RTA Testimony to Kansas City, Mo.,
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
January 9, 2008
The Regional Transit Alliance is a citizen transit advocacy organization.
We support expansion of Kansas City’s transit system by adding a light rail spine, and we applaud the Council’s leadership in advancing that effort.
We know the ATA is working hard on a plan for light rail, and that you’ll ask voters to approve a workable light plan before the end of this year.
But that effort will be for naught if we lose a significant part of the current transit system — the bus service funded by the existing 3/8 cent sales tax.
We don’t have any special insight regarding whether to renew that tax now or combine it with a light rail proposal later, but we know that continued funding of the existing system is essential, and our feeling is, the sooner the better.
Thus, we support passage of Ordinance 080034 renewing the 3/8-cent sales tax for 15 years.
Margie Richcreek, Chair
Regional Transit Alliance