Wearing a cardboard cutout of a Sound Transit light rail train, junior Kirk Hovenkotter led a group of UW students around the HUB lawn yesterday in a metaphorical train to show support for Proposition 1, also known as the “Mass Transit Now” proposition.

Proposition 1, which would add more than 100,000 hours of bus service and 36 miles of light rail to the track set to open in 2009, will be located on the very bottom of this year’s ballot. To make sure that voters are aware of the issue, members of the group Mass Transit Now are urging voters to fill out their ballots from the bottom up.

“Our main worry is that students are only concerned with the presidential portion of the ballot, and we want to make sure that they’re aware of all of the issues on the ballot come election day,” said Greg Johnsen, a UW sophomore who was at the rally to show his support for the proposition.

Supporters at the rally held signs that said, “UW to downtown in 6 minutes” and “UW to Capitol Hill in 3 minutes,” bringing attention to how much an expansion of the light rail and bus system could decrease travel time for students who have to commute to campus everyday.

Hovenkotter, who is a community and environmental planning major, is a huge proponent of Proposition 1 for this very reason.

“It will help students live across Seattle in more affordable housing, and still be able to make the commute to campus easily everyday,” Hovenkotter said.

While all of the students who gathered on the HUB lawn were in favor of passing Proposition 1, opposition to the light rail system does exist. The main opponent at this time comes from corporate interests, such as Kemper Freeman, a Bellevue developer and owner of Bellevue Square, Bellevue Place and Lincoln Square.

The opposition is pushing for more investment in the current bus system.

“We just don’t believe that’s a sustainable option for our community,” Hovenkotter said.

Johnsen said the opposition is only looking out for its vested interest in the road, concrete and oil industries.

“Buses still get stuck in traffic and cost more to operate than light rail because of the amount of gas they use,” Johnsen said.

A debate between Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and Kemper Freeman is scheduled to take place tomorrow at 4 p.m. in Parrington Hall. Nickels is a major proponent of Proposition 1.

“We are up against people who don’t know what’s best for us here in Seattle,” said Rachel Smith, an organizer who works with the group Mass Transit Now. “Clearly people are ready for new transit options, especially the college kids.”

Tomorrow’s debate will be open for all students to attend and ask questions of representatives from both sides of the issue. Students supporting Mass Transit Now will rally outside Parrington next to the flag pole to show their support for the proposition.

“It’s so important for the economic growth of the city that we pass this propostion,” Johnsen said. “I really don’t think we can afford not to do this.”

Hovenkotter agreed, saying that every year the initiative doesn’t pass, the city ends up paying an extra $500 million because of inflation and rising construction costs. Mass Transit Now also emphasizes that the proposed sales tax increase will cost the average person an extra $69 a year, approximately the equivalent of one fill-up at the pump.

“The sooner we get the proposition passed, the better,” Hovenkotter said.

Reach reporter Casey Smith at news@dailyuw.com.