By Steve Bell
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-654084.mp3
Kansas City, MO – The Kansas City City Council moved ahead with light rail planning Thursday, and talked about who will be in charge. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.
Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Ed Ford promised the council that they would be making important decisions on light rail by late January. And he emphasized that the council, not the ATA or Citizen's Task Force, will be in charge of the important aspects.
Ed Ford: "That includes the route, the technology and the funding. It is the chair's intent that we take up all of these issues after the first of the year."
The council approved $200,000 to fund phase 2 of light rail planning, and will devote its December 13th business session to analyzing progress and alternatives.
In other actions, the council awarded management of Kemper Arena to Anshutz Entertainment, which now manages Sprint Center, and, with another expiration deadline looming, considered including council members in contract negotiating sessions with City Manager Wayne Cauthen. The decision on that was left up to the mayor.