KC voters overwhelmingly reject tax to fund light-rail line

LIGHT RAIL = A BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION

On November 4, Kansas City will vote on a proposal to build light rail in Kansas City. But the Mayor and City Council have told us virtually nothing about their plans. They have provided no ridership estimate, no economic impact study, and no environmental impact study. Some of the questions to which we'd like answers include:

• Where Does It Go?
• How Much Will It Cost?
• How Will It Be Funded?

THE BALLOT QUESTION

For the purpose of funding a light rail passenger system running from the area around the intersection of Bruce R. Watkins Roadway and 63rd Street on the south to the area around the intersection of Northeast Vivion Road and North Oak Trafficway on the north, which can ultimately connect to a regional public transportation system, shall the City of Kansas City impose a sales tax of 1/4% under the authority of Section 94.577, RSMo, for the purpose of funding capital improvements, and a sales tax of 1/8% under the authority of Section 94.605, RSMo, both for a period not to exceed 25 years, beginning April 1, 2009, and which may include the retirement of debt under authorized bonded indebtedness?

WHERE DOES IT GO?

We aren't sure. The ballot language only tells us that the rail will run "from the area around the intersection of Bruce R. Watkins Roadway and 63rd Street on the south to the area around the intersection of Northeast Vivion Road and North Oak Trafficway on the north." The ATA's own light-rail web site says that if federal funding isn't available, they will work with the state "to identify a light rail project that fits within the local funding available."

One thing we know for sure, it is not a regional plan. The Mayor was unable to convince any of our neighbors to go along with us. It also does not go to the airport or to the stadiums.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

We don't know. In July, The Kansas City Star reported the cost would be $587 million. Now the estimate from the ATA is $1.1 billion. And they are aren't even finished studying the project!

The Star wrote, "The Federal Transit Administration studied 21 rail projects completed between 2003 and 2007, and found the costs averaged 40 percent higher than the inflation-adjusted estimates developed during the earliest stages of the projects." It's no surprise that the proponents' own memos encourage speakers to "avoid" talking about cost!

HOW WILL IT BE FUNDED?

The ballot question above only mentions a sales tax increase to generate some of the money needed to build the light rail starter plan. The City hopes the federal government will give us about $500 million. Revenue from rider fares will only generate about 25% of what is costs to operate the train each year it is in operation, so the rest of the money will come from general revenue. Other cities have had to increase taxes and even take money from the bus system to support light rail.

WILL THE CITY TAKE PROPERTY THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN?

Absolutely. The ATA's own light-rail Web site states, "Property will need to be acquired for a maintenance facility. Property may also be needed to provide park and ride lots at the north and south terminus stations." But because they have not published a route or station locations, we can't be sure where this will happen.

IS LIGHT RAIL GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

The answers are "no" and "we don't know." "No" because even The Kansas City Star published a piece saying, "Studies done in such cities as Dallas and Denver found light rail would reduce carbon monoxide emissions by less than 1 percent. Light rail doesn't take enough cars off the roads to have much effect."

"We don't know" because the ATA isn't going to have their Environmental Impact study finished until the spring of 2009.

WON'T LIGHT RAIL REDUCE CONGESTION AND TRAFFIC?

According to the ATA, light rail will increase congestion and reduce traffic speeds because light rail tracks will be put in the middle of the street. Furthermore, the ATA has not published any ridership estimates. For this year's proposal, one reputable organization has estimated daily ridership at 5,000 people. This represents less than one-third of 1 percent of the metro area's population.

WON'T LIGHT RAIL INCREASE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HELP US CATCH UP WITH OTHER CITIES?

Proponents suggest that is the case, but none of them have offered any evidence. Also, the ATA has not published any economic impact studies to show the benefits of light rail or the impacts that months of road construction will have on businesses along the route.

We found that Kansas City is one of a group of 14 mid-size and large cities that compete for conventions. Seven of those 14 have rail transit and seven do not. Not everyone is doing it. And the seven without light rail have outperformed the seven with rail in five-year job creation. Light rail is not helping create jobs.