24 replies to this topic

[bjfan82]

I think KC should def do it, and as a future KC resident i'd support it.  Just as long as they don't do what they did here in Buffalo and make the USA's largest pedestrian mall around the downtown portion of light rail.  It killed downtown retail and there is some talk of taking the light rail out, but more likely just return vehicles to the road with the rail.

[The Waldonian]

Another good reason for light rail is a huge evacuation, like what we say in New Orleans. Ofcourse we wouldnt have to be evacuated for that reason, but the New Mardrid fault line could cause serious problems, maybe not as much here, but definently in St. Louis. Kansas City is one of the best cities in the Country for the automobile because of the many wide boulevards and such, but this would still help.

[Tosspot]

The Waldonian, on Oct 1 2005, 04:24 PM, said:

Kansas City is one of the best cities in the Country for the automobile because of the many wide boulevards and such, but this would still help.

Indeed, and the city needs to stop kowtowing to the wet-dreams of the traffic engineers. City planning in Kansas City is, for all intents and purposes, straitjacketed in the now-obsolete notion that traffic engineers should be given free reign to move cars as fast as possible through what is supposed to be the urban center.

Don't get me wrong, boulevards are nice when complemented by a cohesive built environment anchoring them, but besides Ward Parkway and its manses, it seems to me that few examples exist in our city of what would be fine boulevards, instead in reality they serve as mere suburban collector roads.

Anyway, Waldonian, have you checked out http://www.kcskyscra...forum/index.php  ?? It's a good board for lots of development news and urban news and even general Kansas City topics, in case you are interested.

Edited by Tosspot, 01 October 2005 - 10:55 PM.

[tiny elvis]

Kansas City would definitely benefit from any sort of mass transit system.  The light rail system in St. Louis has been very well received and utilized (not only great for the daily commute, it is also great to avoid ridiculous traffic when heading downtown from evening events).  Good luck getting your system - it is worth the fight.

[leets]

bjfan82, on Sep 29 2005, 01:36 AM, said:

I think KC should def do it, and as a future KC resident i'd support it.  Just as long as they don't do what they did here in Buffalo and make the USA's largest pedestrian mall around the downtown portion of light rail.  It killed downtown retail and there is some talk of taking the light rail out, but more likely just return vehicles to the road with the rail.

There is no talk of taking out any light rail in Buffalo.  They are talkiing about returning cars to the ped mall along with the trains.  There is talk of extensions to the outer harbor, to Tonawanda, Amherst and to the Airport.  The outer harbor is highly likely once development is well underway in that area.