A group of planners and architects has put forth an alternative light rail proposal that they believe is more practical than a plan already approved by voters.
"A group of urban-core advocates is developing a light-rail plan it hopes will be more workable - and come sooner - than the plan approved by voters last fall.
The Urban Society of Kansas City, which includes architects, planners and others interested in urban-design issues, envisions a 5½-mile starter line from Third Street and Grand Avenue to Volker Boulevard and Troost Avenue east of the Country Club Plaza.
It would use a form of transit technology called "fast streetcar" that looks like light rail but runs at slower speeds.
The group wants a vote on the $150 million proposal this year and has vowed to launch a petition drive if the Kansas City Council balks at calling an election.
Urban Society members are hoping to use local funds rather than federal money, which could take eight to 10 years to secure. They say waiting a decade or more would put Kansas City further behind other cities when it comes to mass transit."
FULL STORY: Rethinking mass transit

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
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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.
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