There needs to be a medium between straight Communist China/Robert Moses style transit where the population doesn't have a choice. We don't want a repeat of 71 highway where the poor and politically powerless minority community got displaced and destroyed for a highway. But we don't want a eon long environmental and community review that people can take advantage of either. See Cali HSR project, billions over budget and having to pay millions of dollars for easements to run through pecan farms and such.
alejandro46 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 12:50 pm
There needs to be a medium between straight Communist China/Robert Moses style transit where the population doesn't have a choice. We don't want a repeat of 71 highway where the poor and politically powerless minority community got displaced and destroyed for a highway. But we don't want a eon long environmental and community review that people can take advantage of either. See Cali HSR project, billions over budget and having to pay millions of dollars for easements to run through pecan farms and such.
When the original streetcar system was built in Kansas City, there was no community review or input. I'm sure most people were excited wherever it went because before it existed they had to walk, ride a horse, or take horse-drawn buggies.
FangKC wrote: ↑Fri Sep 03, 2021 12:44 am
When the original streetcar system was built in Kansas City, there was no community review or input. I'm sure most people were excited wherever it went because before it existed they had to walk, ride a horse, or take horse-drawn buggies.
If I remember right operators had to pay a franchise fee to use the streets so the city could just not give approval if they didn't think it was a good project.
They did community input, only it was just rich white people with the machine.
I recently went from strongly against northland light rail to moderately supportive. For some of the same reasons I think Rock Island LRT to Lees Summit should be pushed.
Benefits:
1. Connects housing in good school districts (which is in strong demand) with jobs and amenities downtown.
2. Northland still has a chance to be build in a transit oriented manor. That train has sailed for much of JoCo.
3. LRT in Northland means more density in KCMO and could support a better financial future for the City.
4. Reduces the need for parking downtown more than another streetcar line would
5. Potential for KCI connection which would benefit tourism and events business
6. Could be politically favorable and seems like some push for it in the community
Cons:
1. Low density today
2. Actual support for transit is in question
3. High price tag for an expansive system
1. Low density today
2. Actual support for transit is in question
3. High price tag for an expansive system
Transit doesn't need total density, just density around stops/stations. The current Rock Island TOD Study will address land use around select station areas.
Jackson County polls the best of all the region's counties when it comes to transit support.
1. Low density today
2. Actual support for transit is in question
3. High price tag for an expansive system
Transit doesn't need total density, just density around stops/stations. The current Rock Island TOD Study will address land use around select station areas.
Jackson County polls the best of all the region's counties when it comes to transit support.
Are there plans to use part of the rock island way as a bike lane to connect to the trail at the stadiums?
1. Low density today
2. Actual support for transit is in question
3. High price tag for an expansive system
Transit doesn't need total density, just density around stops/stations. The current Rock Island TOD Study will address land use around select station areas.
Jackson County polls the best of all the region's counties when it comes to transit support.
From that link
Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) – Missouri
Award: $250,000
To plan for TOD along the Rock Island Railroad Corridor, a 17.7-mile corridor where a fixed guideway project is being planned to connect three major cities in the Kansas City region.
Riverite wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 9:06 am
Are there plans to use part of the rock island way as a bike lane to connect to the trail at the stadiums?
If I understand your question correctly, yes there will be a plan to connect the existing Rock Island trail to the urban core. The Linwood Corridor Complete Streets project offers some details on how that would work (10-14' shared use path):
Riverite wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 9:06 am
Are there plans to use part of the rock island way as a bike lane to connect to the trail at the stadiums?
If I understand your question correctly, yes there will be a plan to connect the existing Rock Island trail to the urban core. The Linwood Corridor Complete Streets project offers some details on how that would work (10-14' shared use path):
Why does this route go through Coleman Highlands and Roanoke instead of turning down Broadway and then west along 39th to KU Medical Center? It would seem to me that the Broadway with more of 39th St. route would to provide more development opportunities as well as allow riders to frequent W. 39th St. restaurants. That route is also more apartment dense now, and certainly would be if the streetcar ran there.
Second question. Is there some reason it couldn't go down Southwest Trafficway if Broadway would be considered too close to the Main Street line? Same reason. There are already more apartments along SW Trafficway that the route through Roanoke Park.
FangKC wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:27 pm
Why does this route go through Coleman Highlands and Roanoke instead of turning down Broadway and then west along 39th to KU Medical Center? It would seem to me that the Broadway with more of 39th St. route would to provide more development opportunities as well as allow riders to frequent W. 39th St. restaurants. That route is also more apartment dense now, and certainly would be if the streetcar ran there.
Second question. Is there some reason it couldn't go down Southwest Trafficway if Broadway would be considered too close to the Main Street line? Same reason. There are already more apartments along SW Trafficway that the route through Roanoke Park.
That initial study was focused on "complete streets". A formal transit study will follow very soon.
