By Dan Verbeck
Kansas City, MO. – The latest light rail proposal from Clay Chastain will not be on a fast track through the Kansas City Council.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted without dissent today to hold a hearing on the tax measure in more than a month. That could kill a November vote and move it to next year.
But Committee Chair Russ Johnson argued a lot of time is needed for pro and con forces to build their cases--"the planning, funding and construction of public transit is as complex as it is important."
Chastain was vocally unhappy with the September 22nd hearing date and was ordered from the committee room.
His proposal is for a three-eighths-cent sales tax hike for the $2.5 billion rail system which would also rely on donations and federal-state aid.