Today’s public comments
Big take-aways from today's public comments segment of the Transportation and Infrastructure committee:
- Northland (Northland Chamber, Clay County EDC) will support the starter line if the northern terminus remains Vivion Road.
- Councilman John Sharp again urged extension of the starter line south to 63rd along Bruce Watkins (which is dedicated ROW).
- The Sierra Club supports the starter line.
- Several men in suits who think they know better complaining about Union Station.
- A letter from Union Station president Andi Udris stating his support for light rail and the inclusion of Union Station as a transit hub (we'll admit we didn't see that one coming).
- Dennis O'Neill hates light rail and conveniently forgot to mention the transit-dependent 6th District will be served by Troost BRT next year… oh, and some huge TIF project as big as the Power & Light District.
- The Regional Transit Alliance supports the starter line.
- Councilman Ed Ford poignantly noted how far we've come when you see Crown Center and Union Station duking it out to see who will become a light rail stop.
Thankfully, committee chair Russ Johnson directly addressed two main concerns during the meeting: Union Station and the "tourist" label being lobbed by Councilmen Sharp and Terry Riley.
- Union Station will be served, exactly how is "wide open" until more design work is complete and won't be formalized before the November election.
- While the starter line route hits tourist destinations, the study area — by no coincidence — contains more job and population density than any other place in the metro and both are expected to grow in the near future.
More Lawrence service?
A trial run of weekday bus service connecting the KU Medical Center with the KU Main Campus in Lawrence might begin Sept. 2. "Pending administration approval," the trial would last three weeks and would be self-funded. In reality, we're confident that they won't be able to cover the costs of two, 70-mile round trips with fares and this is really a exercise prove that these services are valuable enough for a state subsidy. The service would be open to anyone willing to pay the fare (we're assuming at least $5 each way). The popular K-10 Connector ($2.50 each way) that serves the KU Edwards Campus, Johnson County Community College, and the Lawrence campus is funded by short-term CMAQ grant.
No commentsMayor pumps gas to promote transit
Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser pumped gas (check the photo and video goodness) for customers of the QuikTrip at 43rd and Main today to promote transit, specifically some upcoming meetings where the public can provide input to the regional and KCMO light rail efforts that are underway. Here's the meeting schedule, starting tonight!
Hosted by MARC
Wednesday, July 23
7-8:30 p.m.
North Kansas City Community Center: 1999 N. Iron Rd. North Kansas, MO [map]
City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Thursday, July 24th
10:00 a.m.
City Hall, 10th Floor [map]
Hosted by MARC
Thursday, July 24
7-8:30 p.m.
Liberty Community Center: 1600 S. Withers Rd. Liberty, MO [map]
Regional Leaders’ Meeting
Friday, July 25
8:30 a.m.
Gladstone Community Center: 6901 N. Holmes [map]
Update to participants
We received this email update from the KCATA today:
No commentsLIGHT RAIL UPDATE
Kansas City Council Committee To Take Public Testimony on Light Rail Initiative
Thank you so much for participating in the public process for light rail and transit options.
Last week the Kansas City City Council introduced an ordinance (Ordinance No. 080693) to place on the ballot on November 4, 2008, a light rail proposal which would enact a 3/8-cent sales tax devoted to a light rail system. A companion resolution (Resolution No. 080694) outlining the proposed 12-mile light rail route was also introduced. These documents can be found using the following link: http://cityclerk.kcmo.org/liveweb/common/. Use the ordinance and resolution numbers to search for more information.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will be taking public testimony on the Ordinance and Resolution that will put the light rail initiative on the November 4, 2008, ballot this coming Thursday, July 24 and Thursday, July 31 – 10:00 a.m., 10th Floor Committee Room – City Hall – 414 E. 12th Street.
The map on the proposed route can be found using the following link: http://cityclerk.kcmo.org/liveweb/Documents/Document.aspx?q=7GF8PibfD1LM%2b6i7PtOy04LobGtPCcFFTdPI0×8lgtt5OMgahwE2YlQkPrfDMcN2
Please redirect your “boondoggle” comments to highways
And no, the gas tax doesn't cover the entire cost. Get the full report here (hat tip to Streetsblog).
1 commentWhy waste money on fancy buses?
Just make the existing buses easier to use! Chicago has implemented a bus tracker that does for many bus routes what a BRT upgrade does for just one. The biggest complaint about bus service is timeliness, and this system addresses at least part of that problem by providing a real-time status.
Too expensive for our regional plan? How about SMS updates when a bus will arrive (text stop and route number to a short code and receive an automated response) or an IVR that provides the scheduled bus arrivals for each stop. Portland uses the latter approach by assigning a short code on each stop; dial one central number, enter the code, and the system tells you the next arrival time.
You don't have to buy new buses or expensive LED displays to provide what centralized technologies can do for a much lower cost.
No comments