TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! CHRISTIAN YOUNGSTER CONVENTION BOOSTS KANSAS CITY TOY TRAIN STREETCAR TO ALL-TIME HIGH WHILST CRITICS CLAIM RIDERSHIP NUMBERS ARE FAKE NEWS!!!
The Kansas City toy train streetcar is touting HISTORIC ridership numbers in their ongoing mission to expand the line.
Here are basics of their claim:
"For the week of July 2 – 8, 2018, the KC Streetcar recorded its highest weekly ridership to date with 78,998 rides. On Friday, July 6, 2018, which also happened to be a First Friday in downtown Kansas City from the Crossroads District to the City Market, the KC Streetcar recorded its highest daily ridership to date with a total of 19,181 rides. That is nearly 2,000 more rides than the previous day of May 6, 2017, which had a daily ridership total of 17,267."
The artsy image is something KCMO wants put front and center but the hipsters & suburbanites usually have their own cars and the $100-MILLION+ and counting streetcar bill is kind of pricey for artsy shuttle service.
More context . . . The July 4th weekend was exceptionally packed with youngsters, which is nice . . . They were part of the Christian "Challenge" conference in Downtown KCMO. These youngsters didn't have much to do when they weren't participating in the conference and it was kinda clear to everybody who drove through the area that they were just riding the line out of boredom or back and forth to explore the gilded part of downtown KCMO. Again, that's cool and I guess the streetcar is a worthwhile attraction for these tourists but transit as baby-sitter isn't what voters were promised.
Moreover, critics point out a contradiction with the numbers game played by streetcar proponents.
"When they were selling the trolley, all they talked about was how the streetcar would bring jobs & increased property values to the neighborhood. Now all they talk about is the number of tourists that are riding the thing. And there is no question that their quoted ridership numbers are bogus."
Supporters of the streetcar don't understand local skepticism about the data so here's more context . . .
- City Hall officials have constantly lied about visitor numbers and claim the KCMO yearly total is 25-million - A figure that isn't at all realistic and has garnered outright mockery.
- City Hall promised us a more efficient airport - It's already delayed and embroiled in a labor battle that's worse than anyone realizes.
- City Hall promised voters a pro-NBA or NHL franchise if $300-MILLION was approved for the Sprint Center. More than a decade later only C-list concerts are offered at the venue.
- City Hall threatened voters that water rates would rise if they didn't approve the local government loans and ensuing higher taxes via GO Bonds. Water rates have continued to rise nevertheless.
- City Hall claimed the P&L District would spark an unprecedented level of prosperity in Kansas City. The new buildings are impressive but the entertainment venue costs $15-MILLION out of the general fund every year.
Clearly, voters who have been paying attention have a right to be skeptical.
And so we ask our blog community . . .
DO YOU TRUST HISTORIC KANSAS CITY TOY TRAINS STREETCAR RIDERSHIP NUMBERS?!?!?
We look forward to arguments from both sides of the aisle on this one given that local media has worked to suppress so much criticism and questions regarding the management of the toy train streetcar and its journey toward expansion.
You decide . . .
got the solution here.
ReplyDeleteJust say streetcar ridership is 25 million annually and everybody wins.
The Streetcar needs an independently verified audit of the ridership numbers. And it must be done by a company independent of City Hall. Portland was forced to audit their ridership numbers and they were found to be 18% inflated on their numbers.
ReplyDeleteRemember when Dave did a story and counts for what was it three days and it was nothing close to what Sly and the liars say.
ReplyDeletewhere are the best parking garages to park, then use the toy train?
ReplyDeleteNo. City hall lies. We all know that.
ReplyDeleteTony you're the only critic, and a half-baked one at that, so are you quoting yourself up there?
ReplyDeleteThere's only one streetcar critic in all of KC? Doubtful considering all of the PIAC money the toy train steals. U trolley folks sure are bad with math.
DeleteProve they're bogus, Tony.
ReplyDeleteProvide evidence we can all examine. Physical evidence. Validated proof. Not some geezer counting at random (Larson).
We've asked for proof from you before and never seen any and we don't expect that to change.
The proof is in the job creation numbers. They're lies. But you keep believing whatever Sly says! Good luck with that.
DeleteI can understand some animosity toward city hall, there have been some historic problems. BUT LET'S GET REAL, the streetcar has been an overally net positive for out city and it just makes sense to support it and help to find solutions instead of nitpicking every sunglw problem.
ReplyDeleteSome quick math shows that 25,000,000 (million) divided by 365 days in the year is something OVER 68,000 per day ridership.
ReplyDeleteAs a notable person here says "you be the judge"
Sly is the lie.
ReplyDeleteWhat does 25 million have to do with anything? 25 million what? Dollars? Birds? Junebugs?
ReplyDeleteYeah prove it, Botello.
Otherwise shut up.
Yep,you know all about what 25 million---the number of anal, oops,annual buttboiz trysts in those BathHouses.
DeleteA record number of riders on an amusement park ride.
ReplyDeleteAnd the largest sales figures for Clearasil in downtown KCMO,
Coincidence?
When are the taxpayers going to pony up for a Ferris Wheel and merry-go-round?
Back to the Murphy downtown cattle drive, please.
3:25 Prove your numbers. You can't. Go4KC can't get close. 3:45 kicks Go4KC in the teeth.
ReplyDelete3:50 Thats the city numbers jackwad. Gobble Go4KC goop cum drunk.
ReplyDeleteThe message from city hall was the "streetcar would bring jobs & increased property values to the neighborhood." Result; flat out lie.
ReplyDeleteThe message from city hall was "25 million tourists anally." Result; Flat out lie.
The Go4KC claims "there have been some historic problems" with the street car. Result; Street car does not run in the snow, rain, mud, ice, cloudy days, blue moon, and many more historic conditions. Do not forget the number of times a wrecker had to tow the thing home.
Go4KC is tooting Slie's horn when he states "the streetcar has been an overally net positive for out city." If one considers the above a net positive then follow Go4KC over the cliff.
The best solution is to forget the toy train so the taxpayers are lied to any more and taxed to death in order to pay for Slie's toy train.
You can't call it a lie. They said build it and they will come...... It worked in the movies
ReplyDeleteGood article Tony stating all the lies the city tells the citizens so they can take more and more tax dollars away from us and spend it like drunkin fools.
ReplyDeleteGo4KC should be sued for slander and fraud along with James and the city council.
ReplyDelete"DO YOU TRUST HISTORIC KANSAS CITY TOY TRAINS STREETCAR RIDERSHIP NUMBERS?!?!?"
ReplyDeleteUmmmmm. No.
In fairness, the Toy Train has been as at least as successful as certain water slide whose name means insane.
ReplyDeleteDid anybody warn those poor kids how dangerous it is downtown? They shouldn’t be allowed outside their hotel after 8:30. How embarrassing will it be if they get murdered?
ReplyDeleteStreetcar is just like everything else in KCMO. All sizzle but no steak and nothing but handouts for those with political connections. The initial line closed down because people would rather just use their cars. This one is obviously just for tourists.
ReplyDeleteIf we are giving free Toy Train rides to tourists, all City taxpayers should pay for it, not just those that live near the Toy Train. Spend our money on real transit, Rapid Bus Transit, that gets us from home to work. STOP the Toy Train Fraud!!!
ReplyDeleteJust because Go4kc wants it to be the bestus thing ever doesn’t mean it’s going to, they don’t care how much money they spend on it as long as they can fake people into believing it is, his rah rah speech is as out of date as the toy train technology.
ReplyDelete10:31 that’s a great idea except it would have to stop every thirty feet in the hood because those people won’t walk more then fifty feet to catch the bus.
^^^ What’s your brainless claim again?
ReplyDeleteThe streetcar-stans were up late and scared. They know that the toy train is a scam and they're afraid more people might find out.
ReplyDeleteKeep those Christian Kids off tax payer funded Transportation! Alert the KANSAS CITY ATHEIST COALITION!
ReplyDelete