KC Light Rail

Kansas City Star columnist Lewis W. Duiguid compares the current situation in Phoenix, where a light rail system is under construction and due to open for service in 2008.

Like Kansas City, light rail in this sprawling metro area had a bumpy start. Voters rejected earlier attempts before finally approving a sales tax increase in 2000 for a metro system, said Karla Navarrete, communications coordinator with Metro Light Rail. Federal funds will cover about a third of the $1.4 billion cost, and the cities also will contribute.

The language in Question 2 is very specific. Lets take a closer look at it.

QUESTION 2

SHALL THE FOLLOWING BE APPROVED?

In order to provide for the people of Kansas City a pioneering urban rail passenger system, constituting the foundation of a future regional transit system, offering not only increased energy-efficiency, comfort, mobility, transportation savings, and convenience, but also a greener, cleaner, safer environment, a stronger economy, and a means to help America reduce its dependence on imported oil;

The introduction has lots of happy thoughts on the environment, reducing America's dependence on foreign oil, and the promise of better transportation service through the urban core of the city, all of which are some of the widely accepted benefits of Light Rail.

shall the City of Kansas City, Missouri extend the current three-eighths (3/8) cent transportation sales tax, due to expire on March 31, 2009, for 25 years, beginning April 1, 2009 and ending March 31, 2034, with said tax to be used solely to fund the construction, operation, maintenance, and beautification of the following transportation improvements under the auspices of the Kansas City, Missouri City Council:

The tax mentioned–"the current three-eights (3/8) cent transportation sales tax"–was a five-year tax approved by voters in November of 2003 to fund the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (the bus). The tax was set to expire March 31, 2009. ^{[e language in Question 2 is very specific. Lets take a closer look at it.}

The tax mentioned–]

Area leaders had planned to put a renewal proposal on the ballot in conjunction with MARC's SmartMoves. This would have continued funding for the KCATA and also for additional regional bus lines.

However, now that the Light Rail initiative has passed, the funds that currently go to the KCATA will be diverted to pay for construction of the system. The tax currently brings in around $23 million annually.^{[e language in Question 2 is very specific. Lets take a closer look at it.}

The tax mentioned–] According to their website, the KCATA's operating budget was $40.5 million in 2006. This leaves a very large hole in the bus system's funding which city leaders will need to work out.

Coming Up

In Part Two we'll discuss the route as described by the ballot language and in Part Three we'll discuss the changes to Penn Valley Park.

Notes

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KC Parks and Rec commissioner Bob Lewellen is excited about the gondolas in Clay Chastain's light rail plan, although due to unexplained staffing changes at KCTV-5, the interview will never air. The Star's Hearne Christopher writes:

Had not Scott disappeared from Channel 5 so suddenly and mysteriously last week, his interview with KC Parks & Rec commissioner Bob Lewellen would have aired Sunday.

“I was on the show that got pulled,” Lewellen laments. “We talked about light rail and Clay Chastain.”

Viewers would have learned Lewellen’s current take on the mini controversy about closing off Broadway through Penn Valley Park. For the most part Lewellen is down with Chastain’s plan, lock stock and gondolas.

On Tuesday, November 7, 2006 Voters in Kansas City, Missouri approved a plan to implement a Light Rail system from Kansas City International Airport to the Kansas City Zoo.

Local pundits were surprised by the measure's passage, calling it "stunning" and "troublesome." The ballot initiative was sponsored by Clay Chastain–his seventh attempt in nine years. The measure passed 53% - 47%.

Local officials, including Mayor Kay Barnes and the City Council, now have to implement the plan. Many officials, however, say the plan isn't financially feasable or even buildable. They'll decide in January wether to start work on examining the plan now or wait until after city elections in April, leaving the task to the next mayor and council.

This is a large step for Kansas City's transportation system. Light Rail can move many more passengers through an area than busses can and it also promotes development along the line. Light Rail is also cleaner than diesel-powered busses. Light Rail should not be confused with Commuter Rail, which generally travels further distances at greater speed with fewer stops (like a line from Downtown to Olathe or Blue Springs). Light Rail works well in more densely-populated areas and often travels on city streets.