KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Come November, you could decide whether to bring light-rail service to Kansas City.
Transit activist Clay Chastain said a circuit judge ruled Friday that his mass transportation plan should go before voters. He’s been pushing for nearly two decades to raise sales taxes by three-eighths of a cent to build a light-rail system, commuter line and street car service.
City officials have squashed his idea in the past, arguing his plan wouldn’t provide enough money to fund the project.
The judge’s decision acknowledged both sides, as it also gives city officials the power to write the ballot language. It’s a potential road block, as Chastain said city leaders don’t want to use the words “light-rail” on the ballot so they’re not obligated to actually build it.,
“They have told our attorney that they will not put anything on the ballot that has ‘light-rail’ in it,” he said at a Saturday press conference in Union Station. “And that’s absolutely disrespectful to the 5,000 voters who signed under this initiative.”
The judge’s order gives city officials until June 23 to write the language for the ballot measure. Chastain then has up to five days to object or send in his own version.
“Light-rail, commuter rail, street cars, electric buses and bike ways,” he said. “That’s what they signed under. If they don’t put some summary of that on the ballot, they are cheating the people. They’re disregarding the intent and purpose of this initiative.”
