The Bus That Won't Fly
First, it is Veteran's Day today. If you see a veteran, thank him or her for their service to our country. And if you are one, THANK YOU for your contribution to our national security and for serving honorable in the American armed forces.
About a week ago, the Kansas City Star featured a story about the regional transit study that's going on now in Johnson County. Three-fourths of a little over 1,200 people said they'd probably back such a tax, about 13 percent said no way, and 12 perecent were undecided.
To my amazement, the Star did an editorial piece yesterday (Thursday, 11/10/05) that contained some major truths which also happen to be huge negatives about the plan:
Sixty-three percent said they would favor a sales tax levied only in Johnson County, with the money used to build a bus rapid-transit line or a commuter-rail line along I-35...Some of the cost numbers being batted around in the study should give pause, however. The poll, for example, asked people whether they preferred a billion-dollar light-rail line that could take 20 years to build or a rapid-bus line that would cost one-fifth that amount.
The results, however, should be viewed realistically by officials, given that people often respond more positively to hypothetical proposals than they do when faced with real tax increases. Moreover, transit ridership is notoriously tough to estimate, especially for services that don’t exist yet.
Can you imagine that? A BILLION-dollar project that would take twenty years to finish? Not counting cost overruns, of course.
I am also amazed that so many people (if they were indeed selected at random) in Johnson County said they'd buy into this stupid scheme. Why do I say that? Because the truth is that outside of:
(1) a very small number of idealists who think that loght rail and/or buses is simply the right thing to do, and
(2) a somewhat larger number of people who can take a train from fairly close to where they live to fairly close to where they work (like so many do in New York),
the only other people who ride the bus are poor.
Nasty truth, isn't it?
Let's be real...most people don't like riding on buses. Buses are generally a frustrating way to get to work unless they're express. The Star says:
People are more likely to leave their cars if a train or a bus can get them to their jobs more quickly.
And I say that unless Kansas City grows to the size of Chicago or larger, that just isn't going to happen. People drive because of the control factor. They get to choose alternate routes in they want, and if not, they get to sit in much more comfort and maybe chow down or sip some coffee until the delay lightens up. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that even if a car or train could get you to work more quickly, most people would STILL opt for their own vehicle.
Don't forget that any such project would ultimately wind up being a bi-state effort, since the train or bus line wouldn't end at the Kansas border, but continue into downtown Kansas City...which is being touted as the place to live, among other reasons, so you don't have to drive far to work. And we've already seen how easy it is to get voters to pass bi-state taxes.
Tell you what: you put together what the area really needs for the convenience of area residents as well as the business community--some type of realistic mass transit to move people between the airport and downtown--and then come back to me and we'll talk about it.
Listen Here for the audio version of today's George Blog
First, it is Veteran's Day today. If you see a veteran, thank him or her for their service to our country. And if you are one, THANK YOU for your contribution to our national security and for serving honorable in the American armed forces.
About a week ago, the Kansas City Star featured a story about the regional transit study that's going on now in Johnson County. Three-fourths of a little over 1,200 people said they'd probably back such a tax, about 13 percent said no way, and 12 perecent were undecided.
To my amazement, the Star did an editorial piece yesterday (Thursday, 11/10/05) that contained some major truths which also happen to be huge negatives about the plan:
Sixty-three percent said they would favor a sales tax levied only in Johnson County, with the money used to build a bus rapid-transit line or a commuter-rail line along I-35...Some of the cost numbers being batted around in the study should give pause, however. The poll, for example, asked people whether they preferred a billion-dollar light-rail line that could take 20 years to build or a rapid-bus line that would cost one-fifth that amount.
The results, however, should be viewed realistically by officials, given that people often respond more positively to hypothetical proposals than they do when faced with real tax increases. Moreover, transit ridership is notoriously tough to estimate, especially for services that don’t exist yet.
Can you imagine that? A BILLION-dollar project that would take twenty years to finish? Not counting cost overruns, of course.
I am also amazed that so many people (if they were indeed selected at random) in Johnson County said they'd buy into this stupid scheme. Why do I say that? Because the truth is that outside of:
(1) a very small number of idealists who think that loght rail and/or buses is simply the right thing to do, and
(2) a somewhat larger number of people who can take a train from fairly close to where they live to fairly close to where they work (like so many do in New York),
the only other people who ride the bus are poor.
Nasty truth, isn't it?
Let's be real...most people don't like riding on buses. Buses are generally a frustrating way to get to work unless they're express. The Star says:
People are more likely to leave their cars if a train or a bus can get them to their jobs more quickly.
And I say that unless Kansas City grows to the size of Chicago or larger, that just isn't going to happen. People drive because of the control factor. They get to choose alternate routes in they want, and if not, they get to sit in much more comfort and maybe chow down or sip some coffee until the delay lightens up. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that even if a car or train could get you to work more quickly, most people would STILL opt for their own vehicle.
Don't forget that any such project would ultimately wind up being a bi-state effort, since the train or bus line wouldn't end at the Kansas border, but continue into downtown Kansas City...which is being touted as the place to live, among other reasons, so you don't have to drive far to work. And we've already seen how easy it is to get voters to pass bi-state taxes.
Tell you what: you put together what the area really needs for the convenience of area residents as well as the business community--some type of realistic mass transit to move people between the airport and downtown--and then come back to me and we'll talk about it.
Listen Here for the audio version of today's George Blog
posted by George Woods | 4:00 AM
1 Comments:
Mass transit is not fiscally sound. It takes millions of federal dollars to run a mass transit system, on top of the fares that riders pay each day. So, we are asking tax payers to agree to a tax to build a transportation system that will require more tax dollars to operate on a daily basis. Uncle Sam, will you get me to and from work each day?
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