On Tuesday, Tucson voters will take to the polls to determine the future of in-town transportation. Propositions 200 and 201, if passed, would spawn a transportation network that would improve bus service, create a light rail transit system, repair streets and extend the UA trolley through downtown. The hefty price tag - $1 billion over 20 years - would fall to residents in the form of new sales and construction taxes. We asked our columnists: Are you getting on the train?

Ignore developers; the propositions are good

The real controversy over these propositions is not what they'll do (i.e. greatly improve public transportation), but how they'll be funded. The plan is to be paid for with a 1/3 cent sales tax increase and a 4 cent construction tax increase. Nobody likes sales taxes, but being able to get from point A to point B in a timely fashion while also dealing with less traffic is a worthy investment.

But the main source of conflict, not surprisingly, is the construction tax increase. Most vocal about it is Independent People Like You, whose billboards around town say that light rail will "tear up Broadway." Ironically, this organization consists primarily of developers - a group that traditionally seems to rather like tearing up all sorts of things around here. Though tempted, I'm not going to indulge myself in an environmentalist rant; let it suffice to say that this group clearly has its own interest, and not Tucson's, in mind when it comes to opposing the propositions - and that is to avoid a cut into its profits.

Sabrina Noble Columist

The other, more obvious reason to support sales and construction taxes is that there are no other options. State laws don't allow Tucson to levy anything but sales, construction and property taxes - and property taxes are already at their maximum.

Voting "no" is a bad idea. We'll save an average of $29 a year if we do, but - as Tucson passes the million-person mark on a car-dominated system - driving to the store to spend it will be a worse ordeal than ever.

Sabrina Noble is a senior majoring in English and creative writing. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Jessica Lee associate editor

Hop on the 'Cat rail, UA's new light rail system

Kudos to our fellow Tucsonans for their hard work to get the transportation initiatives on the ballot. This is direct democracy in action, so whether or not you think light rail is a good idea, we all must appreciate the policy process.

With that said, I am on the bandwagon with the group of people who support the propositions but are pessimistic that the light rail will be a very successful endeavor. The problem is not with the hypothetical idea of people riding a train rather than driving, but rather with the current city structure. Tucson's sprawl and lack of inner-city redevelopment pose a serious dilemma that may derail the triumph of the train.

How about a UA light rail system? No really, it would work. Just imagine hopping on the train outside of Harvill and cruising down to south campus. The coolest part is that the track would be elevated and would have a loop-dee-loop over the Mall.

Seriously. The campus is a perfect little city: Its urban development has been planned. It has open space. People live within the city center. There are shopping, food and entertainment all within a do-not-need-a-car distance. People live, breathe, eat, dance and study, all within our campus city. A mini-light rail here would work.

But Tucson? I am supporting both props because I have felt the bliss of a good public transportation system. Voting yes is a symbol of hope.

Jessica Lee is an environmental science senior. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Kendrick Wilson Columist

Light rail well worth the cost

Propositions 200 and 201 are part of a transportation plan from which everyone would benefit.

Those who cannot drive or don't have access to a car - which accounts for nearly one-third of Tucson's population - would have improved transit options. Light rail would make trips from Tucson's far east side to the university or downtown much faster and would open up transit options to those who have never considered using transit.

Indeed, in St. Louis, when a high-speed light rail system was installed, nearly 70 percent of its riders had never taken a bus before. Businesses along Broadway and Sixth Avenue would be given a much-needed economic boost.

Getting drivers who do use the improved transit system off the roads will help those who continue to use their cars by reducing the amount of traffic. Everyone in Tucson will benefit from less pollution - light rail has no street-level pollution, and solar power would be used whenever possible.

A revitalized inner city that drives development toward in-fill instead of urban sprawl would also benefit everyone in Tucson.

Considering that it would only cost the average Tucson household $29 per year, this comprehensive plan is well worth it.

Kendrick Wilson is a political science junior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Jason Poreda Columist

Light rail system is big trouble for 'City of Cars'

Tucson is and always will be a city of cars. No matter what is done to alleviate the traffic problem, cars will be the undisputed kings of this city. Not even a new light rail system will be able to change that.

The bottom line is that this light rail system that is being proposed is a bad idea. If our traffic problems are this bad, then plopping a light rail track in the middle of Broadway will do nothing more than get in the way and make things worse, not better.

So let's elevate it above the road, right? Well, that would be even more expensive - not to mention it wouldn't be aesthetically pleasing. So that's out. Putting it on the side of the road is just as bad as in the middle of the road - it would get in the way of pedestrians and cause problems when the rail crosses an intersection. There are more problems with this rail than some people would like to admit.

That said, Props 200 and 201 would do some very positive things, such as creating more bike lanes and giving money to fix the Sun Tran bus system. Both are things Tucson needs very much, but do they justify creating a light rail system that is doomed to fail? No. Don't let this become another failed Arizona venture.

Jason Poreda is a political science and communication senior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Ryan Scalise Columist

Voters need to pass Propositions 201 and 200

Tucson needs better modes of public transportation, and Propositions 201 and 200 are the keys to realizing solutions. Proposition 201 would increase the Sun Tran bus service, improve roads and create a light rail on Broadway - just to name a few improvements. Proposition 200 would raise sales taxes to help fund these projects. No one likes increasing taxes, but how else are we as Tucsonans going to pay for fixing our transportation problems? We need to spend some money. Both propositions would boost Tucson's long-run economic interests, as congested transportation will be come more diffuse, taking more cars off the roads. Forget about the short-run costs.

Critics of the transportation initiatives say they will take money out of the funds for the Rio Nuevo (downtown revitalization) project and federal funding may fall through.

This plan will take funds out of the Rio Nuevo plan, but that is necessary because the increased transportation efficiency will allow more people to visit downtown. For example, the light rail project needs strong and adroit leadership from the next mayor in order to secure federal funds for this venture - to make certain that they do not fall through.

Transportation is frustrating this city and needs a solution. If that solution does not include a freeway, then there should be increased public forms of transportation.

Ryan Scalise is a political science senior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.

Daniel Scarpinato Columist

Rail plan comes too late

Despite Tucson's rural atmosphere, this is a sizable city in terms of both its population and landmass. And it's growing by the year.

Nevertheless, our roads and infrastructure continue to lag far behind our needs.

Now there's a chance to do something about it. Propositions 200 and 201 could get Tucson on track, provided voters give the plans a "thumbs up."

Even though the hype is centered on the light rail part of the proposal, the plans are about more than that. A greater percentage of the money raised from a small sales tax boost will go to improved bus service, a far more realistic way of getting people off the road than light rail, given Tucson's sprawling situation.

Republican Mayor Bob Walkup tried his own shot at getting Tucson moving early in his reign, but his plan, which would have turned Grant Road into a city highway, was rejected by voters.

Walkup's plan was probably more realistic. This is a western city with people who love their cars. Tucson's also three digits in the summer and not built in a way that is accessible by foot or bus or train. No doubt, strong liberal political forces at the center of the city blocked that plan.

And while Props 200 and 201 are a fine start, increased bus service and cute little trains must be complimented by bigger, better roads and new, high-density freeways that can accommodate the vast amount of cars in town.

Like it or not, Tucson missed the boat a long time ago on being an urban, pedestrian-focused city.

Daniel Scarpinato is a journalism and political science senior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.