2008 Woodie Awards
Panel eyes transit for county
Shawn Gude - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
Transportation - specifically the likelihood of a possible regional or countywide service - was a main point of discussion at Wednesday night's Johnson County Council of Governments Urbanized Area Policy Board meeting.
Minutes after a report on Des Moines' Regional Transit and Ames' CyRide and a letter to be sent to Iowa's Department of Transportation was approved by the council, two community members spoke on the need for a countywide transit system.
Gerry Kuhl, a North Liberty city councilor, emphasized the need for a system that would serve all of Johnson County, a system that could possibly include both bus and rail options.
"The citizens don't dispute that the current systems are efficient and well-run," he said about the 50 people who signed the petition he presented to the council. "However, the issue is the scope of the service."
The benefits would be plentiful, Kuhl said, if fixed routes were expanded to better incorporate certain under-served areas.
The North Liberty councilor contended such a system would improve air quality, reduce traffic, and increase job opportunities.
"A transportation system for everyone in Johnson County would enhance the economic development and vitality of the county," Kuhl said.
Kuhl proposed a third-party study be done on the transit needs of the county.
Carol Spaziani, a member of the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, also spoke, echoing much of what Kuhl said.
Council of Government members were receptive to the idea of a study.
"I think we've been having this dialogue inside ourselves for awhile now," UI Director of Parking Transportation Services David Ricketts said, noting that the project that would have "an extraordinary cost." "[Now] we need to sit down and talk specifically about what we'd like."
Coralville City Councilor Tom Gill had another suggestion.
"If you really want to solve the problem, close the parking ramps," he said.
The panel will further discuss the matter at its January meeting, deciding then if a study should be conducted.
UI President Sally Mason also spoke at the meeting on her goals for the university, setting precedent as the first-ever UI president to speak at such a meeting.
E-mail DI reporter Shawn Gude at:
shawn-gude@uiowa.edu
Minutes after a report on Des Moines' Regional Transit and Ames' CyRide and a letter to be sent to Iowa's Department of Transportation was approved by the council, two community members spoke on the need for a countywide transit system.
Gerry Kuhl, a North Liberty city councilor, emphasized the need for a system that would serve all of Johnson County, a system that could possibly include both bus and rail options.
"The citizens don't dispute that the current systems are efficient and well-run," he said about the 50 people who signed the petition he presented to the council. "However, the issue is the scope of the service."
The benefits would be plentiful, Kuhl said, if fixed routes were expanded to better incorporate certain under-served areas.
The North Liberty councilor contended such a system would improve air quality, reduce traffic, and increase job opportunities.
"A transportation system for everyone in Johnson County would enhance the economic development and vitality of the county," Kuhl said.
Kuhl proposed a third-party study be done on the transit needs of the county.
Carol Spaziani, a member of the League of Women Voters of Johnson County, also spoke, echoing much of what Kuhl said.
Council of Government members were receptive to the idea of a study.
"I think we've been having this dialogue inside ourselves for awhile now," UI Director of Parking Transportation Services David Ricketts said, noting that the project that would have "an extraordinary cost." "[Now] we need to sit down and talk specifically about what we'd like."
Coralville City Councilor Tom Gill had another suggestion.
"If you really want to solve the problem, close the parking ramps," he said.
The panel will further discuss the matter at its January meeting, deciding then if a study should be conducted.
UI President Sally Mason also spoke at the meeting on her goals for the university, setting precedent as the first-ever UI president to speak at such a meeting.
E-mail DI reporter Shawn Gude at:
shawn-gude@uiowa.edu
Be the first to comment on this story