KC Light Rail

If you haven't heard of the Complete Streets concept, it's basically a movement to make streets safe and accessible for all users, not just cars. Since streets once served more than just auto traffic, the concept is not at all new. In fact, most places that people think of as good places to be have most of the Complete Street elements.

Now that you've been primed, the movement is hitting home as a Complete Streets bill will be heard this week in the Missouri Legislature (it's the second time, see here for a recap).

Why are we covering this? It's quite simple: Complete Streets make good Transit Streets, whether for buses or light rail, and most of Kansas City's streets and beloved boulevards are downright hostile to anything but fast-moving traffic.

From the Sunday edition. Here's the crux: "… the plan won’t be light rail, and it probably won’t be this year."

Here's the full transcript of President-elect Barack Obama's press conference introducing his new Secretary of Transportation (and others). We've clipped the important bits:

We have a task before us to rebuild America. As a nation, we need to continue to be the world leader in infrastructure development, Amtrak, mass transit, light rail, air travel, and our roads and bridges all play a vital role in our economy and our well-being as a nation.

We cannot stand by our infrastructure ages and crumbles. We must pursue solid policies that allow our states and communities to address their transportation needs. We have a tremendous opportunity before us to rebuild our infrastructure and reinvigorate our economy, and I look forward to the challenge.

A hallmark of my career has been my work with our local and state leaders as we have improved the infrastructure of Illinois. I’ve served on the House Transportation and infrastructure committee as we reauthorize the Federal Highway Bill. I understand first hand what good infrastructure and transportation means to communities, and understand it is the local folks who know best their transportation needs. We’ll bring that same approach to the Department of Transportation.

The transit blogosphere has been buzzing over the last 24 hours since word leaked that President-elect Barack Obama had decided on his Secretary of Transportation nominee. We now know that man is Ray LaHood, a moderate Republican Congressman from Illinois.

Basically, moderate is the word to emphasize here. LaHood, while as fiscally conservative as his downstate constituents, has been on record supporting state-subsidized Amtrak service (Illinois has the fastest-growing network of state-sponsored trains) and is part of a Congressional Bike Caucus. He's even uttered the phrase Complete Streets without rolling his eyes.

The Overhead Wire has a nice recap of various viewpoints on this selection ranging from good (knows the appropriations system) to bad (basic left-wing conspiracy theorists).

Of course, anything is better than Mary Peters, the current Secretary who was tasked with carrying out the Bush Administration's starvation diet for all modes except highways (and even those were being pushed towards tolling, congestion pricing, and HOT lanes). Peters is universally reviled amongst transportation advocates, as is our current President.

Planners are required to involve local residents in the discussion about transportation funding. Until recently, that funding in KC has been spent almost exclusively on highways. Why? Because you literally haven't spoken up about alternatives. Redeem yourself by attending one of the five transportation forums and demand transportation diversity as part of the public record. It's kinda like voting!

Kudos to MARC for adding transit information for each location!

The Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce and Northland Neighborhoods Inc. have both endorsed the November light rail ballot proposal.

Previously, the Northland Chamber had insisted on Vivion Road as the northern terminus before offering an endorsement. The segment between Waterworks Park and Vivion Road is expected to be the most expensive segment on the route (over $100 million).