http://www.iwon.com/home/money/money_article/0,2090,51576|business|08-13-2000::11:50|reuters,00.html Texas Voters Pass Rapid Transit Bond Issue for Dallas -- August 13, 2000 2:50 am EST DALLAS (Reuters) - Dallas area residents passed a $2.9 billion bond issue Saturday to expand the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system by a vote of 77 percent, election officials reported. Passage of the bond issue will allow the transit system to expand its light rail to 94 miles by 2013. At this point, riders can use 20 miles and 24 more miles are under construction. When completed, the system is to link Dallas-Fort Worth Airport with downtown Dallas and area suburbs. The money is also to allow expansion of bus service and construction of more than 100 miles of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on major roads, transportation officials said. Approval by voters allowed anticipated completion of the system by 2013, eight years ahead of the present schedule. The bond issue was not expected to raise taxes. "We have a healthy revenue stream from the one percent we receive from the sales tax and we currently operate on only 50 percent of that," said Chris Poinsatte," chief financial officer of the transit system. In June, 37,000 people rode the trains on a daily basis and another 153,000 rode buses. Only 33,000 residents voted, election officials said. ------------------ Stay Cool...
