New transportation group forms

By: PAUL SISSON - Staff Writer | Monday, September 13, 2004 9:25 PM PDT ∞

A new advocacy group comprised of local business leaders will campaign for Proposition A, which would extend the region's half-cent TransNet sales tax for 40 years.

Called the "Transit Alliance for a Better North County" the group is led by Ted Owen, the chief executive officer of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce.

Owen said Monday that the alliance will focus on educating the public on the benefits of public transportation in hopes of persuading car-bound commuters into using trains and buses in greater numbers.

"There's an old adage that says, 'An uninformed mind always is opposed to something,' " Owen said.

He said the first priority on the group's to-do list is to work for the passage of Prop. A on the Nov. 2 ballot. About a third of the $14 billion in revenue TransNet would generate over 40 years would be allocated for public transportation. The TransNet tax expires in 2007.

However, Prop. A needs a 67 percent super majority to pass, and TransNet faces stiff opposition from North County leaders such as San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn.

Horn said Monday that he continues to believe TransNet should be extended but that half of its revenue should go toward widening local roads and freeways to alleviate the traffic snarls that daily paralyze North County Commuters from Interstate 5 to Interstate 15 and everywhere in-between.

He said he does not think the formation of the transit alliance will necessarily make Prop. A a success.

"I think the majority of people in North County feel that the freeways are too clogged and the majority of the firepower from TransNet should go toward fixing that problem," he said.

In addition to Owen, the alliance's board of directors will include Shirley Cole, executive director of North County Lifeline; Brad Wiscons, director of North County Collaborative; and Jerry Seelman, vice president of local engineering firm DMJM+Harris.

The transit alliance is the brainchild of several employees at the North County Transit District, including marketing director Pete Aadland. He said formation of the group is not a reaction to Horn's opposition to Prop. A.

"It is a concept that I know I've had on my want-to-do list for many, many years," Aadland said. "I think TransNet is kind of a catalyst to get this going."

Aadland said that fliers will soon go up in transit district Breeze buses and Coaster trains asking public transit users to join the alliance.

"We want them to come together and form a voice to be heard on transit issues," Aadland said. "We see this as a longterm organization."

Contact staff writer Paul Sisson at (760) 901-4087 or psisson@nctimes.com

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