Of a whopping 555 eligible voters, 318 voted this week to approve a special taxing district to help pay for a downtown Kansas City streetcar, reports David Twiddy.
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."
FULL STORY: Downtown Kansas City voters back streetcar taxing district

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie