Comments on: Realizing that Union Staton may not be able to serve as future transit hub

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:20:03 +0000

If Union Station is not used as the Transit Hub for any and all transit plans put to a vote I will work very diligently to defeat them, If twenty other persons would take the same oath we can defeat the rich powerful lobbyists.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:29:34 +0000

That’s nothing new. The “Powers That Be” have been deciding what’s best for the “unwashed masses” for centuries.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:35:29 +0000

Grand has been picked by the Hall Lobby. More people will be with in the “walking distance” and potentially riding if the rail went down Main.

There is little reason to debate the things that “should” be done. We will vote and if it loses we will not get what we want. If it wins the details, all of the details (read the ballot language) will be picked for us by the powerful political persons who stand to gain from the route etc.and again we will not get what we want nor most likely what we need.

By: James

James — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:46:03 +0000

Joe,

So what would OK Street (the ramp from Grand to Union Station) be used for if the light rail line goes down Grand?

By: Joe Medley

Joe Medley — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:33:41 +0000

Somehow my post got mangled. Second try.

The Grand street alignment for a light rail line is not a problem. The ramp that leads from Grand at 22nd street to the underside of Union Station’s front parking is not modern. It was originally built to connect the street car line on Grand with Union Station.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:52:18 +0000

Mark my word: In the not-so-distant future, maintaining a car will eat so much of the budget, the average budget that few people will be able to afford one. Transit companies will be granted tax money to expand. We are moving into a new era of REALLY expensive energy where even depleting natural gas will cause winter home heating to be cut by 50% by 2020…brace yourselves people.

By: Joe Medley

Joe Medley — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:37:05 +0000

The Grand street alignment for a light rail line is not a problem. The ramp that Grand at 22nd street to the underside of the Union Station’s front parking late is not modern. It was originally built to connect the a street car line on Grand with Union Station.

By: ChrisM70

ChrisM70 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:29:54 +0000

Isn’t there a way to blame Johnson County for this?

By: James

James — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:47:28 +0000

Many of the urban development problems in KC (i.e. destruction of beautifully historic buildings, urban sprawl, etc.) are the result of the “out with the old, in with the new” mentality. It is a CONSUMER mentality. There is no reason why we cannot (with a little creativity) still make Union Station the central transit hub. We should not settle for making the primary hub somewhere else. Here’s a few ideas:

First, the track space just north of Union Station appears to have room for at least one more track to pass through. Why couldn’t we lay another track through there for the freight trains, freeing up the southern most track for commuter rail. That would give space to build another platform.

Also, there is a track space that actually passes into Union Station but is currently being used as part of the “KC Rail Experience” exhibit. Why couldn’t that be used as a commuter rail terminate?

Finally, there is a friggin’ huge parking lot right on the other side (east) of Main st. Why couldn’t the northern half of it be used for a commuter rail terminate and platform? That’s 3 potential train platforms just from glancing at the google satellite pic. C’mon people!

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:16:26 +0000

with proper signage and enclosed walkways, you’d be surprised what can be done without eliminating any of the structures that are there today. what the ATA is really saying is that you won’t board a train at union station exactly the way you did in 1914 or the way you board Amtrak in 2008, not that the ENTIRE AREA cannot be made intermodal.

let’s say that commuter rail from johnson county happens. you could easily terminate that line closer to grand for a more direct connection with light rail. you could then create an enclosed walkway at track level that would allow a less-than-5-minute walk to Union Station.

if commuter rail from the east does terminate in the river market, it would still have a direct connection to light rail at that location, allowing a quick ride south to catch an amtrak train headed to lawrence or commuter train headed to olathe.

basically, if proximity doesn’t win out in the end, seamless connections can compensate.