>How would this affect Latah County?
The passage of HB 610 would mean that the CURRENT funding levels around the
state would be able to remain level, and that we would not lose any of the
current services in Moscow and Latah County. The creation of a mechanism
for funding public transportation would enable public transportation
providers to be able to plan their services for more than a year at a time.
One of the frustrations for PT providers is the lack of stability in
funding. Some providers may be hesitant to start up any new services
because the funding may not be there the next year, and then the service
needs to be taken away. (This has the potential of giving PT providers a
poor reputation with consumers of PT)
>What type of public transportation would be subsidized in northern Idaho?
Examples of transit services provided in this area include Regional Public
Transportation, Inc. (Valley Transit), Moscow/Latah County Public Transit,
and Area II Agency on Aging. Further north, the main transit provider is
North Idaho Community Express (N.I.C.E.).
>Would the beneficiaries of this tax be the cities? rural areas? both?
Both.
>What will PUBLIC interests do that PRIVATE interests cannot or will not?
>Where do current bus/taxi operators come down on this bill?
>Can you reference a web site or other source of info?
I don't know of a web site to reference. I'll check into it though. I
have other information such as "Movin' Idaho", the Idaho Public
Transportation Plan that was recently finished this fall. I also have a
copy of HB 610. I will leave both of these at City Hall (3rd floor of the
Community Center), so anyone interested may look at them. (I'll make sure
they are there by 3 pm this afternoon.)
I want to put some thought into how to answer your question about public
vs. private interests. I'll respond later today.
By the way, the acting chairman of the Region II Public Transportation
Advisory Council is Jerry Schutz, who runs LINK Transportation, Inc. He
has been actively involved in the PT plan for Region II, and is supportive
of stable funding for Public Transportation.
Pam
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Pam Palmer
Moscow City Councilmember
P.O. Box 9203
Moscow, Idaho 83843
208-883-3741
ppalmer@moscow.com
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