KC Light Rail

The North Kansas City City Council approved a 1/2-cent light rail sales tax for the November ballot. It now awaits approval from a Clay County judge — expected next month — since it involves creation of a special transportation district. The Star has more detail here. The 25-year tax is expected to generate $1.6 million a year.

There's been a lot of press nationwide about ridership spikes (double digits for rail) and how transit operators themselves are coping with higher diesel fuel prices (service cuts and fare increases). There's also been a lot of talk in the presidential race about the "do nothing" Congress and whether or not the US should drill its way out the energy crisis. All of these issues may collide in the coming weeks as public pressure to "do something" pushes the Democratically-controlled Congress into a compromise on increased domestic drilling.

The Wall Street Journal reports that as much as $2 billion could be made available to transit operators through new energy legislation being floated for public consumption. Will the bargaining chip for the President's approval be expanded drilling? How will this move affect the current presidential debate?

We'd love to hear your thoughts…

Local:

• Chamber committee supports light-rail ballot measure (Kansas City Business Journal)
• Civic Council is almost on board with light rail plan (Kansas City Business Journal)
• Hendricks on light rail: If not now, when? (Prime Buzz)
• Light rail on Grand Boulevard (Unfettered Letters)
• Kansas City gaining reputation as green city; Lawrence to study its efforts (Lawrence Journal-World)
• #129 And #229 Service Will Not Change (KCATA)

National:

• Central corridor applies for federal funding (Minnesota Public Radio)
• Charlotte light rail ridership approaching milestone (WBT)
• The Tide's momentum reaches the Beach (Virginian-Pilot)
• Half of FasTracks soaring cost tied to North Metro, DIA lines (Rocky Mountain News)
• Growing suburbs now see mass transit as good idea (Houston Chronicle)
• West Seattle needs mass transit now (West Seattle News)
• Tempe events celebrate first Arizona light rail opening (MarketWatch)

Prime Buzz reports that the Greater Kansas City Chamber's Public Transit Committee has issued a "draft position" on the light rail election:

The Chamber supports the concept of light rail as a key to the development of a regional public transit system. The Chamber endorses the passage of the Kansas City, Missouri, November 2008 ballot proposal for a three-eighth cent sales tax to develop a light rail starter line.

There's a laundry list of "after the election" caveats that follow, as if you cared. So now it's on to Cordish. Is this high-brow extortion? (Condo tower + boutique hotel) x TIF = light rail endorsement? Is there any corporate math that will allow a Grand alignment?

Granted, there's still time for a shadowy opposition group to appear before November. We'll be watching the campaign finance disclosures for clues. Let's hope the city and the ATA have their act together to motivate voters before that happens.