DAMASCUS, Ore. -- If a new city ballot measure is successful in Damascus, any future light rail projects there would be decided a vote of the people.
Dan Phegley's group called Ask Damascus is behind the ballot measure. If government is even thinking about putting light rail in his city without a public vote, he wants to nip in the bud.
"By putting it in the city charter (this would) make it so that the voters are in control," said Phegley.
The so-called "No Means No" ballot measure would also restrict the city's ability to contract for transit service with any single agency - such as TriMet - without voter approval.
"Damascus has a lot of opportunity, as it grows, to add transit," said TriMet spokesperson Mary Fetsch. TriMet says it would be more than happy to serve Damascus if the city and Metro regional government asked for it.
But Metro tells KGW News it has no plan to extend its new, nearby MAX Green Line train to Damascus.
Phegley doesn't believe that and he doesn't want to take chances because of the potential expense.
"We don't really need the crime out there. We have enough problems with government. I don't know what we'd do if we had criminals running around, too," said Phegley.
Damascus City Manager Jim Bennett is trying to plan for a significant population growth spurt - and that plan should include mass transit, he said.
"We're trying to make a much more walkable community in Damascus so you don't have to drive every place you need to go to," said Bennett.
Sue Shaw of Damascus questions whether walkability equals progress. She too is reluctant to welcome any sort of mass transit.
"We're trying to live in the country but obviously it's going to come to that," she said.
Metro insists that it doesn't find Damascus ready for light rail - and isn't sure it work well there, anyway. At least not yet.
Regardless, Phegley's group wants the choice to belong to city voters.
