With virtually every topic there are advocates and haters. The light rail train was and is no different. From the initial talks of the concept, through the approval process and definitely during the construction, Kansas Citians voiced their opinion. “It’s a waste of money.” “Game changer for downtown.” “No one will use it.” “A huge improvement to our transit system.” “It doesn’t go anywhere.” “It’s the start of something big.” “It’s nothing more than a drunk conveyor belt.” Whether you were and are an advocate or you were and are against it, it was built. Opinions aside, it is finished and running. What now?
We use it. The people of Kansas City are responsible for the failure or success of city projects. If it is used, it will be improved, expanded and has the possibility in the long run to connect us by joining communities. If we don’t use it, the potential will never be seen and the potential is the exciting part. As of now the train gives access to the river market, downtown, crossroads and Crown Center/Union Station. The potential is being able to shop at the Legends in WYCO and 20 minutes later grab dinner in Power and Light or catch a Royals game and 20 minutes later walk the streets of the Plaza.
You may say this isn’t “real-world” and the main community is in the grind of work and family, leisure trips to the city are great but not practical every week let alone every day. I am in the same boat but just for a moment imagine beyond the glamorous ideas of plaza and P&L trips to the potential of changing the day in and day out commutes through Kansas City. Imagine being able to see family or friends more often because the hassle of traveling has been reduced. The potential of the light rail train is great, Kansas City can become ONE community and not 2 states, a hand full of counties and almost countless individual cities.
This will take effort, as everything worth doing does. As of now the light rail is seen as a convenience for few and a novelty to most. YOU are the catalyst. The more people that ride the train, the more we will see the potential become a reality and over time what once was seen as a novelty will be seen as the connecting thread of our community.
I used the word potential carefully and intentionally. Without our, the people of Kansas City’s, realized impact on the light rail’s future, that is all it can be is potential, something that could have been, instead of something that is actually great. The power of the city is in the hands of its people and each person has more impact than we realize.