TKC BREAKING NEWS!!! CHECK OUT THE HENRY KLEIN KANSAS CITY TRANSIT PLAN!!!

Just a few seconds ago Kansas City Mayoral candidate Henry Klein fired off some of the highlights of his transit plan that includes a bit of cooperation with private industry and Zipcar . . . It's nearly as captivating as photos of Penny Mathis but take a peek for yourself:



Klein Proposes 21st Century Mass Transit Plan - An affordable plan to Offer Expanded Coverage, Greater Frequency

In a recent "get to know the mayoral candidates" session, Henry Klein made several important transit proposals to the KC Regional Transit Alliance (KCRTA).

The points to the plan included -

1) Rightsizing the Equipment/Buses used in the System. Currently, we do not have the correct size buses for the routes we run.

2) Expanded Use of Hybrid/NG/Electric buses - the same factors that will potentially drive greater ridership could also raise our costs to prohibitive levels. In conjunction with the other points of this plan, we will likely need to get special federal support. This support will likely be come if we have a comprehensive plan such as this.

3) Integration with BRT (bus rapid transit) plans on both sides of the stateline

4) An ATA run "Private Investment for Public Good" routes extension

a) Specifically - we create two systems - one that we run as we currently do, and a second, where we bid out certain routes to the private sector so as to expand the system

5) Creating Alternatives to 1 and 2 car ownership through partnerships such as ZipCar

a) Making certain that Zipcar stations are conveniently and strategically located within the transit system

6) An NRG style electric refueling system like the one being set up in Houston

a) Specifically, NRG will be installing charging stations for electric cars in homes as well as have recharging stations throughout Houston. Consumers will pay $80/month for this. When you match this to the cost of fossil fuel (gasoline), this becomes an interesting and viable alternative.

Klein also pointed out that his transit plan could easily "plug and play with either the Sanders Regional Rail plan or the implementation of a Streetcar plan. "The system can stand alone or work in conjunction with these other plans being suggested," Klein said.

The more overarching issue is how do we look past the grand plans and get moving on an improved mass transit system that can be implemented quickly, have the kinds of high frequency and coverage that people here in Kansas City need.

The Klein proposal addresses the need for greater frequency, greater city-wide coverage and given the private sector components, the price tag would be very small. "With the costs of the system remaining affordable, the Federal Government could get behind this. The plan could become a test case for how other cities with medium population densities and large geographic areas to cover structure their 21st Century mass transit," Klein offered.
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