O'Connell: Decision on Transit Referendum by End of Month

Mayor Freddie O’Connell indicated Friday that his administration will decide whether or not to pursue a transit referendum by the end of the month.

O’Connell addressed various topics with the media, including the upcoming freeze, his nominations to the embattled Metro Arts Commission and the hiring of Michael Briggs as the director of transportation planning. Although O’Connell did not confirm that a transit referendum will happen this year, he said the administration expects to have the final questions about the feasibility of one answered by the end of this month.

“The things you need to clear are Legal and Financial first and foremost — can we meet all of the conditions that would allow it to be on the ballot in the first place?” said O’Connell. “The next is can the departments — particularly WeGo and NDOT — support the planning process that would meet the financial legal test. And I think we’ll know that by the end of the month.”