Letter: Pros and cons of light rail pondered

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Reasons to favor light rail as part of the Columbia River Crossing:

Economic stimulus to downtown Vancouver. Property values along light rail have increased in Portland. Downtown Vancouver needs a boost.
Cheaper now than later. Look at Portland versus Seattle.
Improved transportation.
Jobs here.
Federal money will go somewhere. Might as well be here. Better spent on infrastructure.

Reasons against :

Don't know how we are going to pay those annual costs. I favor light rail, but voted against increased sales tax.
No one has submitted a reasonable (or any) financial analysis regarding the impact on Vancouver for those of us who prefer information. Will the economic stimulus be enough?

James R. Patterson

Vancouver

The Columbian | Serving Clark County, Washington