Dennis, thank you for your thoughtful article.  Certainly makes us all think about possible solutions to rail funding.  It is unfortunate that this type of thinking wasn't considered before Rail was begun.  If an Improvement and Transit Oriented Zone was considered and judged feasible then it could have been in place and been part of the funding.for Rail. It is only now that we have run out of money to complete Rail that City leadership is considering various alternatives.  One personal comment: In principal I do not favor an excess tax because it hurts the poorest in our community.  Those in the bottom 40% of income pay 13 cents of each dollar earned in GET while the top wage earners pay 8 cents.