Public to help shape regional transit
›› Citizen engagement series will ask residents what they want

Why have a regional transit system in Greater Kansas City? What areas should it serve, and how often? What are the greatest public transportation needs in our region?

These are some of the questions citizens are going to be asked in a series of 25 citizen engagement meetings taking place throughout the Kansas City region this fall. The project is offered through One KC Voice, a nonprofit, nonpartisan program that brings citizen engagement to regional decision-making processes.

The purpose of the first set of meetings will be to learn the underlying value of public transportation for citizens and what the most pressing needs are. An additional series of planning workshops will integrate this feedback with technical aspects of updating the Smart Moves regional transit plan.

Public feedback on transit comes at a critical time. The Smart Moves initiative for regional transit coordination, the 2006 Missouri legislation that allows local communities to jointly raise funds for Smart Moves, and the implications of the light-rail proposal passed in Kansas City, Mo., make this an ideal opportunity to fully involve the public in shaping transit alternatives.

The citizen engagement meetings scheduled so far are:

Monday, October 1, 2007
6:30–8:00 p.m.
Central Resource Library (Johnson County)
9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park, Kan.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007
6:30–8:00 p.m.
Blue Valley Library
9000 W. 151st St., Overland Park, Kan.

Thursday, October 4, 2007
6:00–7:30 p.m.
Olathe Library (downtown)
201 E. Park St., Olathe, Kan.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007
3:30–5:00 p.m.
Southtown Council
6814 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Mo.

Thursday, October 11, 2007
5:00–6:30 p.m.
Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council
3700 Woodland, Kansas City, Mo.

Monday, October 15, 2007
7:00–8:30 p.m.
Lee’s Summit City Hall
220 S.E. Green St., Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007
6:00–7:30 p.m.
Downtown Library (Kansas City, Mo., Public Library)
14 W. 10th St., Kansas City, Mo.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007
6:00–7:30 p.m.
Roeland Park City Hall
4600 W. 51st St., Roeland Park, Kan.

Thursday, October 18, 2007
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
MainCor
3215 Main St., Suite 200, Kansas City, Mo.