Letter: Pros and cons of light rail pondered

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

1. Economic stimulus to downtown Vancouver. Property values along light rail have increased in Portland. Downtown Vancouver needs a boost.

2. Cheaper now than later. Look at Portland versus Seattle.

3. Improved transportation.

4. Jobs here.

5. Federal money will go somewhere. Might as well be here. Better spent on infrastructure.

Reasons against :

1. Don’t know how we are going to pay those annual costs. I favor light rail, but voted against increased sales tax.

2. 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