Feb

16

Governors’ agenda doesn’t include transportation

February 16, 2008 |

Yesterday the Governors of Missouri and Kansas convened their annual regional summit on the KC metro area economy. On the agenda were things like life sciences research, health care, economic development, and the environment. Transportation was conspicuously absent from the conversation.

Apparently it is not the governors’ priority to support KC’s efforts for a regional or even city rail system. On an even more basic and practical level, they could have pledged to support our existing bus systems. Missouri has slashed it mass transit funding during the Blunt administration, and Kansas provides zero state transit funding.

With cities struggling to maintain existing systems and hoping to expand service, it’s a shame that the issue is not a priority in both state capitals.


Comments

3 Comments so far

  1. Jim S on February 16, 2008 2:20 pm

    There are far too many people that fail to recognize just how important infrastructure really is to a vital economy.

  2. Jim S on February 16, 2008 11:36 pm

    Of course it is. If systems of generating electricity cleanly can be created and used to power a light rail system fewer cars on the road mean less pollution and CO2. Traffic congestion is lessened for the vehicles still on the road, also contributing to a reduction in pollution.

  3. DaveKCMO on February 17, 2008 2:29 pm

    believe it or not, the state of kansas provides MORE transit funding than the state of missouri. lawrence transit, for example, received $218,287 in state funding last year (which is actually more than they recovered from fares).

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