KC Light Rail

In addition to ordinance 080693 that will put the light rail sales tax on the ballot, the Council is managing a second piece of legislation that contains more detailed intentions (but as a Resolution, it's non-binding). Here's a recap what 080694 contains:

Section 1: Restates the proposed route. Similar details were added to the ballot language via committee substitute this week to firm up support from the east side (they've seen the "bait and switch" before).

Section 2: States that the line is intended to be part of regional, multi-modal transportation system. Work is in progress on regional Missouri funding and routes that would connect with the starter line and an early 2009 vote is now possible. That effort merged recently with MARC's decade-old SmartMoves program, which was previously bus only.

Section 3: Confirms that the KCATA will operate the starter line. Just so there's no confusion here, even the regional system would allow KCATA to continue operating their existing bus routes, but with new regional oversight.

Section 4: Vaguely states the priority for extensions to the east and south. The starter line was lengthened just this week to head further south. Logical options for heading east include Independence Avenue or the abandoned Rock Island rail line.

Section 5: Encourages the KCATA to complete the Troost BRT project and explore new BRT routes that improve the severely-lacking east-west connections in today's system (namely along Truman, Linwood, and 39th Street). A BRT line along Prospect is part of the proposed starter line plan and a State Avenue line to Village West is proposed but not yet funded. We hope future BRT lines include off-board ticketing and level boarding, two major amenities missing from MAX that other cities have implemented.

Section 6: States the intention for light rail to serve Union Station.

Section 7: Enhance the pedestrian experience and minimize construction impacts, both areas in which the city has been completely unsuccessful in the past. We hope the Council investigates low- or no-cost loans to help small business owners survive the construction period long enough to benefit from the line's added traffic. We'll see if Public Works can figure out how to put pedestrians first at an urban intersection because right now it's a massive failure (seriously, pushing a button for a walk signal in the heart of downtown?).

Section 8: States the intention to integrate light rail with buses, for which the planning is already in progress. Hopefully some changes will come sooner rather than later (using MAX as the spine).

Section 9: States the intention to avoid double taxation. If a regional tax passes next year, the council has stated they will simply repeal the KCMO-only tax to prevent this scenario.

Section 10: Encourages resolution of the North Kansas City funding question. NKC has already created a Transportation Development District, allowing the city to put it's own transit tax on the November ballot (pending circuit court approval).

Section 11: States the intention for light rail construction to comply with the city's requirements for minority- and women-owned business involvement. The last mayor and council gratuitously side-stepped these requirements (and others) for construction of the Sprint Center.

Section 12: Encourages transit-oriented development along the starter line. This doesn't mean tearing down houses in midtown, but filling in the stretches of empty lots that now litter the starter route. We expect the council to eventually adopt some type of incentive or zoning program to guide such efforts.

Section 13: States the intent to include public art in the station design. Kansas City — widely recognized for high quality public art — backs that up with a requirement that all publicly-funded projects contribute 1% of their construction budget for public art. One of the best-known examples is the Sky Stations installation atop Bartle Hall, now an iconic part of the city's skyline.

Section 14: States that the starter line should not encroach on Anita Gorman Park, which sits at the northern terminus of the proposed route. The park contains a massive year-round fountain that's solidly part of the Northland's identity.

Section 15: States the intent to see all applicable state, federal, and local funding sources for the starter line. Climate change funding from a new administration could help. MoDOT is at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to funding anything except highways, but a new transportation outlook includes a request for $50 million for mass transit. Local funding options might include public-private partnerships or sponsorships for stations and amenities.