Light-rail opponents are gathering signatures

Opponents of building a light-rail transit system in Vancouver to place on the ballot an initiative calling for a citywide vote on the matter are now collecting signatures.

The City Attorney’s office last week notified organizers that the form met requirements and could be circulated as a petition.

Vancouver resident Larry Patella said concerned citizens will be working to gather some 6,000 signatures, enough to exceed the minimum requirement in case of bad signatures.

He said volunteers will be at the Saturday Farmers Market and will begin collecting in earnest by midweek.

The first signatory was Vancouver City Council candidate John Jenkins, Patella said.

The petition, if approved by voters, would enact an ordinance prohibiting the city from taking any action related to light rail.

It’s not clear whether the petition would have any binding effect on the multibillion-dollar Columbia River Crossing project, even if it passes.