Funkhouser and the November starter line
Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser made comments at today's Downtowners' monthly luncheon that a light rail starter line must be on the November 2008 ballot but "it needs to have a clear path to a regional system."
We applaud the Mayor for clarifying his stance to appear less like a roadblock and more like a long-term vision (it's mostly been semantics anyway, but this should indeed squelch his critics on the matter once and for all). While a KC-only starter line will require a larger tax increase for residents versus a regional tax from the onset, it follows the precedent set by most other cities who have entered the rail transit game late.
All it will take is the next decade of multi-million dollar developments along the proposed line for other municipalities to fall into place. When they do, the regional plan of a dedicated transit sales tax will be their price of entry no matter how big or small. This will bring a consistent transit funding approach and prove to the FTA that metro residents have "skin in the game".
Also in today's news, look for a federal gas tax increase recommendation for roads and public transit to heat up the presidential campaign. Will any candidate come out and endorse the recommendation?
2 Comments so far
Leave a reply
I still can’t understand the delay in getting this on the ballot in November…two years after the original light rail plan passed. This, along with the multiple smoking ban proposals would be more than enough to bring out heavy crowds at the polls (plus, maybe the more progressive voters that come with these issues might vote in a more progressive school board). I’ve always felt Funky-town was in favor of light rail…but…we…..are…..moving….so……slowly
It took Charlotte 9 years and two votes to get its first light rail line completed.