“Nothing Happens Until People Start Talking”

Public Transit: First Horses, Then Cars—What Now?

Thursday, January 24, 2008
11:45 am – 1:15 pm
The Grove Hotel, Boise

City planners from Portland to Denver favor public transportation for its economic and air-quality benefits, but they hit roadblocks convincing Westerners to leave their cars. What will it take for Idahoans to embrace buses and trains? Will politicians ever raise taxes to pay for them? Salt Lake City overcame similar obstacles and now boasts one of the nation’s best public transit systems. Learn how it happened from developer Lane Beattie, initially a skeptic and now a leading advocate. Then hear an update on Treasure Valley transit by Kelli Fairless.    

Lane Beattie, president, Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce, served in the Utah State Senate from 1989 to 2000, then became the state’s chief overseer of the 2002 Winter Olympics. In 2003, Beattie assumed leadership of the Salt Lake Chamber. He received the Taxpayers Advocate Award in 1999 for instituting $1 billion in tax cuts during his Senate presidency.  

Kelli Fairless, executive director, Valley Regional Transit, began her transit career with Boise Urban Stages in 1994 and began steering the public transportation authority for Ada and Canyon counties in 2000. She serves on the COMPASS and Community Transportation Association of Idaho board and holds degrees in psychology and public administration from BSU.

Forum Chair: Tom Ryder
Forum Moderator: Jim Weatherby
 

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