Speed Bumps Arise In Kansas City Light Rail Plan

Land rights and high costs are proving to be major hurdles in Kansas City's bid to build a 27-mile light rail system.

1 minute read

January 22, 2007, 8:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


"An assistant city attorney told the council that the light-rail route voters approved in November raised significant legal questions, including how the route could be built through existing park land."

"Another lawyer said it will take at least eight to 10 years for Kansas City to secure federal financing for a light-rail line."

"In November, Kansas City voters approved a measure to extend the city's current three-eighths-cent transportation sales tax for 25 years to build a $1 billion, 27-mile light-rail line. The initiative called for about 50 percent of the line's cost to be paid with federal money."

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