KCRag Forum

I threw quick list of light rail projects together.  I know there are many more, but I don't want to find a pic of them all, so feel free to add more to this thread.  If KC does build light rail, anybody have any thoughts on what types of trains we should go after?

San Diego


Denver


Portland


Seattle


Sacramento


Minneapolis


Baltimore


Phoenix


St Louis


Charlotte


Dallas


Houston


Salt Lake City

I don't think I like Denver's, at least the design of the train itself.

We need to go for a more futuristic and unique look. Maybe like some of the bullet trains out there, with the sloping front and rear ends.

Make different trains with themed paint like blue/white for the royals, red/white/yellow for the chiefs, red/white/blue with stars for US/Missouri

I also believe we should scrap the idea of no wires. It'd be cool to see wires around Downtown, give people some reconnection to the old Downtown.

GRID wrote: I threw quick list of light rail projects together.  I know there are many more, but I don't want to find a pic of them all, so feel free to add more to this thread.  If KC does build light rail, anybody have any thoughts on what types of trains we should go after?

Denver


Sacramento


St Louis

I love these three the best.

those Houston ones are kinda sexy!

I like San Diego and Charlotte's designs. ^^^^ Chiefs colors???  How about we stick to something like navy blue or green....something a little more sophisticated.

nah, i'd prefer themed trains, why conform to what other cities are doing? Make those raiders/denver/chargers fans ride a train with Chiefs colors on it

How about a name?

I like this one in Dublin because of the big windows - without the lavander.
But I cant quit thinking that with pedestrians here in town there might should be a cattleguard. (I'm a ped quite often, but I try to not be in the street when or where I shouldnt be)

Which brings up the subject how fast can these stop?

I changed my mind, instead of red, yellow and white, I'd like red with yellow trim at the bottom.
Of course, you could even have the KC ONE train.

JDluu wrote: I like this one in Dublin because of the big windows - without the lavander.
But I cant quit thinking that with pedestrians here in town there might should be a cattleguard. (I'm a ped quite often, but I try to not be in the street when or where I shouldnt be)

I rode Dublin's Luas last year and it was very nice.  Attractive trains, automated fair collection, good signage and announcements.  Plus it worked will enough to get me home drunk in a foreign city, so it must be designed well.

But they have an odd situation - two separate lines that don't connect.  Now they're spending a bunch of money to connect the mile or so gap. 

ShowMeKC wrote:How about a name?

The Monarch?

I also like your KC ONE suggestion.

(If we actually get it built,) would a oneKC car be optimistic or just ironic?

Optimistic in the hopes that joco will jump on the train and try to get that commuter line going on the rail that runs along I-35, or ironic that they are only sputtering in terms of making a regional contribution to the metro and that KCMO voters got out first and said something?

No, it would be promoting the idea of linking all of KC.

And if it gets built? It will get built 100%, and it isn't going to take 10-15 years to do it.

If they are thinking right this thing could be started tomorrow on land aquistition. it would not take long to lay rail after the railbeds are constructed.

Land acquistion, aren't the streets condidered public property?

Showme, I wish I had your certain optimism.

I too, think that the metro would be better and stronger if we all linked up and acted as one city. I also hope that the tracks will get in the ground before i'm an old man. I'm just waiting to see when all areas will make a substantial contribution and how exactly this plan will be hashed out. There are still a lot of unanswered questions. Hopefully, when joco residents go to the plaza or p&l they will notice the positive effect that developments like this can have on an area.

Anyway, did anyone ever post a link or information on a more detailed version of the plan? The closest I came  was a copy of the ordinance on the city's site.

From the maps there are some areas that look like they go through private property.

I'm optimistic because I look at how much the urban core is improving. All we need is to approve more taxes and cut funding for buses in areas they are used the least and find other sources of funding.

Light Rail costs 30-40 million dollars per square mile when not elevated.

If we begin Light Rail for the DT Airport to the Zoo, that means between 200 and 400 million dollars for a 9-10 mile line. Many DT projects are costing a lot more than that.

This needs to be done in increments. If the first increment is done from DT to the Zoo, then we could definitely get it built within 10 years.

We aren't talking about seperate lines, we are talking about extending the planned lines further.


*Actually, looking at the numbers, the amt for elevated rail (on average) is 40-60 million. The average for non-elevated, normal lines is about 25 million.

If you think about it, this could definitely be built within ten years if we start now. In Jan. of 2007, we need to start studies, including searches for funding and public relations to make it more popular, so we could approve another tax.
After the studies are done, and the routes chosen, etc... Then we should start with the first phase, which should be about from the DT Airport/NKC to the Zoo. Or from I-29 to the Zoo, the latter would mean a max of a distance of about 15 miles.
That first line would cost about $375 million-$400 million

Since KC will be the newest addition to the list of light rail cities, I think that we should be particularly innovative with our light rail design.  We need something that will set us apart from other cities. I love the design of Houston's Metro rail cars, with their aerodynamic design.

and go WIRELESS!!!!!

what a revolutionary idea (sarcasm)
but we should...or go maglev if that doesnt work...

is maglev really designed for frequent stops?but anyways i would have a Houston style car painted yellow(since yellow is the first color the human eye sees)for safety,then i would paint a black and white checker stripe( like the old n.y.c. taxi cabs) around the whole thing.as for a name it needs to be short,and sweet.