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50 REPORT : TRANSPORTATION FUNDING OPTIONS Mr. Leigh Middleditch, Chairman of the Transportation Funding Options Working Group, said the Group took the list of MPO projects and prioritized them and assigned dollars and alternative funding sources. He said the eight projects totaled $100 million. He said recommendations include: increasing gas taxes and returning more to localities from which they are raised; creating a standing authority; seeking more flexibility from the State for use of funds; allowing counties to issue bonds without referenda; creating bondable revenue streams; and increased coordination between the City and County. Ms. Hamilton congratulated Mr. Middleditch on a fully realized report. Mr. Caravati said it will be important to present a united front with the County for next year’s legislative package, and he asked Mr. Middleditch for help with that. Mr. Lynch said it is a great piece of work. He said it would be best to get greater funding from the State or Federal sources as the only local revenue sources large enough are sales or meals taxes. He said that if additional funds are not available from the State or Federal government, he thinks it would be better to raise the gas tax and to put the cost on the user. He said other than that portion of the report, he is happy to accept the report. Responding to a question from Mr. Caravati, Ms. Rhonda Edmonds of Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, said that if park and ride lots exist, service districts could be created for them. Dr. Brown asked that Council vote on accepting the report with the idea of including the recommendations in the City’s legislative package next year. On motion by Ms. Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Lynch, the Transporting Funding Options report was accepted by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch. Noes: Mr. Schilling. THTH PUBLIC HEARING : DOWNTOWN MALL CROSSING AT 4 OR 5 STREET Mr. O’Connell said he would argue that the success of downtown is because it is a place for people. He said the Downtown Business Association has requested that either thth 4 or 5 Street be opened to traffic. He noted that the item is not scheduled for action by Council tonight. He said that if Council decides to open one of the streets, staff feel that th 5 Street would function best. He said the question is does Council want to have a crossing at all, and if so, how. He said staff recommend that it not be opened at this time and that we should wait and see the impact of the Transit Center. He said that the Planning Commission voted 5- 2 against the opening. He said if Council decides to open th one of the streets, that it be done on a temporary 6 to 12 month pilot basis at 5 Street. He said Council may also want to consider closing the crossing most if not all nights. The public hearing was opened. Ms. Joan Fenton, 3705 Country Lane, a member of the Downtown Business thth Association, supported a one year trial opening on 4 or 5 Street. She said that the th Downtown Advisory Committee supported a mall crossing at 5 Street. Several in the audience raised their hands in support of Ms. Fenton’s comments. She said that other pedestrian malls successfully have openings to traffic. She asked that Council take a chance and see if it helps businesses. Mr. Tim Hulbert, 2246 Brandywine Drive, President of the Chamber of thth Commerce, said the Chamber supports efforts to replace the crossings at 6 and 7 Streets that were removed. He agreed that downtown is a place for people, but said that nd access and economic vitality are inseparable. He said the crossing at 2 Street demonstrations that a crossing can be successful.