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04(26/2004 06:43 9196443002 OR. CTV. PLANNING PAGE 03/06 <br />printer-friendly story Page 2 of 3 <br />pointed out that many legislators and county commissioners are reluctant to <br />approve new taxes or new taxing authority. <br />"This committee can do everything we want to, but where the rubber meets the <br />road, it's what our own local delegations are willing to do for our communities," <br />said Sen. Linda D. Garrou of Winston-Salem, a Democrat, "And a lot of them are <br />going to say, 'We don't want to do anything.' " <br />Rep. Don Munford, a Wake Republican serving on the commission, said he was <br />skeptical but wanted to learn more, <br />"I'm aware of the transportation problem we ha~~ie in Wake County, but I don't <br />want to open a Pandora's box of local-option financing without us looking at all <br />the other alternatives first," he said in an interview. <br />Rep. Deborah K. Ross, a Wake Democrat not serving on the commission, said <br />she was "receptive to finding different ways to do local transportation funding not <br />dependent on the state." <br />The commission's chairman, Rep. Drew Saunders of Mecklenburg County, said <br />the commission will meet in May to consider recommending legislation to the <br />General Assembly, which opens a session next month. <br />A study commissioned in 2000 by the Regional Transportation Alliance, a <br />business group that includes 15 Triangle chambers of commerce, said the region <br />could count on $7.7 billion in state and federal transportation funds by 2.025, But <br />the region would need $8 billion to $10 billion more to avoid being mired in traffic <br />jams, the alliance said. <br />After considering several revenue sources, alliance leaders found broad support <br />for vehicle fees and gas taxes. <br />Raleigh spends 7 cents of every dollar it raises from property taxes to finance <br />$150 million in improvements to state_maintained thoroughfares such as <br />Strickland and Falls of the Neuse roads, said Meeker, who also serves on the <br />state commission. <br />Meeker pointed out that state highway construction money favors interstate <br />highways and major inter-city roads and leaves very little for city streets and relief <br />of city traffic congestion, <br />With more money, he said, Wake could launch Sunday and holiday bus service <br />and make other improvements proposed for Capital Area Transit. Several <br />thoroughfares could be widened or extended, fie said, <br />http://www.news-observer coon/front/digesbv-print/story/3513724p-.3117276c.html 4/19/2004 <br />