Mallory: Miscommunication on Streetcars

Mayor Mark Mallory, in an interview Thursday with Margaret McGurk, said he thinks a more detailed streetcar plan and financing program to be announced at Monday's finance committee meeting will allay any council concerns about streetcars.



Re Roxanne Qualls' resolution that seeks more research about streetcars: "I think there has been some miscommunication, perhaps some misunderstanding among some council members." He reiterated the point that expansion to Uptown has always been integral to the plan. Her motion drew six signatures, a majority of the nine council members.



As for competition for TIF financing between streetcars and 3CDC, he said: "We prioritize what 3CDC is doing." The city can build the streetcars and support 3CDC at the same time. "We can't separate these things out anyway." (Meaning the streetcars need development, development needs the streetcars.) "Transportation development done right is an economic development driver."



"Big things can be done. This city has a history of doing big things."