TKC MUST READ!!! TRANSIT ACTIVIST CLAY CHASTAIN WARNS PREZ TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AGAINST FUNDING KANSAS CITY STREETCAR EXTENSION!!!
After news of a growing price tag for the controversial local transit effort, the most prolific petitioner in Kansas City notes his opposition against the project.
Take a look:
Mayoral candidate Clay Chastain says it's time to stop the streetcar expansion in its tracks by denying that con job federal funding
Kansas City's highly questionable and obsolete streetcar expansion has been a con job from the get go and should be denied the $151 million in applied for federal transit funding. That would put the quietus to expanding the slow-moving in-traffic streetcar from downtown-where it functions reasonably well (in that very compact environment) and needs to stay.
How does expanding (to the Plaza) a slow-moving, in-traffic streetcar (attached to overhead wires) improve transit for those who need it most? Even streetcar advocates, like Russ Mensa Johnson, have admitted that the streetcar is more about catering to the needs of tourists and stimulating downtown economic development than it is improving Kansas City's woeful diesel bus-based transit system. Kansas City's current failed transit system gobbles up $96 million a year in taxpayer assistance and yet is only attractive to and used by 7% of the city's residents. Add to our city's failed diesel bus system a $316 million obsolete streetcar line to the Plaza and you have the making of a transit absurdity in Kansas City.
So does President Trump's Administration and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) really think it wise to sink $151 million of national taxpayer monies into an obsolete transit "novelty" essentially for the benefit of tourists and private economic development? And, is this not more of the taxpayer-subsidized private development Kansas City's local government is so fond of catering to with one taxpayer hand out after the next?
Furthermore, the streetcar expansion project was approved by only a handful of hand picked voters after it was previously rejected by citywide voters. Thus, the streetcar expansion should be denied federal funding because not only is it an obsolete form of transit, but it was also foisted upon the Kansas City community via a limited and restricted election that deliberately did an end around the stated will of citywide voters.
We desperately need improved transit in Kansas City. But, a rail system crawling along in traffic attached to overhead wires is to modernizing transit what a mule is to modernizing agriculture.
President Trump and the FTA need to know there is a far superior transit improvement petition-based plan being circulated among voters and readied to go on the April 2018 KCMO primary ballot. That petition initiative (from the people) seeks to modernize the city's transit system around an expansive citywide network of rapid rail, electric buses and new transit Greenways (for transit, cycling and pedestrian use only.)
The streetcar expansion project is a swamp critter born out of the foul darkened waters of Kansas City's political establishment. President Trump and the FTA would be wise to pull the plug on the current swamp in which it thrives by denying it federal funding.
P.S. Where do the other mayoral candidates stand on this important civic issue largely being ignored by Kansas City's own "Fake News" media including the Star, KCUR public radio, the Pitch and the Kansas City Business Journal?
This press release is being forwarded to President Trump's Administration and the FTA.
Clay Chastain...the only conservative, opposition and independent-thinking mayoral candidate in the race.
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In some ways I think Clay is batshit crazy. In others, I think he has a more level head and genuine interest in KCMO than any of the other contenders.
ReplyDeleteI think he is right on!
ReplyDeleteClay is spot on
ReplyDeleteClay has a great point. I am in the taxing district and will be taxed north of $1,000 per year for the Street Car. I will never use this street car. The Street car does not charge a fee. Why would a very small % of the KC populace have to fund this project. The Street car was defeated in a city wide election.
ReplyDeleteI pray the Federal Administration rejects this funding request. The City Council is made up of several folks who should not be in this governing body.
Clay has got it very correct and dead on and for sure no argument can be made against what he says here.
ReplyDeleteWhat says you now Go4KC?
Are you brain damaged?
DeleteI can see you channeling Judy Garland as you ride back and forth between Crown Center and River Market singing The Trolley Song.
DeleteI know people who live in the tax district (river market). So tonlive in KCMO I’m that area you are paying higher taxes...a lot more and then you have to pay an earnings tax. Not sure how high the water bills are going to go because you know there is still a lot of water repairs needing funding.
ReplyDeleteIs it worth it to live close to so much crime and violence?
Vote is technically VOID since voters (LOL) voted for a $227 Million product.
ReplyDeleteIs that the best comeback you have Go4KC? That really show us with no doubts the lack of any smart thinking taking place at 12th and Oak.
ReplyDeleteSo because I sign something Go4KC you assume I am?
DeleteWow - you are brain damaged!
And Gopher is butt damaged from taking what his Big Poppa gives him to feed the momentum.
DeleteNo you're an asshole pretending to be someone else 3:49 Hell I thought it was real. Should have known it was a pussy coward who thinks with his head up his ass.
ReplyDeleteClay for once says something I like, but will he really send it to Trump?
We really need to stop pretending that anything will come of streetcar expansion. The federal funding will never be there no matter the administration, and UMKC pulled out of wanting to go downtown so there's no need to expand it to them.
ReplyDeleteMan, UMKC is bad for the city. Not just for this reason
The streetcar expansion is as dead as the old trolly car system is.
ReplyDeleteActually, most of the buses run on natural gas, not diesel.
ReplyDeleteGasbag v. gasbag - what fun.
ReplyDeleteClay is spot on with this issue.
ReplyDeleteThe fair weather toy train should be charging a rider fee.
you realize clay is proposing a faster, more extensive local network of trains. He wants a faster rail to the zoo, the stadium etc.
ReplyDelete"From Union Station, two "smart rail" trains would extend separately to the Truman Sports Complex and eventually to Lee's Summit, and to the Kansas City Zoo in Swope Park." For 1.3 billion, which is probably about 1/10 of what it would cost.
ReplyDeletewhy Lee's Summit, i have no fckn idea :)
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated by old roads, some that may have been trails at one point. I was in lee's summit last week, contemplated if i should just keep going out of town if i could find HWY 50 without phone service. It was late, then i was decisively told to go back to that foreign land of KC.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you go to find old maps?
ReplyDeleteI can not say iam proud of the decisive encounters i may have, or create, they just happen sometimes.
ReplyDeletewho's got my leash
ReplyDeleteThe scooter people are paying $1 plus 15 cents a minute to ride a Scooter. And they are a huge hit. They don't mind paying to ride for their transportation. The Bus costs $1.50. Scooter riders are paying way more than that.
ReplyDeleteSo why is the Streetcar free?