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Chastain backs regional light-rail vote in November
By DEANN SMITHThe Kansas City Star
Clay Chastain is now on board with a regional light-rail election in November.
Chastain is pushing for a $2.72 billion plan that would include light rail, commuter rail, hybrid buses and streetcar lines.
“This is an environmentally sound, quiet and clean transit system that would have mass appeal,” Chastain said Wednesday. “Light rail has proven to be an instant success.”
The 30-mile light-rail spine would run from Bannister Mall through downtown to Kansas City International Airport. Commuter rail would connect Blue Springs, Independence and Lee’s Summit to Union Station. The Truman Sports Complex would get a commuter rail stop on the line connecting Lee’s Summit with downtown.
The East Side would get streetcars; Independence, the Northland and Liberty would see service from low-emission buses. A new Missouri River bridge would serve light rail, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Chastain hopes to finance his plan with a 25-year half-cent sales tax in Jackson, Clay and Platte counties, combined with federal funds, state money and other funds.
Chastain successfully got Kansas City voters to approve a line from the airport to the zoo in November 2006. Saying it was unfeasible, the City Council in November repealed it. A judge recently ruled the city acted legally, but Chastain hopes to get an appeals court to overturn the decision.
Chastain, who now lives in Bedford, Va., plans to host a forum June 12 at Penn Valley Community College to debate and draft a consensus regional plan for the November ballot.
He said he unveiled his plan now because he’s concerned the issue is slipping away in Kansas City.
Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser announced Wednesday that mayors and county leaders from Clay, Platte and Jackson counties would meet May 30 to discuss a light-rail plan for the November ballot.
Funkhouser was joined by Raytown Mayor David Bower, Riverside Mayor Kathleen Rose and Kansas City Councilman Russ Johnson, who heads the transportation committee.
The meeting will be open to the public, but public testimony won’t be taken, a Funkhouser spokesman said.