KC Light Rail has news that Johnson County Transit has finally provided its data to Google for inclusion in Google Transit.  This means that Google Maps now includes transit directions in addition to driving directions.  Just put in two addresses, select the public transit option, and Google will show  you how to get there on the bus. It will even plot journeys that cross the state line and involve transfers between Metro and The Jo.  The only caveat for Johnson County is that the map does not yet show specific bus stops and the next buses calling at those stops.  Hopefully this extra bit of information is one the way.

Check out this sample journey from Overland Park to the Downtown Loop.

On Tuesday, March 3rd the Missouri House Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on HB 642.  This bill would direct MoDOT to develop a policy for fairly accommodating all road users – bicyclists, pedestrians, transit users, the disabled, in addition to motorists.  HB 642 is a second attempt to pass a Complete Streets bill in Missouri.  Last year Complete Streets passed the House overwhelmingly, but was killed in the Senate after personal lobbying by MoDOT Director Pete Rahn.

Click here to send an email to the House Transportation Committee and tell them that you support HB 642.

Read the text of HB 642.

Learn more about Complete Streets.

Members of the House Transportation Committee.

Over the next few weeks the Kansas Department of Transportation is holding public meetings about the future of the transportation system on the Kansas side of the metro area.

Attending one of these meetings is a great way to let public officials and transportation planners know that citizens want more  choices for getting around – including public transit, bicycling, and walking.

Johnson County
Tuesday, February 24, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
MidAmerica Nazerene  University Bell Center
2030 East College Way
Olathe, KS 66062
JO Bus Route B

Wyandotte County
Tuesday, March 24, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
KCKS Community Colleges Conference Center
7250 State Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66112
Bus Route 101

More info, including meetings in outlying counties.

On Tuesday, February 17th several environmental groups from across Missouri will host the 2009 Conservation Lobby Day, and this year they are including transportation as a topic.  This is an excellent event for those of you who are interested in the environmental benefits of transit, bicycling, walking, passenger rail, etc. More information

And don’t forget Missouri Bicycle Federation’s 3rd Annual Bicycle Day at the Capitol on February 24th.  Bicyclists from all over Missouri will come to Jefferson City to talk to legislators about the recreational, health, transportation, and environmental benefits of bicycling. More information

I hope to see some of you in Jefferson City talking to our elected leaders about better policies to give Missourians real transportation choice!

Kansas City is feeling the crunch of the national recession, and needs to cut at least $80 million from the upcoming 2009-2010 budget.  This makes it more important than usual to speak up for transportation choice.  Over the next six weeks there will be a public hearing in each of the six City Council districts.  This is your chance to ask your elected representatives to make sure that transportation choice remains viable in Kansas City.

Here some specific items that are either in danger of cuts and/or things that are competing for funds:

• Bus service – The City Manager is proposing a 15% cut from the KCATA budget, just as more people are using and relying on public transit.
• Crosswalks – Paint for crosswalks was cut from the 2008-2009 budget and should be restored to protect pedestrian safety.

Find your Council District.

Budget Hearings:

The Bond Amendment was defeated, thanks to thousands of messages from people like you!

The economic stimulus bill currently before Congress includes $2.2 billion dollars for high speed rail development and $5.5 billion for public transit improvements.  Unfortunately, our own Kit Bond is wants to give that money to more highway building.

Kansas City stands to benefit from both programs. Chicago-St. Louis-Kansas City is designated as a future high speed rail corridor. Advocates in Kansas are working to extend passenger rail from Wichita to Kansas City.  The KCATA is requesting federal money for a smaller light rail line from Downtown to the Plaza.

All of these and more are in jeopardy if Kit Bond gets his way.  Please call today and follow up with an email. Click here get the details and send a message.

Next week the KCMO City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will have three open houses around the city to get citizen input on the committee’s work.   This committee deals with things like roads, bridges, trails, bike routes, sidewalks, transit, etc.

During tight budget times it is especially critical for us to speak up and let the City Council know that bicycle, pedestrian, and transit funding are important and deserving ways to spend money.  It’s pretty easy, and all you have to do is briefly state your desire for the city to fund bus routes, sidewalks, bike routes, trails, or whatever else you want to see built.

Monday, January 26, 6:00 p.m. – North
Northland Neighborhoods, 3015 Vivion Road(map)
Tue, January 27, 6:00 p.m. – Central
Gregg-Klice Community Center at 18th & Vine, 1600 East 17th Terrace (map)
Wed, January 28, 6:00 p.m. – South
Baptiste Education Center, 5401 East 103rd Street (map)

City Manager Wayne Cauthen’s proposed 2008-2009 KCMO budget cuts many servies to deal with declining revenue brought on by the current recession. One of the big cuts is to the city’s funding of the bus system.  Cauthen is proposing a cut of $7 million, or 15% of the city’s transit funding.  That translates to about 10% of the KC Area Transportation Authority’s total budget.

The cut is due to three things… 1) Declines in the sales tax revenue that funds the bus system, 2) larger reimbursements to TIF projects like the money losing Power & Light Distrit, and 3) diverting transit funding to pay for traffic signals.

The first one is surely understandable, but the last one really hurts.  Voters approved the transit tax under the assumption that it would be used for transit.  Technically the city can spend it on other transportaton projects, but how many people knew that?  The Start didn’t cover #3 in its article, but it is something contained City Manager’s proposed budget.

No word yet on what the funding cut might mean in terms of reduced bus service.  That information is expected in the coming weeks.  Many cities are dealing a combination of transit service cuts and increased fares, and it looks like Kansas City might be joining the list.

KCP&L is patting themselves on the back with their announcement of a new green office campus in south Kansas City.  The facility will be LEED certified and feature lots sustainible energy features.  Unfortunately, the new campus’ green credentials fall very short in one important area: transportation.

The semi-rural area at I-470 and Raytown Road is a highly auto-dependent location with no bus service.  The nearest bus stop is two miles away, and the connecting streets do not have sidewalks. It is in stark contrast to the transit-rich location of KCP&L’s headquarters at 12th and Main in Downtown. Can KCP&L really claim to be building a green campus when the employees that work there will be dependent on the automobile to get to work?  Do you think KCP&L will be buying carbon offsets to remediate the impact of employees’ car commuting?

This is one more example of how the sustainability conversation in Kansas City often leaves out the transportation piece.  And that is a problem because transportation contributes more than a third of our greenhouse gas emissions. The metro area’s grand vision of being “America’s Green Region” will never be attainable until we start putting transportation’s environmental impact at the top of the agenda.

Business Journal: KCP&L buys 83 acres for new campus

KCP&L Press Release


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Midtown pedestrian struck by police car at 33rd and Troost – video from KCTV-5.

Two Independence high school students struck in front of William Crisman High School – Developing story at Fox 4.

Metro bus ridership tops 16 million for first time in 20 years – KC Light Rail.

KCATA has a new map and guide to Northland bus service, including recent service enhancemetns.