I sincerely hope the streetcar passes. I think a lot more people will find it useful than what they might think. For example, I walked from 10th & Main to City Market for lunch today with some co-workers. It's a pleasant walk, not too far. However, it's rare that we take the time to walk down there and back over lunch. With the streetcar I plan to begin eating lunch further afield (City Market, Crossroads, etc.) on a more routine basis because I'll be able to cover the ground a bit quicker (and be insulated from the heat during later summer).

technically, it could go forever. the only limitation would be density and built environment along any extended portion of the line (and cost, of course). after 10 miles from the city center, you start getting into some pretty inhospitable places to be on foot (at least on the arterials where there are people AND jobs).

Fewer than 500 people could determine whether Kansas City establishes a special downtown streetcar taxing district.

As of Friday afternoon, just under 400 people living within the proposed streetcar district boundaries had applied to the Jackson County court administrator for ballots for the unusual mail-in election later this summer.

Officials estimate about 3,200 active registered voters live in the proposed streetcar district.

The deadline to apply for a ballot is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

“My goal is to make sure as many people get involved in the election as possible,” said David Johnson, a downtown resident and streetcar advocate.

Johnson has been visiting downtown residential buildings to get the word out, but he notes that downtown rarely has a big voter turnout, even in conventional elections.

...and i wasn't just blowing smoke up the star's ass. i really am trying to get everyone involved!

...and i wasn't just blowing smoke up the star's ass. i really am trying to get everyone involved!

It’s not unusual for a small group to be the catalyst for something bigger than themselves. That’s what downtown residents are about to embrace.

The voting process for the downtown streetcar is underway. This small project will trigger a transit renaissance in Kansas City, stimulating our economy and spurring private investment downtown. It’s the right project at the right time.

At its peak in 1922, 136 million rides were given on Kansas City’s 319-mile streetcar network. Not a bus in sight at the time.

Population approaching 400,000 was confined to an area extending no farther south than the Plaza. Fast-forward to our new millennium — well after the demise of streetcar networks nationwide — the promises of cheap housing on the fringe and cheap gas to take you there are gone.

A new generation, hesitant to repeat the same mistakes and distracted by a need to be constantly connected instead of constantly driving, are rejecting the status quo.

But this isn’t fueled by nostalgia — since most of us don’t even remember the streetcar days.

It’s fueled by lessons history has taught us. Building cities takes a long time, repairing them takes even longer. Let downtowners lead the way, so that others may follow.

I don't have a facebook account or I would have posted a comment to rebutt the the initial comment posted by what I can only believe is a tea bagger.

Don't bother. That guy is the chief troll on that part of the Star site.

'603 apply to vote on district for Kansas City streetcar line'

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/n ... t-for.html