KMBC comes along to the discussion: "Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders is proposing a commuter rail plan for the Missouri side of the Kansas City metro."
Build something . . . It's the rule for politicos who want to get ahead and Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders knows with the level of resentment for him boiling over among County workers, he won't be able to escape widespread dissatisfaction for much longer . . . Therefore this plan on the heels of what will be a close COMBAT TAX renewal vote will either offer a quick second chance should COMBAT fail OR a bit of momentum if COMBAT succeeds.
Here's another criticism:
I have no idea why people forget that transit takes people AWAY as well . . . This Eastern Jack plan won't just bring people downtown . . . It will push folks out further to the edge of Jackson County as well. With such short sighted planning, I can only hope that some opposition arises to this pricey scheme that provides few details (other than pretty pictures) so far.
Tony, I must say I actually agree with one point you made. That is the point that "transit takes people AWAY as well". I think that in the case of commuter rail this could be true. The truth is that it goes both ways. It draws people in AND it gives people more incentive to live far away.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between you and me is that I think that instead of not doing it at all we should tie the commuter rail into a streetcar line at Union Station.
I get your complaints about certain aspects of rail (too expensive, not specific enough), but the problem is that this is ALL you have. There is absolutely no question that some rail transit would help K.C. way more than it would hurt it.
This is typical Tony, though. You are a master at pointing out problems, but you NEVER have a solution.
Dang T. you just got took apart in a nice way.
ReplyDeletethat's a first.
Don't the same argeuments apply to this light rail plan? Isn't it too much during a recession? What kind of tax increase are we talking about? For how long?
ReplyDeleteThe hope is that much of it will be funded federally. This is very possible due to the current administrations view of "green transit" and infrastructure. This kind of system would be a perfect candidate for stimulus money because it would provide jobs..
ReplyDeleteIn short. It looks like it not result in much of a tax increase, if any at all.
it would not result in*
ReplyDeleteThat's a great plan right until they ask for matching funds or when the feds run out of money to print.
ReplyDeleteI am not going to respond to that because you, sir, are obviously a teabagger.
ReplyDeleteBig Sauce...
ReplyDeleteWhere were the people like you when we began to engage in a 3 trillion dollar war...
I am sorry I just have a low tolerance for people who only get angry about spending when it's in the civil sector, but when it comes to war they have no problem bankrupting the country...
Off topic, I know...
The plan has engineering specs down to grade levels for track. This is not pie in the sky as a plan, but Sanders was smart to put it on the feds to fund the plan. They should give us something,
ReplyDeleteMike Sanders: FAIL
ReplyDeleteWhere are all the "so-called" reporters in asking real questions like, "How in the world do you think you will get federal money?" But no, Sanders just "says" it and they print it like it is gospel. Hell, Sanders can't even get into see Claire McCaskill in D.C. and since he came out so strong for Hillary, the current administration is blatantly not returning his calls. There is no federal money to be had and since Senators Bond and McCaskill "know" Jackson County and Mike Sanders, there is no way they will help get any federal money for the corrupt county to work with. This guy is a joke and everyone knows it, but the folks at the KC Star love his slickness so he gets good press. The guy has reached the pinncale of his career. He is the poster boy for the Peter Principle. Anyone that thinks he is going to any higher office are either real dumb or don't really know the guy. A toy train rail line won't cover for his ineptness.
ReplyDeleteSounds like some sour grapes to me. Probably Funk or LeVota. They are all so jealous of Mike. Jealous of his ability to work productively with other elected officials, jealous of his fine family, hsi beautiful wife and strong support of the local civic and business community. Eat your hearts out losers! And Tony, what is your issue with Mike?
ReplyDeleteI hate how people on this blog always refer to legitimate public transit as "toy trains". The only thing that keeps me sane is knowing that most people who comment on this board reflect a real minority in Kansas City. A minority made up of people who don't want K.C. to progress in any way.
ReplyDeleteI have to assume that all these people who call it "toy trains" are dumb rednecks who have never been outside kansas/missouri.
A little news for all you idiots...Kansas City was BUILT ON THESE SO CALLED "TOY TRAINS"!!!
Tony you frequently present false arguments. If rail taking people away from downtown is an argument, then I propose tearing up the Interstate as well. It takes people from downtown!
ReplyDeleteSMH!!!
ReplyDeleteGood point.
Did a group of people get together and decide to be arbitrarily against any kind of rail transit?
where is the money for Kim George Carlos?
ReplyDeleteSanders is going to run this TOY TRAIN out to Grandview. But it will start with a "test" for five or six miles on Main --the infamous "shopping TOY TRAIN" for ladies with fur coats to go between the Plaza and Crown Center. Big news that part will be built and then he will go somewhere else and nothing else will ever be built.
ReplyDeleteKansas City "elected leaders" did not even do their duty in getting us in on the fast rail plan from Chicago. St Louis gets that Federal money and we get GREEN FIELDS on the east side.
Toy Train TOY TRAIN TTTTTToy TTTTrain
ReplyDeleteWe want a TOY TRAIN and Clay will get it for us. We are getting the petitions ready right now and getting all of the signatures so that we can get a TOY TRAIN with out a TOY TRAIN Kansas City is a second class city, a cow town, a town with a bunch of hicks, and all of that will be erased with a TOY TRAIN.
Whoreray for Clay
"Whoreray" for Clay? Toy train guy is an illiterate retard.
ReplyDeleteWhat a joke MS is everthing Executive, Mayor, Transit leader and good at none.
ReplyDelete