutions. The enormous cost must be borne by taxpayers throughout the nation, as well as by those in Chester County. Governor Rendell is working diligently and well to put mass transit on firm financial footing. Broad-based programs that accomplish this goal will have our strong support. At this point we cannot support a sales tax as the answer. Sales taxes hit hardest those who are least able to pay. They create customers for Delaware businesses who might otherwise be shopping in Chester County retail establishments.

Chester County's public transportation system deserves the fullest attention. Leadership on the Board of Commissioners is needed now.