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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Tigard voters will decide if they should approve high-capacity transit

Tigard voters will decide if they should approve high-capacity transit | OregonLive.com

Tigard residents are poised to vote on whether the city should oppose a high-capacity transit corridor, accommodating the likes of a MAX line or a bus rapid transit system. The citizen-initiated measure received the necessary 4,122 signatures to go on the March 11 ballot. Chief petitioner, Arthur Crino, fell 46 votes shy of enough signatures to put a similar measure on the 2012 ballot.

This comes amid the Southwest Corridor Plan, a Metro-led regional planning effort to improve transportation connections between Portland and the cities to its southwest. Under this plan, government agencies are studying potentially bringing light rail or a rapid bus system from Portland to Tigard. The latest measure goes beyond the anti-light rail measures approved by voters elsewhere in the Portland-area. It prohibits Tigard from amending its comprehensive plan or land use regulations to accommodate either a new light rail line or high-capacity bus system, unless voters approve with a pricetag and change in road capacity and housing density explained.
But in August 2012, Tigard already updated its land use regulations with high-capacity transit in mind. City Manager Marty Wine said earlier this summer she wasn't sure how the measure, if passed, would affect those plans.
Tigard voters did approve a measure last year requiring a public vote on increased taxes or fees to pay for light rail.
Councilors will vote on formally referring the measure to the ballot at its Tuesday night meeting. Check back oregonlive.com/tigard Wednesday morning for more information.

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