The date for a decision on whether or not RTD should go to the ballot in 2011 for additional resources to finance FasTracks came and went on March 8.  To be precise, the RTD Board voted to give the question more thought . . . until our May 3 meeting.

The main reason for the delay was some disappointing polling data we recently received.  As has been reported by the Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_17669390, only 43 percent of the participants in a survey of likely voters said they would support a sales tax increase of 0.4% for FasTracks.   These numbers were surprising in light of earlier poll results that indicated 58 percent support for such a measure.  The new poll results also had a chilling effect on the perspective of some important stakeholders.  For example, we recently received a letter from John Huggins, the Executive Director for an organization that calls itself the Coalition for Smart Transit, stating, “[W]e do not believe that 2011 is the year to ask for any tax increase.” 

These recent polling numbers and the opinions of stakeholders are good arguments to hesitate on moving forward in 2011.  However, along with my fellow RTD Board colleagues, I believe we owe it to the public to give this matter more thorough consideration.  As the Denver Post also reported, http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_17569950, we intend to further review all the polling data and to consider other “triggers” before making a final decision on a 2011 ballot initiative. 

Stay tuned (and feel free to continue sharing your input) . . .