Transportation authority question won't go to voters

POST FALLS — The question of whether to create a regional public transportation authority will not be in front of voters in November.

On a 4-4 vote — with the tie not being enough for approval — the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization (KMPO) on Thursday decided against recommending to county commissioners that the creation of a RPTA be placed on the ballot.

A RPTA is a government agency that coordinates services, monitors how federal grant money is spent and secures funding through federal and local sources. The RPTA would not replace KMPO, a board with representatives from area highway districts, the cities, the county, state and Coeur d'Alene Tribe that handles transportation planning.

Board member Dan Gookin, who represents the city of Coeur d'Alene, said he believes the status quo with governing public transportation is fine.

He said fellow city council member Woody McEvers' point was well taken when the topic was brought up before that jurisdiction.

"He said the bus system is two tiny routes and he didn't see the point in creating a new level of bureaucracy," Gookin said during the meeting at Post Falls City Hall.

RTPAs were also bantered by KMPO in 2010 and 2012, but a proposal didn't make it to the ballot either year. Such proposals can only go to voters in even-numbered years.

Dick Panabaker, who represents Hayden on the KMPO, also voted against forwarding the RTPA proposal.

"We're not against voters having the opportunity to vote on it," he said. "Our concern is simply financial. Our levy rate is so low."

Jim Kackman, who represents the Tribe, voted in favor of forwarding the question to the county. He said voters should have been allowed to decide the matter and what the future of local transportation should look like.

"It would be difficult to defend a position against allowing voters to decide how public transportation should be operated in Kootenai County," he said. "This is simply a recommendation the commission would have. That's where I'm coming from."

He earlier said the Tribe has been hopeful in recent years that other jurisdictions can chip in more to help it fund Citylink, the area's free public transportation system. The county is planning to implement a cashless fare system to help with costs as well as route changes to formalize the program. What that fare would be hasn't been determined. It would likely start next year.

Other KMPO board members who voted against forwarding the proposal were Terry Werner, Post Falls Highway District, and Terry Sverdsten, East Side Highway District. Others in favor of forwarding it were Damon Allen, Idaho Transportation Department; Rod Twete, Lakes Highway District; and James Mangan, Worley Highway District.

Marc Eberlein, who represents the county, recused himself from voting as he and fellow county commissioners would have voted later on whether to send the question to the voters. KMPO board members Fred Meckel, Rathdrum, and Kerri Thoreson, Post Falls, were not at the meeting.

Steve Wilson of the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce said that nonprofit's Public Policy Committee urged KMPO to forward the proposal to the county.

"It's worthy of good public debate, and we believe good public debate happens during the election process," Wilson said.

RTPAs are governed through a board of directors and do not have taxing authority. They form partnerships with businesses, colleges and nonprofits to secure more funding for public transit.

There are two RPTAs in Idaho, including Bonneville County (Idaho Falls area) and Ada and Canyon counties (Boise area).