@BlogKCKC Light Rail has an interesting rumor about The Star working on its own light rail plan. This would be the fifth plan after Chastain’s plan, the “official” city and KCATA plan, Mayor Funkhouser’s illusory regional plan, and the KC Design Center’s theoretical plan.
HUH? This seems like a potentially bad idea to move from reporting the news to making the news. As KC Light Rail points out, the Star’s editorial position is in support of light rail, but adding yet another plan to the mix only muddies the waters. Do the journalist think they can do better, or do they want to kill light rail? What is the Star’s agenda?
Meanwhile, Prime Buzz reports that polling data shows voters continuing to support light rail and likely to vote again for the Chastain plan in the absence of a viable alternative. Obviously there is a community consensus that we need something, but still no leader has emerged to help us make that decision and actually git r done.
I hope the rumors are false and that they are only working on a comprehensive review of the various plans that are out there.
This certainly wouldn’t be the first time The Star has an agenda (cough, Sprint Center, Frances Semler debacle, cough). It probably won’t be the last.
Don’t act so shocked.
Newspapers (the editorial staff) have ALWAYS pushed agendas, it’s just not done as much now as it used to be because no one wants to upset potential readers or advertisers.
As I’m sure the owner of this blog knows very well, WIlliam Rockhill Nelson used The Star as a pulpit for all kinds of agendas (city parks, boulevards, safety, building a library, etc.).
Plus, more recently The Star has run articles with ideas for making a better downtown. If The Star has a transit plan, this is nothing new.
Having a new plan doesn’t hurt anyone – it’s just another idea to draw from.
Also, Chastain’s plan is dead (Funk said so) and the Mayor hasn’t show a plan of his own (even if he said he has one), and no one has even seen a plan from The Star YET -so let’s not get too worked up, ok?
Gasp! The Star wants to kill light rail!
And building 7 was blown up on purpose!
And soylent green is people!
Great another story about Light Rail without all the facts.
it’ll be exciting to what they come up with or not.
The Star’s plan is now online:
http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/336250.html
I saw Jeff’s video on the lightrail plan for north kansas city and i love it.
now why didn’t the Lightrail citizen task force didn’t think of that one?
…because the citizen’s light rail task force is just going through the motions right now. their *real* job will be to convince the community to support what the consultants come up with next month.
Did anyone notice the hill going out of the Plaza going north? Don’t think any rail line will climb that one{by the fountians] Will need to go broadway to westport road over to Main. This would also help people get near a grocery store in westport, and entertainment.
Not a to bad a plan for a newspaper. Operation cost will be a about $20 million not $7 million. Airport Express could leave from NKC. Only have one traffic light and a clear shot to 169Hwy /I-29
“This seems like a potentially bad idea to move from reporting the news to making the news.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
This is the kansas city (red) star you’re talking about here….