Fortress bus system serves 9000
people every day, those riders don't add
to congestion on the road, pollution in
the air or fight for parking places
downtown.
But the fares they pay to ride the bus
only make up a part of the system's
budget. We are getting a smaller, smaller
funding based on a bigger, bigger
problem. The federal government has
provided 30 percent of Fort Worth
transportation budget, but Uncle Sam is
getting out of the game and the city and
you and I will pick up the slack.
Probably the best way to fund this
is by a sales tax.
We're talking more in the range of
probably a half of one percent.
City leaders told the Chamber of
Commerce's board of directors that unless
Fort Worth builds and keeps a strong
transit system, it will lose out when
competing with other cities for growth.
Fort Worth officials will be closely
watching the August vote on public
transportation in Dallas.
They see that as a chance to find out how
the public feels about paying for mass
transit.
Their transportation plans for the two
cities vary greatly if voters in
Dallas say no.
It would indicate that passing a
transportation issue in Fort Worth won't
be easy either.
Kevyn Burger, Channel 5, Action News,
Fort Worth.