Biz Journal Poll: KC says ‘Move On!’
While the Kansas City Business Journal's "Business Pulse" online polls are nowhere near being scientifically measured (nor is there any way to ensure they're actually sampling business people), it is noteworthy that the #1 response (58%) in the current poll is for this option: "Move ahead with planning for a light-rail system, but go back to voters to change aspects of Chastain’s plan not deemed workable." Thankfully, only 8% said light rail won't work. After viewing the results, check out the reader comments, then come back and tell us why you think we're the only one's carrying the torch on this one…
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It won’t matter. If the Mayor doesn’t back it. It won’t happen.
I think you’re doing a good job on here, as is Mark Forsythe on his blog.
We need to gain more popular backing that promotes a sense of urgency. It’s my impression that KC economic development leadership organization is not centralized and is fairly fractured. So by default we’re kind of on hold until the city council transportation committee starts providing some leadership. I don’t perceieve a sense of urgency or leadership on this issue from Ed Ford.
Ed Ford’s great, but I think on this issue he would like to stand up and wisk the tarp off the train in front of a crowd, without doing a lot of behind-the-scenes, roll up your sleeves work.
We need to do something different, instead of letting random forces and chaos theory rule.
I think it’s clear that most people who voted for the plan didn’t actually want it to succeed as designed, but wanted the initiative to be brought to the foreground. KC lacks good regional and local public transit, and this is proof that people know it. The ironic side is that the riders are waiting for the system to make improvements, and the system is waiting for the riders before it makes improvements.
As far as regional/local action is concerned: KCMO has the most to gain or lose. The surrounding communities don’t have the need for the system as KCMO does (as a whole city/voting community). If we wait for the rest of the metro, it will be another 10+ years of a stalemate.
The plan needs to develop from the center out. Having connections to the rest of the area would be great, and extremely beneficial, but a connection to Olathe or the airport doesn’t need to precede a functional and affordable system in the center. Once the core is a functioning reality, the rest of the metro would more easily come on board and all would benefit.
Basically, light rail is just the formal declaration of local citizens’ desire for an efficient mass transit system. In most cities, that relies on a reliable back bone such as light rail could provide.
Light Rail cost will be to high and should put KC in more red ink. With $20 million needed to operate it per year it’s more taxes and less services for the people. Streetcars might work because of lower cost per mile.Will need some downtown support to pay for streecars {$1 million each],all the law firms could buy a car for a tax write off, and the banks could chip in and pay for transit stops,parks&rec could help with some streetscape, and thet would keep the cost down to get more miles built.
To mainstream: So what’s the urgency with less than 1% of the population riding transit and over a 100 million dollars being used each year.
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