The streetcar, which is expected to run 2 miles through downtown Kansas City from Union Station to the River Market is expected to cost $101 million. "[City Councilman Russ] Johnson said the city and the Port Authority of Kansas City now must create a Kansas City Streetcar Authority. The authority would be responsible for holding a second vote, most likely during the November elections, to approve a slate of special property assessments and a sales tax within the district to generate the remaining $75 million for the project," explains Twiddy.
Apparently the segment approved this week is just the first phase in a system that could eventually expand throughout the city.
According to Twiddy, "A group of streetcar supporters has started Neighbor.ly, an online 'crowdfunding' platform to raise money for the project through individual donations."
Comments
Lessons for Atlanta?
I haven't been following this streetcar, but it appears that a property assessment may be used - subject to an additional vote - as the primary local funding mechanism after a half-cent sales tax measure failed in 2008.
Bearing in mind that the rejected T-SPLOST actually won in the City of Atlanta on Tuesday, but lost in the 10-county region, perhaps the city should separate itself from the region and try a more localized funding option?
Irvin Dawid, Palo Alto, CA