We're taking a break from posting until January. By that time, KC will have a 2010 transit budget and an answer from the US DOT on whether the modern streetcar funding request is approved.
As of yet, there's still no second stimulus on which Mike Sanders can hang' [...]
The Star reports that KCATA's 2010 budget will have plenty of bad news for transit users: fare increases, service cuts, and depleting reserves.
Fixed route services have been spared, unlike in this year's budget, but the "swing shift" service — providing taxi rides to late night workers after regular [...]
After years of struggling with a stubborn Bush administration that refused to consider streetcars a valid form of urban transit, Portland and the Federal Transportation Administration announced a reversal last week.
The flood gates are now open, and that flood includes Kansas City's streetcar proposal. Finally, Portland actually means [...]
As we've had time to digest Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders' Regional Rapid Rail System proposal, we've found the following flaws that must be addressed before the plan will get any serious traction:
1. Lack of visible regional cooperation.
Showing your plan to 2,000 or so officials and having them nod' [...]
Bloggers around the globe have united today for a massive online campaign to raise visibility on the issue of climate change. What does that have to do with our site? A lot, actually.
The major motivation for our use of — and advocacy for — [...]
Our last post about the regional commuter rail proposal unleashed questions about how the plan relates to the downtown streetcar proposal, and whether (or if) one is needed before the other. We decided to simply lay out some data so you can formulate your own conclusion.
The table below represents [...]
The Independence Examiner reports today that Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders is planning to unveil a regional commuter rail system that covers three counties on the Missouri side of the metro — Jackson, Clay, and Platte.
Sanders has been quietly showing [...]
The Star tackled light rail consultant fees this week, noting that $17 million has been spent over the last 15 or so years on various failed light rail plans. Most of that money came from the federal government — and usually from our earmark-loving congressional delegation — but the [...]
The US Department of Transportation received 1,400 TIGER funding applications totaling $57 billion by the Sept. 15 deadline. MARC submitted a multi-jurisdictional application for $88 million that included $6 million for design and engineering of a downtown streetcar circulator. Only $1.5 billion in funding is available nationwide.
While [...]
The regional TIGER application has been submitted to the US Department of Transportation, and it includes a $6 million request for design and engineering of a downtown streetcar. There are lots of other elements (bike/ped, freight rail, Green Impact Zone) in the plan, but the streetcar and BRT portions [...]
Today's coverage of Union Station's continued financial troubles avoids the most obvious solution: transit.
Ask any resident what they think the station's primary function should be and you'll get the same response: Trains. Obvious, right? While the facility is somewhat officially designated as a' [...]
KCATA held a groundbreaking ceremony this morning at 47th and Troost for the new Troost MAX BRT line. Here's a pic of the formalities, courtesy of MARC.
Service will begin in late 2010. The route map is here.
[...]
The only city in Kansas with Sunday bus service is about make another serious move. This time it's a KCK version of the MAX running down State Avenue from downtown KCMO to Village West.
The message at last night's public meeting was [...]
Three questions beg your input at tomorrow's State Avenue BRT meeting in KCK. We offer reasonable expectations for those who plan to attend.
Where would it run?
Preferably on State Avenue, eh? Unfortunately, the top benefit of a bus is also it's worst enemy: they can go anywhere there are streets. [...]
In light of yesterday's ordinance supporting a regional TIGER application that includes $6 million for funding of a downtown streetcar, we've been keeping tabs on the following cities that are making similar applications for TIGER stimulus funds:
Salt Lake City is applying for $35 million in TIGER funds (which' [...]The city council's Transportation & Infrastructure committee just advanced an ordinance supporting a regional stimulus funds application that includes $6 million to advance the downtown streetcar project. The original proposal indicated that stimulus funds might pay for the entire capital cost, but in the end MARC built' [...]
Tonight, the commissioners and mayor of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, will discuss sales tax options that may be placed on the ballot to address budget shortages. KCK does not have dedicated transit funding like KCMO, and will be experiencing service cuts this [...]
The following condensed transit updates are from the MARC Transportation Committee July meeting:
SmartMoves - Two phases underway: urban corridors (with a bi-state application for a TIGER stimulus grant) and commuter corridors; consultants have been selected for each. Phase 1 deadline of Sept. 12th and the second phase has no [...]
The Star served up an update earlier this week on the Troost bus rapid transit project (Green Line), ghettoized in the weekly "Neighborhoods" print section (which is practically MIA online).
Kansas City's second "BRT Lite" (regular buses, no off-board ticketing or level boarding, limited' [...]
On July 16, KCATA proposed a different kind of light rail for Kansas City: a 2.5-mile modern streetcar line serving as a downtown circulator between River Market and Crown Center.
First, some basic facts about the proposal:
Prior light rail studies indicate the "RCP" (River Market [...]
Punch #1 - Another light/commuter rail plan. PrimeBuzz has the details.
Punch #2 - Strip the City Council's ability to invalidate petition initiatives.
We've maintained that Chastain's motivation actually seems quite pure and is valuable in keeping the city's feet to the fire on transit improvements. Our system is' [...]
Follow us at [twitter.com]. If you tweet about transit in KC, use the hashtag #kctransit.
[...]KCATA presented a modern streetcar proposal at yesterday's Transportation and Infrastructure committee meeting. T&I is reviewing applications for $1.5 billion in competitive TIGER grants that are part of the federal stimulus package (yes, that's $1.5 billion for the entire US). It's conceivable that the entire capital cost could' [...]
To celebrate our country's birth, we present a handful of patriotic transit developments:
First US-made streetcar goes into service (Infrastructurist) New buyer revives domestic DMU railcar manufacturer (Trains for America) Hydrogen fuel-cell locomotive unveiled in Topeka (Topeka Capital-Journal)Enjoy the holiday and stay safe!
' [...]We're investigating the site issues we've had this week. Apologies if you tried to read or comment and received database errors. The RSS feed doesn't appear to be affected.
' [...]The JO will increase — and simplify — it's fares on Monday. All the details are here [PDF]. The ozone day fare will remain 50 cents. Unlike Kansas City, Johnson County is increasing service with this fare hike.
' [...]Often forgotten in transit circles is the long-distance, or inter-city, bus — especially in KC since stations are nearly invisible. Greyhound and Jefferson are still serving more passengers here than Amtrak (from a small-yet-tidy facility at 11th and Troost; upstart MegaBus is a hidden gem for cheap [...]
Congressional leaders and the White House declared this week that the new transportation reauthorization bill released Monday is dead for this session because there is no agreement on how the $500 billion proposal can be funded. Congress will take up the new bill in the 2011 session.
What exactly does [...]
After some delay, the full text of the next transportation bill is here [PDF], thanks for Transportation For America. Highlights will surely be available in the next day or so as the blogosphere picks through each page.
NOTE: There is currently a disconnect between Congress and the White [...]
After a failed attempt at working directly with the Parks Board, Clay Chastain is starting another light rail petition initiative. He will be gathering signatures from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Union Station. Laugh if you must, but Chastain is the only person who's actually' [...]
