The 2010 year in review
Last summer, we took a strong look at ourselves and clarified our direction. Like most of us, we made some sweeping changes in this economic climate. We came away from our planning a year ago knowing what we need to do to remain relevant to improving public transit in our regional community.
We took positions and testified before several bodies including the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, the region’s application for TIGER grant funding, the City of Kansas City Missouri’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, budget hearings, and the Missouri Economic Development Financing Association. We continue our presence on the Mid America Regional Council Transit Committee and regularly attend several other committees. RTA supported and advocated to the Missouri State legislature for emergency funding for The Metro (KCATA) and we’re pleased to see that some funding for the short term has been appropriated. Naturally, we still have a long way to go. For a real sense of the critical nature of our nation’s public transit system, see CNN’s John King at Mapping the Transit Funding Crisis http://t4america.org/resources/transitfundingcrisis/.
Over the past 2 years, we’ve interviewed over 50 elected officials and executives about the challenges faced by many jurisdictions in the region and their interest in public transit. We continuously interface with people who are transit dependent, as well as people who want transit directions for business and pleasure.
In February of this year, we began taking the date of several of our regularly scheduled board meetings and opened them up to the public. In February, we hosted Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders who gave a presentation for Regional Rapid Rail – a proposal that utilizes new and existing rail culminating at Union Station. The proposal is making inroads. We continue to monitor how it is received and supported its application for alternatives analysis funding.
In April of this year, the Board hosted City of Kansas City Missouri Interim City Manager Troy Schulte to answer our top 10 most pressing questions regarding a host of issues including its continued support of The Metro, the role transit will play in the redevelopment of downtown and the central city, and the City’s position regarding Bus Rapid Transit expansion.
In May of this year, the Board hosted Sandy Silva from the Center for Practical Bioethics and Scott Helm from the University of Missouri’s Midwest Center for Non-Profit Leadership on the subject of senior mobility and public transportation. For a look at the Kansas City Framework for Senior Mobility see www.mcnl.org.
On June 18 of this year, we’ll be hosting a presentation on rapid bus plans from Johnson County and Wyandotte County to Kansas City Missouri. If you’re reading this prior to June 18 and you’d like to reserve a spot, just send your computer to our website at www.kcrta.org.
We’ll be making plans for our Annual Meeting on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at Liberty Memorial at 5:30pm. Please save the date.
We’re on the move and I hope you’ll join us by becoming a member of the Kansas City Regional Transit Alliance. Your membership expands your knowledge and understanding of public transit options and helps us provide you with the tools you’ll need for input into future transit decisions. We can now accept credit, debit, and electronic checks from our website.
Kitty McCoy
Chair
