RTA supports regional economic stimulus application
August 24, 2009
The Regional Transit Alliance strongly supports submittal of a single, unified application for TIGER funding from the Kansas City region. We believe the Mid-America Regional Counci (MARC) is in the best position to submit this application. We strongly support regional access and mobility as the central theme of such an application, and we believe regional transit should be the principal component of a strategy to achieve that end.
The four new bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors envisioned in MARC's current urban corridors study, added to the two BRT corridors already in operation or under construction, are critical steps toward improving regional access and mobility, and they are directly related to the region's Smart Moves plan for transit. This BRT network concept extends into the four largest counties in the region, and serves the four largest municipalities. The fact that this transit-based concept reaches across the state line and has already garnered support from Kansas and Missouri jurisdictions is a strength that should not be underestimated.
These transit investments are integral to implementing the adaptive scenario for regional growth envisioned in MARC's new long-range transportation plan. They are the essential components of a seamless regional transit network, and they begin the journey for becoming America's Green Region.
Again, we strongly support a single, unified submittal for TIGER from the Kansas City region, and we believe the central and dominant component should be transit.
Kitty McCoy
Chair, Regional Transit Alliance
