KCRag Forum

normalthings wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:27 pm

AlkaliAxel wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:11 pm Between the Affordable Housing restriction lifting

its far from lifting

Tell us more

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Fri Aug 12, 2022 1:13 am

normalthings wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:27 pm

AlkaliAxel wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:11 pm Between the Affordable Housing restriction lifting

its far from lifting

Tell us more

I don't think the incentive changes are the real meat. The big big win is the City Manager having the power to approve projects without incentives having to go through multiple different votes from council or whomever.

Surprised this wasn't posted on here- Frank White III is the new interim CEO. At the end of the article it also states that the COO/deputy CEO will more than likely be leaving the agency soon as well. I don't know much about White, so what're the thoughts?

https://www.masstransitmag.com/manageme ... nterim-ceo

Two Americas - Transit Deserts in KCMO.

TL;DW- sprawl and infrequent bus service makes it hard for people to get around when they need to ride the bus, and makes optional transit riders not ride it. Also good interview with Dave. Outlying municipalities (who are the biggest benefactors of sprawl) basically free load off KCMO funding the ATA.

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/tw ... eB-lzi_Q1k

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Fri Aug 12, 2022 1:13 am

normalthings wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:27 pm

AlkaliAxel wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:11 pm Between the Affordable Housing restriction lifting

its far from lifting

Tell us more

There is still 20% at 60% MFI requirement that’s burdensome but better.

Workforce housing is usually considered 60-120% MFI. Some communities allow for up to 140%

what communities and in what context? To qualify for incentives?

alejandro46 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 12, 2022 9:31 am Two Americas - Transit Deserts in KCMO.

TL;DW- sprawl and infrequent bus service makes it hard for people to get around when they need to ride the bus, and makes optional transit riders not ride it. Also good interview with Dave. Outlying municipalities (who are the biggest benefactors of sprawl) basically free load off KCMO funding the ATA.

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/tw ... eB-lzi_Q1k

Thanks! Regional funding is the way forward.

https://ridekc.org/bulletins/104-107-2023

KCK routes 104 and 107 to reduce service to every 2 hours on Saturdays. What a joke.

Is service even service if it serves pretty much no one and is beneficial to almost no one?

Article in Washington Post featuring several quotes from RideKC riders on their experience with free fare as DC has decided to follow the lead:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transpor ... e-transit/

TL;DR people like saving money but would also like reliable and frequent service.

smh wrote: ↑Mon Dec 12, 2022 1:47 pm Article in Washington Post featuring several quotes from RideKC riders on their experience with free fare as DC has decided to follow the lead:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transpor ... e-transit/

TL;DR people like saving money but would also like reliable and frequent service.

The difference in the DC metro's free transit will be in conjunction with improved bus service with higher frequencies etc. It seems like KC just made their buses free and that's it and because free transit doesn't really increase ridership (unless it's a very good transit system), it has only caused service to get worse in KC.

smh wrote: ↑Mon Dec 12, 2022 1:47 pm Article in Washington Post featuring several quotes from RideKC riders on their experience with free fare as DC has decided to follow the lead:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transpor ... e-transit/

TL;DR people like saving money but would also like reliable and frequent service.

Whelp. rather than frequent routes, we get 2 hour headways on KCK routes, meanwhile, 201 is adding random express trips for whatever reason.

You can't make it up.

Give it a year and 104 / 107 will lose Saturday service due to "low ridership".

It's hard to stay optimistic about transit sometimes.

Those KCK route decisions are made by Unified Government. KCATA is essentially just a contractor in this case.

Meanwhile, Troost and Main MAX routes are getting restored service starting in January.

DaveKCMO wrote: ↑Thu Dec 15, 2022 8:00 am Those KCK route decisions are made by Unified Government. KCATA is essentially just a contractor in this case.

Meanwhile, Troost and Main MAX routes are getting restored service starting in January.

Yep, and in this case it seems that the service couldn't be provided due to staffing (word has it anyway), leading to a reduction in already bare bones service, yet while other services and redundancies remain within the system (Looking at routes 9, 11, and 12).

At least MAX lines are finally getting frequency back up, some trips on MMAX and TMAX have been rather full as of late.

November KCATA Board Meeting. Community members came to open testimony asking for expanded light rail/transit system be studied. Yes Please!

John Ivy spoke to the Commissioners regarding KCATA having the bi-state authority to be in charge of the airport and building rail to the airport as well as east, passed the stadiums into Lees Summit, MO. Mr. Ivy also passed out literature regarding rail cooridor plan suggestions.

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) will receive $4 million to help further incorporate battery electric buses into the already established RideKC network, which covers the urban and suburban regions of the bi-state Kansas City area. This was a joint request with Representative Emmanuel Cleaver (MO-05).

https://davids.house.gov/media/press-re ... nsas-third

Are we getting a refund on these real time color signs put up on the MAX stops recently? Is a one of them working?

KCPowercat wrote: ↑Wed Dec 28, 2022 11:25 am Are we getting a refund on these real time color signs put up on the MAX stops recently? Is a one of them working?

Yes, they've been incredibly unreliable. We did a competitive procurement and followed all the rules, including staying on them to remedy some of the problems (too hot screens if they were in the direct sunlight, for example) but there's also been a LOT of vandalism. Like crowbars, gunshots and stuff. That said, they are insured so it's just a matter of getting them replaced with so many other things to fix.

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politic ... 64400.html

Yikes. current KCATA CEO is both overpaid according to KCMO ordinance and out of compliance with KCMO's residency ordinance.

https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-03-15/fo ... l-problems

Also, yikes. Former KCATA CFO suing because he felt he was forced out after sounding the alarm about out of control spending.

KCATA is a federal bi-state compact. I don't know why a KCMO specific rule should apply.

Also, if that is the going rate for the job that is the going rate for the job. His pay sounds reasonable.

Birmingham ALbama's transit head made $225K in 2021.

https://www.al.com/news/2021/10/new-tra ... etter.html

Seattle's makes $375,000

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-ne ... ulie-timm/

STL's makes $280K
https://graphics.stltoday.com/apps/payr ... 1/group/6/

langosta wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:57 pm KCATA is a federal bi-state compact. I don't know why a KCMO specific rule should apply.

While this is technically correct, when your top funder tells you to jump you say "how high?"

The same drama plays out in St. Louis with its bi-state authority.