Mayor seeks transit ideas

By Angie Anaya Borgedalen

With standing room only on two buses that leave weekdays from Liberty bound for downtown Kansas City, Mayor Bob Steinkamp said he was taking the driver’s seat in seeking help from area cities.

In hopes of finding solutions to the increasing bus-crowding problem, Steinkamp has called for an Eastern Clay County summit set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, at Cupini’s on Liberty Square for mayors and city council members from surrounding cities and county commissioners.

Steinkamp said he had invited city officials from Claycomo, Pleasant Valley, Excelsior Springs, Lawson, Kearney, Missouri City, Glenaire and Mosby to attend the brainstorming session. Since the meeting is at the dinner hour, he said hors d‘oeuvres and soft drinks would be served.

Liberty currently pays $37,447 to subsidize a 40-passenger bus and a 20-passenger bus.

Riders pay $3 each way or can purchase bus passes for $85 per month.

“I hope they will provide us with some direction,” Steinkamp said. “If we knew we could get some assistance, maybe we could trade the smaller bus for a larger bus, assuming a larger bus is available.”

Shawna Funderburk, assistant to the city administrator, said the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority had indicated that it would cost an additional $1,995 for the last quarter of the year to upgrade the existing small bus to a large bus, giving riders 80 seats. She said the cost for bus service for the city could increase by 15 percent next year. Councilman Harold Phillips told council members last week that as many as 28 people were standing as they ride the bus downtown.

Cynthia Baker, marketing director for KCATA, earlier said that plans were in the works to add a bus route in January from the Shoal Creek Valley area west of Interstate 35 that could help alleviate crowding on the Liberty buses.

Bolstering the growing concern of escalating gas prices and the need to provide alternative modes of transportation, Clay County commissioners are also hosting a series of meetings around the county to gather information from residents.

In Liberty, a meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, at the community center.

“It’s important that we get some feedback and find out what people want,” said Eastern Commissioner Craig Porter. “There’s no use putting something out there that they won’t ride.”

Both Steinkamp and Porter have been active participants in efforts by Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser to put a mass transit referendum on the November ballot. Both said they do not believe Clay, Platte and Jackson counties are ready to embrace a comprehensive proposal but favored Kansas City moving forward with a starter line that could be the backbone of a future regional system.

Porter said Northlanders concerned about mass transit issues were encouraged to visit www.kcsmartmoves.org and participate in a survey.

MEETINGS:

All meetings are from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Smithville 

- Where: Paradise Pointe Clubhouse, 182121 Golf Drive 

- When: July 17

North Kansas City 

- Where: Community Center, 1999 N. Iron 

- When: July 23

Liberty 

- Where: Community Center, 1600 S. Withers Road 

- When: July 24

Excelsior Springs/ Kearney 

- Where: Excelsior Springs City Hall, 201 E. Broadway 

- When: July 30

Liberty Editor Angie Anaya Borgedalen can be reached at 781-4941 or aborgedalen@npgco.com.