By Maria Carter
Kansas City, MO – A Senate committee has given the go ahead to some 2-and-a-half million dollars to study light rail in Kansas City. The House and the Senate still need to approve the bill before the city sees in money, but as KCUR's Maria Carter reports the author of the city's light rail plan says the study is a diversion.
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The money would fund something called an alternatives analysis to study light rail options. That's the first step to get federal money to design and build a light rail system. Clay Chastain authored the voter approved light rail plan. He says the alternatives analysis is a diversionary tactic.
Clay Chastain: "This is a scheme to try to use the federal program to undermine this plan the people voted for, to stick in, shelve it, and put in a new plan to replace it."
Chastain is in town for the next week to meet with city leaders about light rail. Officials have questioned the legality of 27 mile long light rail route. Chastain says he hopes to work with city council to correct any flaws and avoid a lawsuit.
Maria Carter, KCUR News.