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Mixed fortunes in USA:
While the voters in Tucson AZ rejected transit proposals which included light rail those in Houston TX voted for light rail expansion by a narrow majority after a multimillion-dollar campaign against the proposal. The ballot proposition authorizes up to $640 million in revenue bonds to expand the 7.5-mile light rail system currently being built by 22 miles. The new lines are part of a master plan to build 73 miles of rail by 2025. Each phase will need voter approval.
The Tucson case was unusual in that it originated from a grassroots movement as
'Citizens for a Sensible Transportation Solution' had managed to convince sufficient of Tucson's registered voters to sign its petitions to put the plan and the tax measures on the ballot so it would have been surprising if it had been successful.
Meanwhile work is about to start in Seattle with the Central Link Light Rail Groundbreaking celebration scheduled for Saturday, November 8th at the Operations and maintenance base construction site.
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6 November 2003
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