News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 10, 2007

CONTACT: Liana Riesinger, One KC Voice Coordinator, 816/701-8269; or Stephanie Williams, Public Affairs Specialist, 816/701-8310

Citizen engagement sessions seek input on public transit

A series of 25 community discussions will be held this fall

One KC Voice, a citizen engagement initiative for Greater Kansas City housed at the Mid-America Regional Council, will host 25 community discussions on public transit from September through December at locations across the region. The project is funded by a $139,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration. All of the forums are free and open to the public.

The input received from the engagements will be used to update the Smart Moves Regional Transit Plan, which provides a vision for coordinated transit service. The Smart Moves update will:

• incorporate major transit-planning efforts underway — including light rail,
• revise the service plan and technical information, and
• identify new connections and services for key corridors and activity centers.

“We feel the timing of these public engagements will have a significant impact on transit decisions being made by local leaders both for the short- and long-term,” Liana Riesinger, One KC Voice coordinator, said. “One KC Voice aims to make the voices of all Greater Kansas Citians heard in decision-making processes.”

One KC Voice schedules engagements through a network of community and citizens’ organizations in Greater Kansas City. To join the network or learn more about hosting a meeting, contact Liana Riesinger, lriesinger@marc.org. Eleven sessions have already been scheduled (see below) and others will be added over the next few weeks. More information is available at www.onekcvoice.org.

One KC Voice Citizen Engagement Schedule

For information about bus routes to any of these locations, call the Regional Call Center at (816) 221-0660.

September 12

6:30 p.m.          Northland Neighborhoods, Inc.

5312 N.E. Chouteau Trafficway

Kansas City, Mo.

September 20

6:30 p.m.          Shawnee Library

13811 Johnson Drive

                        Shawnee, Kan.

October 1

6:30 p.m.          Central Resource Library (Johnson County)

                        9875 W. 87^th St.

                        Overland Park, Kan.

October 2

6:30 p.m.          Blue Valley Library

9000 W. 151^st St.

                        Overland Park, Kan.

October 4

6 p.m.               Olathe Library (downtown)

201 E. Park St.

                        Olathe, Kan.

October 10

3:30 p.m.          Southtown Council

                        4875 Troost Ave.

Kansas City, Mo.

October 11

5 p.m.               Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council

3700 Woodland

Kansas City, Mo.

October 15

7 p.m.               Lee’s Summit City Hall

220 S.E. Green St.

Lee’s Summit, Mo.

October 16
6 p.m.               Downtown Library (Kansas City, Mo., Public Library)

14 W. 10^th St.
Kansas City, Mo.

October 17

6 p.m.               Roeland Park City Hall

4600 W. 51st St.

Roeland Park, Kan.

October 18

11:30 a.m.         MainCor

3215 Main St., Suite 200

Kansas City, Mo.

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