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School funding options explored This year is the last chance to ask voters to maintain taxes By Jane Reuter
jreuter@colorado communitymedia.com
Lone Tree Link driver Wayne Reeder, who is retired and lives in Lone Tree, says he’s never met an unpleasant person on the route. The service recently marked six months, with ridership tripling since it began. Photo by Jane Reuter
Shuttle ridership gains traction Lone Tree Link celebrates six months of fast growth By Jane Reuter
jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com Lone Tree Link driver Wayne Reeder knows at a glance where most of his passengers are headed. In four months of driving the shuttle, their faces have become familiar to him. About 70 percent of them are headed to work at the Charles Schwab campus on Lincoln Avenue and Park Meadows Drive. “I think (the service) is well appreciated,” Reeder said. It’s also the perfect part-time job for Reeder, 65, retired and in remission from cancer. Amiable, extroverted and conscientious, he’s typical of Link drivers, who have earned compliments from many riders. “I get to meet a lot of people,” said Reeder. “I especially like talking to the Schwab people. They’re very bright, and I like to mess with stocks. “Everyone is very pleasant. I’ve never
met an unpleasant person.” The drivers are among the many reasons the City of Lone Tree believes its new service is a success. The Link provides a connection primarily for people who take the light rail from points north of Lone Tree to its end point on Park Meadows Drive. Eventually, the Southeast Light Rail Extension will continue south, with stops scheduled near Sky Ridge Medical Center and east of Interstate 25. But until that’s constructed, a public transit gap exists between the Lincoln light rail station and major employers like Schwab, Sky Ridge and the Parkridge office building. The station is also about a mile from the Entertainment District, University of Colorado Lone Tree Health Center and other popular destinations along Park Meadows Drive. The Lone Tree Link recently marked its six-month anniversary. Ridership of the small buses has tripled during that time, from 97 per day in the first month to 297 per day in March. The shuttles stop at each of the six stops
every 10 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Its stops include the Lincoln light rail station, Schwab, Sky Ridge, Kaiser, the Parkridge Corporate Center and the Entertainment District. “One of the highest compliments I’ve heard ... was that there haven’t been any complaints,” said Torie Brazitis, assistant to Lone Tree’s city manager. “The stability of the service is the important thing here.” The complimentary service is provided through a public-private collaboration with the City of Lone Tree, Charles Schwab, Sky Ridge, Kaiser, Parkridge Corporate Center and Denver South Transportation Management Association. The cost for the initial year of service is $775,000, with the city paying $250,000 and the remainder divided among the other entities. Though it primarily serves employees who travel to and from Lone Tree on the light rail, the Link is open to the public. Reeder said some people ride it from the light rail station to the Entertainment District to eat at a restaurant or see a movie. For more information, visit www.lonetreelink.com.
Lone Tree council meets rare dissension Newest member’s actions alarm some peers, residents jreuter@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Monson continues on Page 9
BY THE NUMBERS
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By Jane Reuter
Lone Tree’s city council has traditionally functioned in harmony, typically recording unanimous votes as it makes decisions for a community dealing with fast economic and residential growth. That unanimity has changed with the addition of its newest councilmember, Kim Monson. Monson often votes in opposition to her fellow councilmembers, frequently citing concerns about issues outside the city limits and referencing the Constitution and other U.S. founding documents. She joined the council in an uncontested May 2012 election, replacing term-limited Sharon
Representatives of 13 Douglas County School District School Accountability Committees let the school board know they want a bond measure to fund capital needs on November’s ballot. They presented a position statement to the board during a recent meeting. School board President Kevin Larsen said the board hasn’t yet made a decision about the potential ballot issue. Doug Benevento, board vice president, said at a recent meeting he won’t support such a question until the Larsen state addresses its schoolfinance formula. Larsen said the district is considering every potential financing angle and prioritizing needs. “Only after we’ve done that next phase do we know what the solution is to be,” he said. “I think we have an obligation to say, is this only solved by bond debt or — Percentage are there other of the 84 school solutions? I don’t district facilities think putting it on deemed in need of the ballot is a foresignificant capital gone conclusion.” improvements, The school diswith five trict has a final categorized at opportunity in “high risk of November to ask component taxpayers to mainfailure.” tain tax bills that would otherwise — Number go down this year. of facilities If voters approved considered in good the proposal, their condition school tax bill would remain un— Average age changed instead in years of school of dropping by district buildings about $36 a year. “I don’t think — Age of the there’s any chance oldest building there’ll be a tax in the district, increase on the Douglas County ballot this fall,” High School in Benevento said Castle Rock during a Feb. 20 Republican party breakfast in Castle — Number of Rock, noting votstudents projected ers rejected simito be enrolled lar proposals in in the Douglas County School 2008 and 2011. “I District by 2040. think what they That’s double the told us when they present enrollment rejected all those tax increases is, Source: Douglas `Why don’t we County School have a more fair District and equitable system for getting our money back from Denver?’ ” Larsen agreed the state funding formula remains a grave concern.
Councilmember Kim Monson listens March 17 as the city attorney talks about a request she made to ensure the city’s seniors’ group doesn’t use data for political or other reasons. Photo by Jane Reuter
Schools continues on Page 9