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Clay Chastain wants light rail construction to start in 2009
Light rail architect rejects idea that system will hurt parks
By: Gene Hanson
Clay Chastain, architect of Kansas City’s new light rail plan, said construction on the first leg of the rail system should begin in 2009.
“Construction should start as soon as possible so we can showcase the system,” Chastain told a task force on light rail Feb. 28. “There is no sense in sitting around wringing our hands and waiting for federal funding. If we don’t start, we will kill the goose that laid the golden egg.”
Chastain, who joined the meeting by conference call, said the city’s finance department told him that bonds could be sold to cover early funding of the project.
Voters approved a sales tax to fund the project that was projected to generate about $750 million over the life of the tax. Chastain said he thought the tax would generate $1 billion and maybe more.
But Mark Huffer, general manager of the Kansas City Area Transportation said by using that money for construction, it could not be used to leverage federal matching funds.
“We would be giving up a lot,” Huffer said. “The first phase of the system downtown is the one phase that would most easily qualify for federal matching dollars.”
Ed Ford, who was elected to the Kansas City Council in the Feb. 27 election, met with the Federal Transit Administration earlier about federal funding for the light rail system.
“They (FTA) made it very clear that we cannot skip any steps in the process,” Ford said. “We have to abide by the alternative analysis provisions. We have applied for $2.5 million in planning funds for light, but we will not get that until probably this fall.”
Chastain also said that the light rail route north of the river that went through Anita Gorman Park and removed the fountain was really not an issue.
“Some sacrifices have to be made. If we take a 50-foot right of way, is that too much to sacrifice?” he asked. “The fact is that running light rail through the city’s parks will actually enhance the parks.”
Chastain also answered some questions about the light rail, specifically if the airport route could be justified because more than half the users of the airport were from Kansas. Chastain said he did not know if there would be enough ridership to support the airport leg.
He also said he had no idea whether light rail would cut into car-rental businesses at the airport and jeopardize funding for the new Sprint Center. Surcharges from the car-rental agencies are used to pay for the arena.
“We are trying to retrofit a transportation system that was designed for automobiles,” Chastain said. “It will be a complex job, but we have to honor the plan the voters have mandated.”
Business Editor Gene Hanson can be reached at 389-6638 or ghanson@npgco.com.
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“Construction should start as soon as possible so we can showcase the system,” Chastain told a task force on light rail Feb. 28. “There is no sense in sitting around wringing our hands and waiting for federal funding. If we don’t start, we will kill the goose that laid the golden egg.”
Chastain, who joined the meeting by conference call, said the city’s finance department told him that bonds could be sold to cover early funding of the project.
Voters approved a sales tax to fund the project that was projected to generate about $750 million over the life of the tax. Chastain said he thought the tax would generate $1 billion and maybe more.
But Mark Huffer, general manager of the Kansas City Area Transportation said by using that money for construction, it could not be used to leverage federal matching funds.
“We would be giving up a lot,” Huffer said. “The first phase of the system downtown is the one phase that would most easily qualify for federal matching dollars.”
Ed Ford, who was elected to the Kansas City Council in the Feb. 27 election, met with the Federal Transit Administration earlier about federal funding for the light rail system.
“They (FTA) made it very clear that we cannot skip any steps in the process,” Ford said. “We have to abide by the alternative analysis provisions. We have applied for $2.5 million in planning funds for light, but we will not get that until probably this fall.”
Chastain also said that the light rail route north of the river that went through Anita Gorman Park and removed the fountain was really not an issue.
“Some sacrifices have to be made. If we take a 50-foot right of way, is that too much to sacrifice?” he asked. “The fact is that running light rail through the city’s parks will actually enhance the parks.”
Chastain also answered some questions about the light rail, specifically if the airport route could be justified because more than half the users of the airport were from Kansas. Chastain said he did not know if there would be enough ridership to support the airport leg.
He also said he had no idea whether light rail would cut into car-rental businesses at the airport and jeopardize funding for the new Sprint Center. Surcharges from the car-rental agencies are used to pay for the arena.
“We are trying to retrofit a transportation system that was designed for automobiles,” Chastain said. “It will be a complex job, but we have to honor the plan the voters have mandated.”
Business Editor Gene Hanson can be reached at 389-6638 or ghanson@npgco.com.
Comments on "Clay Chastain wants light rail construction to start in 2009"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.Lamar Mickens wrote on Jul 17, 2007 9:40 PM:
" The city should stop wringing its hands and move foward. There are excuses for when something is not done right; but cowardice is not an excuse when you lack the courage to do it at all...
Lamar Mickens... "