KCRag Forum

beautyfromashes wrote:The first thing that needs to be done is expand 71 into a proper interstate now. I can't imagine what that already busy road will look like with thousands more cars on it at rush hour.

The lights were put in as a settlement to a lawsuit, so I assume someone will probably have to sue to get them out.

If you fix the lights then the increased capacity will induce that much more demand and jam the highway back up. The only difference will be that Beltmore will have swollen even more by then.

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/a ... 94064.html

Recent improvements in bus service and streetcar access could help local employees get to work without relying on a car.

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority recently expanded bus service from the urban core to south Johnson County jobs hubs. You can find more information about those routes at ridekc.org.

And last week, voters approved special sales and property taxes to expand the Kansas City streetcar from downtown to the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

I recently saw this graphic and wondered whatever happened to the proposed bi-state transit initiative that had been talked about?

It hasn’t formally been proposed, but discussions are still underway with some stakeholders.

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2019 5:42 am It hasn’t formally been proposed, but discussions are still underway with some stakeholders.

That is good to hear. Hopefully, streetcar and BRT are part of the discussion.

The focus is -- and should remain -- on more operational funding. Capital and bond interest will eat up all of the local money, when we really just need to focus on improving job access and coverage as much as possible.

"Regional funding for transit" was mentioned a couple of times during tonight's chamber annual meeting.

itshappening.gif

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2019 4:07 pm The focus is -- and should remain -- on more operational funding. Capital and bond interest will eat up all of the local money, when we really just need to focus on improving job access and coverage as much as possible.

Would the focus then be on expanding local bus service or would it be a combination of Max and local buses?

I would hope that the focus would be on bus* service -- maybe MAX for the SmartMoves corridors -- due to the goal of connecting more people to jobs. If you do a lot of capital construction, you cut into the annual operating revenue to actually run more service that would maximize job access.

*zero fare

Would target as many regular bus lines that can run every 15 minutes or less for rush hours, doesn't matter if MAX or not. Any line that runs only every 30 minutes or worse during weekdays may as well be removed and resources moved to lines that can run 15 min, maybe 20 at worst. That is... fewer lines, strategically placed, running more often.

earthling wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 7:45 pm Would target as many regular bus lines that can run every 15 minutes or less for rush hours, doesn't matter if MAX or not. Any line that runs only every 30 minutes or worse during weekdays may as well be removed and resources moved to lines that can run 15 min, maybe 20 at worst. That is... fewer lines, strategically placed, running more often.

...except our public survey for the redesign said to maintain coverage. 30m or less service provides coverage.

22 minutes is my happy medium to randomly walk to a bus stop and expect to be picked up. 30 isn't a killer though.

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 10:26 pm

earthling wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 7:45 pm Would target as many regular bus lines that can run every 15 minutes or less for rush hours, doesn't matter if MAX or not. Any line that runs only every 30 minutes or worse during weekdays may as well be removed and resources moved to lines that can run 15 min, maybe 20 at worst. That is... fewer lines, strategically placed, running more often.

...except our public survey for the redesign said to maintain coverage. 30m or less service provides coverage.

So after redesign will any bus have 1hr service? There are still quite a few lines with only 1hr.

The one line I'd like to see with 20m consistent service is between downtown/airport, especially if/when free-fare kicks in.

There will still be hourly routes. Again, coverage. East/west travel will get easier and access to jobs will improve, especially for low income populations.

Don't expect an improvement in airport service. There's just no demand and nothing between downtown and KCI to generate ridership.

Hourly service is just not useful, which brings me back to the point that perhaps 2 lines hourly lines should be consolidated, which would at least give 30min service (at least for rush hours).

Airport demand is low because it doesn't run often. Same chicken/egg problem. If it it ran every 20 minutes many more would use it.

If/when free fare starts, will be interesting to see where the demand increases.

Hourly is transit for the desperate, not transit to replace car use with a different mode.

I’m up and down N Oak on the weekends. It’s rare to see a bus out. I might see one every few months.
Seeing a bus rider at a stop is even rarer.

Hourly service is inducing demand for cars because most people can’t rely on the service.

flyingember wrote: ↑Sat Dec 14, 2019 8:43 am Hourly is transit for the desperate, not transit to replace car use with a different mode.

I worked near an hourly bus line with other bus/transit reliant people. We all ended up taking “the family” car instead. Hourly bus service is just as bad as tacking an hour onto your commute in terms of the scheduling difficulties that it creates.

I get that frequent bus service on North Oak will never draw many riders. However, more frequent service on core routes most certainly would.

@davekcmo Will a regional or bi-county transit tax boost the frequency of these core transit routes?

Regional funding could boost everything, especially the key corridors: Metcalf, State, North Oak, Independence.

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Sat Dec 14, 2019 11:10 am Regional funding could boost everything, especially the key corridors: Metcalf, State, North Oak, Independence.

https://www.kcata.org/procurement/regio ... consultant

Let's keep discussion of this RFP and resulting plan here, since it's more than just streetcar.