A city council committee continues to delve into how to finance the Area Transit Authority yesterday.
Most of this week's ATA funding committee meeting was spent speculating on the size of the funding shortfall as a streetcar system and other expenses bite into transit tax revenues that may or may not increase.
Chairman Ed Ford also raised the possibility of the ATA becoming more regional in character. He said, “We hope that in the very near future, KCATA will be the umbrella organization for all area transit services, whether it be commuter rail, street car, light rail, Johnson County transit, Independence, etc.”
Ford said such a change might mean more ATA board members would come from outside Kansas City.
Several representatives of a citizens transit advocacy group told the committee they were disappointed that there was not more focus on expanding bus service within the city. They also warned that the council against over-controlling the future of the ATA.