Nick Grunauer addressing issues with transit.

Campus discusses transit

By: Matt Rice

Posted: 11/17/08

A number of students, faculty and members of the community gathered at Epperson House Thursday to discuss the state of transit in Kansas City and its controversial future.

Nick Grunauer, a recent MBA graduate of the Bloch School, voiced his opinion about the issue.

"We literally missed the boat … If we could have passed the ballot initiative we would have been eligible for millions of dollars in matching federal funds," Grunauer said.

The ballot issue would have created a half-cent sales tax to fund starter lines going from Brookside to the river. The current federal transit program provides a city with 20 percent of the proposed cost.

Those in favor of the bill pointed to the success story of Portland, Ore. where Light Rail Transit (LRT) has linked a disparate city and jump-started the economy.

Opponents said the bill was too broad and foggy in many details.

"What good are a bunch of light rail stations if no one uses them?" asked one attendee. "We can link more places in the city at less than half the cost of LRT with Bus Rapid Transit."

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a concept of giving busses the right of way through traffic lights to speed up travel times. Supporters of BRT complain of the long wait for the MAX, a line running from stops in Brookside and Downtown.

"It would get used more if we consistent pickups every five, even ten minutes. No one wants to wait a half hour in 90 or 20 degree below zero type weather," said Nancy Klyne, a plaza resident in attendance. "People don't want to worry about bus schedules or missing the bus"

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mrice@unews.com