KANSAS CITY BUYS TWO MORE $5-MILLION TOY TRAINS BY TOUTING FAKE STREETCAR RIDERSHIP UNVERIFIED NUMBERS!!!
In much the same way that Kansas City claims 25 million visitors annually, a local transit scheme is spending $10-million bucks without any real independent verification or oversight.
Here's the less than inquisitive report . . .
Fox4: KC Streetcar Authority adding two more streetcars to its fleet to handle growing demand
Deets
“When we first started the Kansas City Streetcar route in 2016, we thought the average daily ridership would be around 2,700,” said Donna Mandelbaum, the communications director for KC Streetcar Authority. “We actually see an average daily ridership of 5,700 and in the summer, it goes up to 7,000.”
Let's take a closer look at these numbers . . .
Given that the line is only 2.2 miles long. Even using the phony numbers we're talking about a per-mile ridership of around 2590.
And so . . .
PER MILE the KC Streetcar claims its ridership is higher than Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, San Diego, Denver, and Atlanta.
If that were true, then why did two local businesses on the line shut down this week??? It seems the kind of traffic claimed by the streetcar would keep nearly any local venue alive with the foot traffic provided.
To wit . . .
THE SIMPLE LINK AND COMPARISON PROVE THAT KANSAS CITY STREETCAR NUMBERS ARE FAKE NEWS AND DEMAND A REAL INDEPENDENT AUDIT GIVEN THAT THEY'RE SPENDING TAX DISTRICT CASH BASED ON UNCHECKED HYPE!!!
Real local businesses are having their revenues drained to pay for something that's fueled only by happy news and paid social media consultants. Meanwhile, the only answer to this criticism is mostly personal attacks and political vendettas waged against anybody who questions the presser coverage.
Developing . . .
Hey now, what's a few million between friends?
ReplyDeleteDon't ask any questions just enjoy the momentum.
Delete^^^^ That sounds like something a rapist would say.
DeleteLove that it's killing off and displacing local businesses what a bonus this is.
ReplyDeleteStreetcar is good for what it is, I would hate to have main street to the plaza sacrificed for this but it would actually make a better and more useful system. The Plaza is mostly done as a retail destination anyway so this might actually help. I'm not sure if the federal money is there but it's worth trying. Most of the new business on main is just connected to one church using empty store fronts to lure in more donors. So the streetcar might actually inspire new business. There's nothing wrong with that and maybe then we could get those numbers closer to something more realistic.
ReplyDeleteOh my. Now you've got gopher all triggered and ready to post once the big guy gives him a charge number.
ReplyDeleteGlad this non profit outfit the Kansas City Streetcar Authority spends taxpayer money so wisely. I can understand the need for a couple spares though with Kites repair shop being so busy fixing and repairing these things daily.
ReplyDelete8:44: Make that momentous momentum.
ReplyDeleteTony, you're missing an important fact. The need to buy new streetcar isn't because of the increased ridership. It's because they keep breaking down!
ReplyDeleteAny business or enterprise built on a foundation of fraud and dishonesty at some point is going to end up in a train wreck.
ReplyDeleteWhat we need in Kansas City is a real transportation system of light rail to the airport all the cities but it really prospered have light rail Minneapolis St Louis Colorado Dallas those cities become real metropolitan cities why can't I see is still hooked up we're pretty shiny objects in a corrupt city government
ReplyDelete9:00, why not just increase frequency of the #229 bus?? It goes up broader and then all the way up to KCI. That may not be sexy or cause developers to dump money in politicians pockets but it would be cheap, smart and real Transit, neither of which can the unintentionally hilarious li'l streetcar lay claim to.
Delete8:45 yes the city is raping the taxpayers funding this folly. And the next raping is just around the corner as the airport fiasco reaming starts.
ReplyDeleteWe could put 300 brand new electric buses into service round the clock in the Downtown, Midtown, Plaza corridor for the price the stalled out extension deal is projected to cost.
ReplyDeletedo we still only have the original 2.2 miles of starter rail?
ReplyDeleteAbout the only people to ride the train are hoboes trying to keep warm and homosexuals looking to hook up with some other faggot.
ReplyDeleteWELL 9:11, THANK YOU FOR THAT TIP. WHERE DO YOU SIT IN THE STREET CAR WHEN YOU GO "SHOPPING?"
DeleteThe starter 2.2 miles of toy train cost us over 160 million, well over the price they told us of 102 million because they forgot to factor in replacing all the underground utilities, and these are the same people in charge of the soon to be 4 billion dollar airport, incompetence at its finest!
ReplyDelete^^So. What are you prepared to do about it?
ReplyDeletePutting the cart before the horse aren’t they?
ReplyDeleteThis money could have been better spent to fix failing infrastructure like streets, sewers, waterlines, missing fire hydrants and flood control.
ReplyDeleteIt was never billed as "starter rail" when it was sold to the public. It only became starter rail when the moneybags and their politicians decided to dupe us all over again (why not, it was so easy the first time). Don't repeat their propaganda. Call it "failed rail" instead.
ReplyDelete“PER MILE the KC Streetcar claims its ridership is higher than Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, San Diego, Denver, and Atlanta.“
ReplyDeleteThe statement should proudly say we spent nearly four times more than any of these cities paid for their toy trains!
Because it’s true.
“Metrolink is a commuter rail system in Southern California consisting of seven lines and 62 stations operating on 534 miles of rail network. The system operates in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties, as well as to Oceanside in San Diego County.
ReplyDeleteUh huh, we have more riders than L.A. what a joke.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_light_rail_systems_by_ridership
ReplyDeleteI hate to post a link but this clearly shows what liars we have here in killa shitty.
^^Then don't post the damn link! Pro tip: DON'T POST LINKS!!!!
ReplyDeleteCity Council: How can we create affordable housing?!!?
ReplyDeletefive minutes later
City Council: LET'S SPEND OVER 10 MILLION ON A STREET CAR TO NOWHERE ON TOP OF THE ALREADY $130 MILLION SPENT. OH AND LET'S ADD A GIANT PROPERTY TAX ON ANYONE WHO LIVES WITHIN A MILE OF THIS
The streetcar ridership numbers are 100% fake. For Kansas City to have that many daily riders it would mean that people who work downtown live downtown, or that we have a huge convention businesss. Neither is true. If you've been to City Hall, the Courthouse, the downtown banks and other employers, you can see that most of the employees are middle class people who can't afford to live downtown and probably live in the burbs where they could afford to buy a house. And these workers aren't taking an hour and a half to ride the streetcar daily to go out to lunch where they have to spend money and tip a waiter. They're probably brown bagging their lunches. So who are these daily 5,700 riders?
ReplyDeleteTrue to 10:31 comment.
DeleteAlso ridership stats mean nothing when you consider there is no fare charged. If they charged the $1.50 the metro charged then ridership would literally go to zero. Because anyone needing to get around would pay a bus fare for main Max or 47 or 85 or any other bus that goes further than union station. It's a silly novelty that Is very slow and had more to do with eco devo than transit. Only way it makes sense is if there is a big phat federal check that shows up and guess what with an empty moustache like cleaver representing us in Congress that ain't ever going to happen.
Sorry for negativity
-radish
10:26 did reading the truth hurt your feelings? Awfully angry there city hall minion
ReplyDeleteLA is #1 in ridership
ReplyDeletePortland #4
Seattle #10
San Diego #5
Denver #7
Atlanta #37
Killa Shitty #29
The only thing they got right was Atlanta and they sold their line.
Hey, we're #2 in having the shortest line in existence, let's celebrate that! At least it's a real fact!
ReplyDeleteKCMO needs to celebrate the fact that killa city is in the top 6 of the nation for murders and in the top ten for having the most debt per capita. This is something KCMO should be strongly promoting.
ReplyDeleteIt's already here. The streetcar line will make more sense going to UMKC, the most important stop being at the Country Club Plaza. With the addition of two streetcars, just avoid Main Street as a driver and take the 'free' streetcar as a passenger.
ReplyDelete10:31, it is possible. From Wednesday to Saturday of this week, the Marriott downtown is hosting a convention for 5,000+ attendees. For downtown employees, especially during these temperatures and weather, riding a heated streetcar to get to a business luncheon might be worth it. Or maybe some are going to a fast food restaurant like Burger King or Chipotle in P&L for a quick, tip-free meal. These are most likely round-trips, so the number of actual riders could be cut in half; however, I'm not sure how the numbers are counted. Add other conventions, employees, and tourists, and the ridership could be an average 5,700 daily.
ReplyDelete^^^^ That is a good theory. But all of those people are probably taking an Uber to get around quickly. Why would they wait so long in the cold. Hopefully, the new cars will cut the wait time.
ReplyDelete^^^^ People can take shelter indoors after looking at the Streetcar Tracker to see it's going to be a while to wait. How many people think to search for the tracker and look at the real-time updates? Probably few. Whether someone rideshares with Uber, Lyft or takes a taxi depends on them and their budget or, in the case of business, the company's budget. The streetcar is free, and people love free things.
ReplyDelete^^^^ Absolutely correct!
ReplyDeleteI love how a *2 mile route* has "Donna Mandelbaum, communications director". Ponder that a second.
ReplyDeleteIf you found out that the #101 state avenue bus route appointed a press secretary, wouldn't you think that was ridiculous? Well it would be a lot less ridiculous than this because at least the 101 runs from 10th and main all the way past kckcc and pretty far west along Minnesota/state Ave.
Just an observation...
-radish
2.2 Miles? With the 10 million dollars worth of new train cars, jujst park them end to end and one can walk the entire route inside the cars, staying warm. Lots of body heat too, as the hobos sleep and stink. Windows steam up. Wonderful news.
ReplyDeleteHow much are buses ? Ever notice they dont need tracks ? That was revolutionary 100 years ago.
ReplyDeleteonce the Streetcar gets extended to UMKC, the hipsters will lose interest in it because the poor people and people of color who ride the bus will now be on the streetcar and they won't have their white privilege hipster streetcar to themselves any longer.
ReplyDeleteSo now they are just making lots of smaller purchases, hoping the public is asleep which they usually are. They already had bought two additional units.
ReplyDeleteUtter incompetence which is a hallmark of the James' administration. Up the with the Rock Island boondoggle and the Airport boondoggle. Unnecessary, expensive, and rigged.
Momentum is code for give us more money, because we are going to pretend to know how to spend it well. Now they don't even pretend.