From: "Friends of Transit" <friendsoftransit@qwest.net>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient>
Subject: Editorial from Kansas City Star
Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2004 1:59 PM

> > Friends,
> >
> > Below is a copy of an editorial in this week's Kansas City Star.  You
will
> > note that Phoenix received praise for being, "One city that faced up to
> the
> > transit challenge..."
> >
> > You will also note that longtime Friend of Transit and former Phoenix
> Mayor
> > Skip Rimsza is mentioned extensively following a trip to Kansas City.
The
> > paper states, "Rimsza noted that the aging of America will boost demand
> for
> > public transit as more people are unable to drive."
> >
> > For those of you who will remember not too long ago, Phoenix didn't even
> > have Sunday bus service.  Now, we are receiving praise from across the
> > country for being progressive in addressing our transportation needs.
> >
> > See text of article below.
> >
> > * * *
> >
> > KC region should focus on the future of transit Last year Kansas City
> voters
> > approved a five-year sales tax increase to prevent a severe drop in area
> bus
> > service and to finance a few improvements. That provided some breathing
> > space, but the clock is ticking.One city that faced up to the transit
> > challenge is Phoenix, which has invested heavily in recent years in a
wide
> > spectrum of transit options. Phoenix has boosted conventional bus
service
> > and bus rapid transit, and is completing an 18-mile light-rail
> system.Cities
> > need an effective transit component to help handle congestion and remain
> > competitive for jobs and people, says former Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza.
In
> a
> > meeting last week with The Star's Editorial Board, Rimsza noted that the
> > aging of America will boost demand for public transit as more people are
> > unable to drive. And in many cities, low-wage earners and a rising
> > population of immigrants who are unable to afford cars will need
> > transportation. Cities, he says, must prepare for the future.Rimsza was
> > invited to Kansas City by the Regional Transit Alliance, which promotes
a
> > more coherent, bistate transit policy to replace the fragmented system
we
> > have today.Kansas City remains less congested than many other cities,
but
> > congestion here is on the rise. As Rimsza notes, we must prepare for the
> > future - and develop a good regional plan before the time runs out on
the
> > five-year stopgap sales tax.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>


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