Why is the streetcar getting so much backlash? (Kansas City, Center: school, casino)

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by nycrite

Also interesting:
"The expanded system would cost an estimated $227 million to build, and supporters are counting on about half that money coming from the federal government. The local match would be funded with a combination of a 1-cent sales tax within a set district boundary and property tax assessments for properties within one-third mile of the route. Those property owners would be taxed for 25 years because they would be expected to garner the greatest benefits from proximity to the streetcar."

So basically, those within 0.3333 miles are afraid of a property tax increase. Fair enough. I would offer to those people two retorts.

1) Move somewhere else. If you're not willing to pay for the streetcar, you probably aren't willing to use the streetcar. The increased noise and activity will probably irritate you too. You'd be better off living in a lower density area. Go be crotchety somewhere else.
2) Your property value would likely increase regardless of the streetcar tax. That's because the streetcar should raise your property value through increased desirability. Again, move somewhere else if you don't like increasing property values, and consequently, property taxes.

This begs the question, have you ever met a NIMBY under the age of 35? Good grief, why does KC continue to sabotage the potential for a bright future?

The only person quoted in the story as being against the proposed TDD is only identified as a "longtime civic leader and past president of Hunt Midwest Industries." It's not clear whether he lives within or outside the boundaries of the proposed district.

Those boundaries, by the way, are pretty much the same ones that defined the Main Street leg of the three-route package of extensions that went down to defeat in late summer 2015. The voters living within the Main Street corridor backed the package by a significant margin. That's why the citizen petitioners have drawn the proposed district the way they have.

[nycrite]

"He said those testifying against the streetcar were all older adults and not millennials." The article pointed out opponents of the streetcar in a pretty clear way.

To your Main Street comment, did the residents in the corridor vote pro-streetcar? If so, what ended up causing its defeat?

[SPonteKC]

Originally Posted by nycrite

To your Main Street comment, did the residents in the corridor vote pro-streetcar? If so, what ended up causing its defeat?

Yes, they did. The expansion plan (Main street, Independence Ave and Linwood streetcar lines plus "BRT" on Porspect) failed by a huge margin on the East side, tanking the entire plan.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by nycrite

"He said those testifying against the streetcar were all older adults and not millennials." The article pointed out opponents of the streetcar in a pretty clear way.

To your Main Street comment, did the residents in the corridor vote pro-streetcar? If so, what ended up causing its defeat?

First paragraph: Yes. But your comment suggested that those who lived within 1/3 mile of the Main Street line were opposed to a tax hike for it. Which was my point about bringing up the vote and the second try: the backers of the second try whittled the district down to the area that voted for it.

Second paragraph: SPonteKC described it accurately. City plans for reviving LRT have repeatedly foundered on how to bring it to my side of town. Usually, the proposed routes didn't quite satisfy the needs East Siders saw. Prospect Avenue is the East Side's Main Street, and the years have not been kind to it at all, as I discovered on my trip back in 2014. Any transit improvement that East Siders would support enthusiastically IMO would have to bring rail transit down it from Truman Road south, or at least Linwood Boulevard. Neither of the two proposed eastward extensions would have done that. Prospect MAX is going to happen anyway; the city just needs to figure out where the local match will come from. (If it didn't, they'd be even more pissed than they were about the streetcar extensions.)

Now, having said that, I did speak with someone at the KCRTA who said there was actually more support on the East Side for streetcar extensions there than the vote indicated but the opponents did a better job of mobilizing voters (with a campaign that invoked Jim Crow, of all things). The way I understood it, aside from that, the argument that carried the day east of Troost was that East Siders would be paying too much in taxes for something that would deliver too little benefit for them.

[nycrite]

Thanks for the explanations. I see how my comments were too harsh on those living close to the proposed streetcar extension.

Here's a question. If the streetcar extension was as far east as Troost or Prospect, would it alienate ridership for those scared of the east side?

[RisingAurvandil]

Was in KC recently and rode the streetcar. I'm not sure how folks can be against it. It moved quick, had a fast headway, and was free. Even better? The route was straightforward and easy to understand, which is not the case with streetcars in many other cities.

It needs an extension to the Plaza, but at least the roots are laid. KC should be proud.

[PA650]

Originally Posted by RisingAurvandil

Was in KC recently and rode the streetcar. I'm not sure how folks can be against it. It moved quick, had a fast headway, and was free. Even better? The route was straightforward and easy to understand, which is not the case with streetcars in many other cities.

It needs an extension to the Plaza, but at least the roots are laid. KC should be proud.

I'm glad to hear you had a positive experience. The expansion will come, but even after all the votes are conducted and it's approved, you're looking at an opening potentially in 2023. I like the progress KC is making, but you can tell not everyone is on the same page since it's a citizen initiative to get this thing running as the current city council is mixed on making an expansion a priority (I guess they fail to see the massive economic development it's generating) or frankly can't multitask on infrastructure projects. It's like amateur hour here while Portland and Denver are expanding their systems with full political support, for example.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by PA650

I'm glad to hear you had a positive experience. The expansion will come, but even after all the votes are conducted and it's approved, you're looking at an opening potentially in 2023. I like the progress KC is making, but you can tell not everyone is on the same page since it's a citizen initiative to get this thing running as the current city council is mixed on making an expansion a priority (I guess they fail to see the massive economic development it's generating) or frankly can't multitask on infrastructure projects. It's like amateur hour here while Portland and Denver are expanding their systems with full political support, for example.

This delay is stupid. Does city hall think voters can only handle one capital improvement at a time? Things take long enough as it is in KC and even if KC does expand the streetcar, it's only like a few miles of streetcar. It's not like KC is building a billion dollar light rail extension or anything. Oh well, it will eventually happen.

[gfisch95]

Streetcar authority announced that it's buying two new cars, to be here by 2019, and studying 1/2 mile extension north to the Berkley Riverfront project.

New streetcars to be bought with extra money from the TDD, and the extension (if approved) would be payed for by Port KC through the Port Improvement District.

[lovekcmo]

Originally Posted by gfisch95

Streetcar authority announced that it's buying two new cars, to be here by 2019, and studying 1/2 mile extension north to the Berkley Riverfront project.

New streetcars to be bought with extra money from the TDD, and the extension (if approved) would be payed for by Port KC through the Port Improvement District.

Kansas City needs to start expanding the streetcar line NOW. It's packed at the River Market. I'm sure NKC would love to have it up there. KC needs to get it all the way to the Ile of Capri Casino and all the way down to Waldo ASAP. There should be a line on 39th street from State line to Gillham/Main and others. KC needs to move on this, best thing in 50 years for KC.