Vote yes for the bus tax
We've done more than our fair share of complaining about KC's bus service over the years — routes meander all over, light years behind on technology (SMS, anyone?), pathetic Sunday and absent night owl services, lack of connections to the 'burbs — but after spending those same years up close and personal with the system, you can bet one this is for sure: WE ARE GETTING A BARGAIN. Our sprawleriffic terrain makes for a incredibly tough challenge, especially when you consider we fund transit at a lower rate than almost any peer city (and state).
That's why the bus tax question is a no brainer and the arguments against its timing are misguided. Some light rail proponents are simply not confident enough that the situation this time is different: a shorter line (cheaper), running in the streets (no eminent domain), that crosses the river AND leans east (politics)… and let's not even talk about $110 per barrel oil (transit demand), and a Democrat on top of the executive heap (transit funding). Call November a perfect storm, and you'd be right.
So yeah, disregard the Architects and vote yes for the bus tax on April 8. Light rail will stand on it's own. As soon as our elected officials learn a bit more about transit, they'll stop thinking and talking about modes and focus more on the system as a whole.
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Why would anyone vote to give the bus tax a yes vote? They need to state what kind of plan they have to improve the service. At least give a new master plan. No plan ,no money
the bus tax is to sustain current operations and continue enhancing popular bus lines with BRT (troost, prospect).
Do you know how new bus stops are selected? Get a TIF get a bus stop. This is how the KCATA money gets skimmed. FY 2006-2007 actual TIF allocation $2 million, budget for 2007-2008 was $3.1 million for TIF, for budget year 2008-2009 TIF allocation is $3.3 million. The KCATA is not about getting poor people to work but taking care of TIF!
Should we really be voting for a tax that helps TIF? Remember Councilman Ed Ford after the first 3/8 cent tax election said he misspoke about money going to TIF. Why didn’t he fix it this time?