This conceptual drawing shows one of several options for a streetcar route on the Country Club Right-of-Way . See other options in the story below.
The mayor’s office will appoint a stakeholder advisory committee to help plan for possible streetcar expansion along the Country Club Right-of-Way.
Here’s the official announcement from city hall:
The Kansas City downtown streetcar project has been noted for its significant stakeholder involvement in all aspects of the project, including the formation of the Kansas City Streetcar Authority, a not-for-profit corporation set up to operate the system which is made up of a majority of downtown stakeholders. That starter line phase incorporated over 200 meetings, and counting, with a wide variety of parties.
Today, Mayor Sly James announced that he will appoint a committee of stakeholders, including residents and business owners, surrounding the Country Club Right-of-Way, to serve on an advisory committee for the planning of the streetcar expansion through that area. Interested individuals can apply at www.kcmayor.org/streetcar. The group will be appointed by February 19, 2014.
“We’ve already seen the economic impact of the streetcar starter line downtown and the first car hasn’t even hit the pavement yet,” said Mayor Sly James. “Over 30 new or renovation projects worth approximately ¾ of a billion dollars are already in process or in the planning phases. I want that type of economic development to spread throughout the city as much as possible. We’re going to be as strategic with these next steps as we were with the starter line. Bringing together a group of people to examine neighborhood concerns shows that the community is at the heart of this project.”
This committee will address several community concerns regarding how the expansion may proceed that are unique to the Country Club Right-of-Way area. As specific concerns arise on other expansion corridors, it is anticipated that similar stakeholder advisory groups will be created as needed.
(Disclosure: the Midtown KC Post’s Mary Jo Draper and Joe Lambe are part of the NextRail KC streetcar expansion project team.)
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