Mass transit in Fort Worth long overdue
by Bernie Scheffler, editor-in-chief

    Fort Worth finally took a step in the right direction last week when the City Council voted 7-2 in approval of an initial plan to build light-rail lines in and around downtown Fort Worth.

   The plan is a little late, though, since Radio Shack plans to close its free Tandy Center parking lot and subway Aug. 30. The closure of the Tandy Center parking facility leaves the downtown area in a serious parking crunch.

   Truthfully, more solid plans to improve transit in Fort Worth should have been in place years ago. The city has been developing and improving its profile for a long time. Why were we not planning for the increased population and congestion all along?

   The Trinity Railway Express, a commuter train between Fort Worth and Dallas, which draws 6500+ riders daily, proves that people are willing to get out of their cars to avoid traffic problems.

   Even our friendly rival city to the east (starts with a D…) seems to have transit figured out. Its successful light rail lines connect all parts of the city with downtown and other districts.

   In the great Fort Worth-Dallas debate, I’ll still choose Fort Worth every time. I just think our laid-back “Cowtown” attitude leaves us scrambling to catch up with ourselves at times.

   If we truly want to become a major metropolitan city, we have to make it easier for people, both residents and visitors, to get around stress-free.

   City buses are no longer enough. Commuters in cities with successful light-rail systems see the trains as upscale alternatives to buses. The rail cars are faster, quieter and more comfortable. The rail system would help lure more people out of their cars, fighting parking shortages, traffic congestion, and air quality problems.

   The starter project will be expensive ($165 million), but it will pay immeasurable dividends in years to come.

   I personally would be willing to pay an extra half-cent sales tax to finance the light-rail project.

   Tax increases may not always be popular, but sometimes they are inevitable.

   Dallas already pays a half-cent more sales tax than Fort Worth, but it has the best transit system in Texas.