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Jackson County is pressing ahead with plans for the proposed $1.1 billion Kansas City Regional Rapid Rail plan, an issue that could go to the voters this year.
County Executive Mike Sanders on Monday updated county legislators on efforts to decide the final routes and modes of transportation for a transit plan that needs federal approval before becoming eligible for federal funding. For example, officials this week are trying to figure out which ideas from cities across the country are the best to borrow when planning business development along those routes. The overall plan is expected to focus heavily on a rail system with six spokes connecting at Union Station.
Sanders described “the unprecedented development that follows” the building of commuter rail systems elsewhere in the country.
“So I think this is a real opportunity for us,” he said.
The first spoke of the Regional Rapid Rail system to be built would go though Independence, Blue Springs and Grain Valley along the Kansas City Southern tracks, although a couple of variations of that are being discussed. County officials have won federal funding to study that route as well as one through Raytown and Lee’s Summit and one through Grandview. They are studying various alternatives, and Sanders says he continues to hope Washington signs off on that process by late spring.
That would put the county in line for federal transit funding, even though Congress is still arguing over the legislation to keep federal gas tax money coming back to states, counties and cities for roads, rails and other work.
“I would be very surprised if they threw out 60 years of progress overnight,” Sanders said.
Local and federal officials have said the county’s case for Regional Rapid Rail is strengthened by the fact that it mostly uses existing tracks that are are idle or lightly used. That’s far cheaper and faster than building a system from scratch.
Still, officials have said a local sales tax would likely be needed in addition to federal money. That could go on the ballot in August or November, though Sanders would not commit to that on Monday.
“Well,” he told legislators, “that’s certainly something we need to talk about.”
Jackson County is pressing ahead with plans for the proposed $1.1 billion Kansas City Regional Rapid Rail plan, an issue that could go to the voters this year.
County Executive Mike Sanders on Monday updated county legislators on efforts to decide the final routes and modes of transportation for a transit plan that needs federal approval before becoming eligible for federal funding. For example, officials this week are trying to figure out which ideas from cities across the country are the best to borrow when planning business development along those routes. The overall plan is expected to focus heavily on a rail system with six spokes connecting at Union Station.
Sanders described “the unprecedented development that follows” the building of commuter rail systems elsewhere in the country.
“So I think this is a real opportunity for us,” he said.
The first spoke of the Regional Rapid Rail system to be built would go though Independence, Blue Springs and Grain Valley along the Kansas City Southern tracks, although a couple of variations of that are being discussed. County officials have won federal funding to study that route as well as one through Raytown and Lee’s Summit and one through Grandview. They are studying various alternatives, and Sanders says he continues to hope Washington signs off on that process by late spring.
That would put the county in line for federal transit funding, even though Congress is still arguing over the legislation to keep federal gas tax money coming back to states, counties and cities for roads, rails and other work.
“I would be very surprised if they threw out 60 years of progress overnight,” Sanders said.
Local and federal officials have said the county’s case for Regional Rapid Rail is strengthened by the fact that it mostly uses existing tracks that are are idle or lightly used. That’s far cheaper and faster than building a system from scratch.
Still, officials have said a local sales tax would likely be needed in addition to federal money. That could go on the ballot in August or November, though Sanders would not commit to that on Monday.
“Well,” he told legislators, “that’s certainly something we need to talk about.”
