By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-826421.mp3
Dallas, TX – How to fund "regional rail" in North Texas is up for discussion in a state senate committee room today. KERA's BJ Austin says the Local Option Transportation Funding Act would allow voters to approve new taxes and fees.
More than 40 North Texas cities have passed resolutions calling on state lawmakers to approve a menu of funding options from which local voters could choose. That money would be used to expand local rail service across the region. But Collin County Judge Keith Self is against it. He says now is not a good time to raise taxes, especially when lawmakers siphon-off dollars meant for transportation every year.
Self: Stop the diversion of the gas tax that we already pay - the motor fuels tax. And I'm not talking about stopping 75% of the diversion. I'm talking about stopping all of it.
Dallas Councilmember Linda Koop heads the Regional Transportation Council. She says it'll take more than the current gas tax.
Koop: I think we've all come to the realization that's there's not going to be any money for regional rail unless we create a user fee.
Those fees could include a local option gas tax, a fee on drivers' licenses, parking, and a mobility enhancement fee.