Regional Light Rail Plans Emerge in Kansas City

"For months, Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser has talked about regional light rail. Now he's introducing a plan and inviting suburban mayors to jump on board this week."

"Funkhouser is circulating draft legislation for Missouri and Kansas calling for a five-county transportation district to build a metrowide light-rail system."

"The legislation has not been introduced yet in either state legislature, but the proposed district would basically replace the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and other bus agencies for planning and operating light rail."

"The district would create an oversight commission with equal representation from Missouri and Kansas, and requires the regional light-rail system to have an equal number of miles on the Missouri and Kansas sides of the state line."

"'This is a model that clearly has the best chance of being accepted by voters,' Funkhouser said when explaining his concept during a light-rail forum Saturday in Kansas City."