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| Re: WMATA Latest N Route Silver line news (533871) | |||
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Re: WMATA Latest N Route Silver line news |
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Posted by RonInBayside on Sat Dec 15 10:02:27 2007, in response to Re: WMATA Latest N Route Silver line news, posted by Sand Box John on Sat Dec 15 09:12:21 2007. No boondoggle at all. You missed a few important details.First off: Kansas City's current farebox recovery ratio is 15%. KCATA relies on sales taxes and federal subsidies. The State of Missouri gives KCATA an annual subsidy of $800,000, which has not changed at all over the last couple of years to even account for inflation. I mention this for the sake of accuracy. I will concede, obviously, that KC does worse than even Charlotte in the farebox. I have to disagree strongly about your remarks on density. It is true that Kansas City is less dense than many other places (and it is less dense than another recent Missouri liht-rail recipient, St. Louis. However, the density taken by itself is misleading. First, recent construction has increased debsity sinificantly in certain districts (Country Club Plaza, Power and Light entertainment area, Crown Center, downtown). There is a substantial population, especially on the East Side, of riders who do not own cars (and in contrast to NY, these are poor people, who cannot drive because they can't afford it). KCATA's Line 25 and MAX BRT lines are the two most frequent bus services, and both see standing loads at rush hour. Both KCATA and a Citizens Task Force that has mapped out proposals for Light Rail, with the aid of Oppenheimer & Co (the investment firm) have shown that Light Rail would be a cost-effective transit solution for a line etending from North Kansas City down to the shopping, hotel and entertainment area called the Country Club Plaza (which is also close to the University of Missouri campus). Development of Light Rail along that corridor, with a spur to the East and co-development of additional complementary BRT services is likely to produce sustained double-digit ridership increases. Experience in St. Louis has shown that when Light Rail appers, bus ridership goes up, too. I'm not especially enamored of the airport line idea, and I'd agree with you on density there. |
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