KCRag Forum

the county likes 31st/linwood, actually. that's your connection to the stadiums and the rock island/katy trail.

DaveKCMO wrote:you don't have to go very far east to prove the streetcar's transformative powers in the northeast. i'd be perfectly content with phase 2 on the avenue stopping as close to downtown as prospect (~1.8 mi from 3rd & grand). all of the neighborhoods along that stretch have been very supportive (columbus park, paseo west, PH).

I believe strongly in the "transformative power" it could have all down the Avenue, but I guess I don't understand how a line from the River Market to Prospect could possibly have the tax base to even get tracks laid? There's only like 8K people in those neighborhoods, most of them low income, and unlike downtown, there is no business presence of any significant size. Seems like you would need to get into the population center of NE (i.e., east of Chestnut - Scarritt, Indian Mound and Lykins) to fund anything.

I will repeat, however, that while I can see the allure and the possibilities of an line into Northeast, I don't see it as a necessity (politically or otherwise). By contrast, if this project doesn't make it to the Plaza, I think 10 years from now you will hear all the same "toy train/boondoggle/doesn't go anywhere" arguments you hear now, only they'll be more justified and they will cripple the future of potential expansion and jeopardize the operational funding of the line we do have.

chingon wrote:but I guess I don't understand how a line from the River Market to Prospect could possibly have the tax base to even get tracks laid?

it wouldn't. that's the huge issue with phase 2.

i think i can safely say there is universal agreement that phase 2 to umkc will be prioritized over phase 2 independence avenue. however, up to 3 corridors will advance for further phase 2 study south of the river.

The combination of generic anti-transit folks combined with a dispirited east side/NE population will scuttle any expansion. It's why "touristy frou frou" happened.

phase 2 corridor meetings scheduled: http://nextrailkc.com/milestones/events/

Piece of information to save.

http://www.marc.org/2040/Land-Use_Direc ... idors.aspx

MARC and its transit and local government partners have identified six corridors that are the highest priority for the region to develop as the backbone of this transit system

North Oak Trafficway
State Avenue
Metcalf Avenue / Shawnee Mission Parkway
Troost Avenue
Rock Island corridor
U.S. Highway 24/40

This is one of the corridors and is a connection point to the Troost corridor

independence avenue corridor workshop tonight! http://nextrailkc.com/milestones/events/

best phase 2 turnout thus far last night.

Good to hear. I'd have been there but for the fact that I'm halfway across the country.

Michael Bushnell, publisher of the Northeast News, doesn't appear to support the study for the proposed streetcar line down Independence Avenue.

http://northeastnews.net/pages/?p=20862

FangKC wrote:Michael Bushnell, publisher of the Northeast News, doesn't appear to support the study for the proposed streetcar line down Independence Avenue.

http://northeastnews.net/pages/?p=20862

Sounds more like El Bryan's handwriting.

loftguy wrote:

FangKC wrote:Michael Bushnell, publisher of the Northeast News, doesn't appear to support the study for the proposed streetcar line down Independence Avenue.

http://northeastnews.net/pages/?p=20862

Sounds more like El Bryan's handwriting.

Umm... what's the background on the NENews? Half the articles are run of the mill neighborhood newsletter fare, but the other half are bitchy, angry op/ed pieces. Even some of the news pieces are bitchy. I know it's been around for ages, but I never actually read any of it until now. Is this an editor with an ax to grind situation?

Where's Sportster when you need him?

FangKC wrote:Michael Bushnell, publisher of the Northeast News, doesn't appear to support the study for the proposed streetcar line down Independence Avenue.

http://northeastnews.net/pages/?p=20862

bushnell actually does not like the project and has written negatively about it before ("it's not infrastructure" or something). it really doesn't matter since all of the neighborhoods have either voiced support or stayed neutral. moving on...

DaveKCMO wrote:independence avenue corridor workshop tonight! http://nextrailkc.com/milestones/events/

David, in your opinion which route would be better for economic development for KC as a whole. The route that runs to Columbus Park or one that goes along Admiral Blvd/7th Street to the 7th and Main Street stop for the main Street line?

I am not sure how much development can occur in Columbus Park (I would believe a lot), but I know there is a lot of development potential along the 7th Street to main street route.

As you know, the Admiral Blvd route would benefit me personally, but I would hope that I would take more of a larger perspective towards a line that benefits the city as a whole.

Columbus Park

DaveKCMO wrote:Columbus Park

Columbus Park it is then.

I'm biased towards an Admiral Boulevard alignment, too--but I'm not opposed to a Columbus Park alignment by any means, but I have concerns. My primary concerns with the Columbus Park alignment stem from the fact that in the past the proposed alignment is shown following Cherry/Independence along MO 9 and I-70. It looks like the NextRail map shows it going down Fifth to Charlotte, which is better but still has a park along two blocks and still loses a lot of frontage to the highways.

I also like the idea of an Admiral alignment as a catalyst for the East Village, which seems to be completely listless. A 12th Street route would obviously be the best for this, but barring that, Admiral would be the next best to get something moving there and Paseo West.

.