Bieter: Funding Needed for Treasure Valley Public Transportation

Boise (670 KBOI News) – The Treasure Valley is growing like wildfire, and that means more traffic.

Boise Mayor Dave Bieter told 670 KBOI’s Kasper and Chris the City of Boise needs more funding to build a light rail system.

“We’re pleased with the way we’ve grown, in a more compact, mixed-use, walkable, bikeable kind of way.  We intend to continue that,” said Bieter.  “But we do have a concern, and I think it’s really shared, across the Valley.   We need a public transit system, to serve this Valley, as soon as possible.  We don’t have a funding source.”

Bieter said Idaho is one of two states that don’t use taxpayer money to support public transportation…he has long wanted the legislature to change the law to allow for local option taxation.