Two transit plans work together:
Upcoming public involvement opportunities
July 23, 2008
Two major transit planning efforts are underway right now in the Kansas City area. Each offers opportunities for your involvement during the coming days.
July 25 Regional Transit Summit
Public officials in Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties have been hard at work on a plan to expand transit service in these three counties through a regional tax. This work will culminate at a Regional Transit Summit to be held: July 25, 8:30 a.m., Gladstone Community Center, 6901 North Holmes St.
Citizens will be invited to express their views, following which we expect county and municipal officials to conclude that, while they aren’t yet ready to put a question on the ballot in November, they do support the Kansas City light rail project as an important step toward a regional transit system, and they’ll continue to work on a regional plan that they can take to voters next spring.
Mid-America Regional Council is assisting this effort, and is hosting a series of community meetings that outline the region’s “Smart Moves” transit plan. These meetings are announced through MARC’s Smart Moves Web site.
Three such meetings have been held to date and more are scheduled for the near future:
- July 23, 7:00 p.m., North Kansas City Community Center
- July 24, 7:00 p.m., Liberty
- July 30, 7:00 p.m., Excelsior Springs / Kearney
July 24 and 31 - Light-Rail Ballot
The Kansas City Council is considering a ballot question for the November 4 general election date. Current discussion envisions a 3/8 cent sales tax for 25 years to finance construction of a 12-mile light rail “starter line” extending from near Vivion Road and North Oak, through Downtown and Crown Center to the Plaza, and then eastward to Prospect. This route has been under study by the Area Transportation Authority for over a year, and it would serve as the “spine” of a regional transit system.
The City Council is considering two actions:
Ordinance 080693 would place a light rail sales tax question on the November ballot.
Resolution 080694 sets forth the Council’s intent regarding transit.
Public testimony will be accepted at two upcoming meetings of the Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee:
- July 24, 10:00 a.m., 10th Floor, City Hall, 414 East 12th Street
- July 31, 10:00 a.m., 10th Floor, City Hall, 414 East 12th Street
We encourage you to attend one or both meetings, or to watch via the city’s cable TV station, KCCG-TV2, or Web site.
The Regional Transit Alliance strongly supports both of these transit planning efforts. We believe they complement one another.
We commend the city and county elected officials of Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties for their commitment to transit. We also commend the City Council of Kansas City, the Area Transportation Authority, Mid-America Regional Council, and members of the light rail study team who have been working so hard to bring some really significant improvements to transit in the Kansas City region.
Earlier this year the Region adopted a goal of becoming “America’s Green Region.” These transit planning efforts are important steps along the way to achieving that goal.
Margie Richcreek
Chair, Regional Transit Alliance