THE ROAD AHEAD
Officials say $1 invested in rail could be $4 in economy Continued from Page 17
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sistently said that when the system is up and running, the benefits will be clear and Johnson County will be eager to get onboard. Sanders and other advocates emphasize that, nationwide, such systems have consistently brought a renewal of economic development. Eastern Jackson County mayors have supported the idea because, as Ross says, “it’s also going to spur economic development in my city.” It’s also a path to more economic development without more suburban sprawl. “It facilitates efficient growth from within,” says Starner. Makinen stresses the often-used figure that every dollar invested in rail transit leads to $4 in economic development. The Sanders plan initially came in at just more than $1 billion for all six lines. That’s also with a far lower cost per mile than most major city transit plans, and lower than building a light rail system, because it would use existing tracks. (Commuter rail trains have a more heavyduty design than light rail, having to conform to the standards of major railroads.) The Independence/Blue Springs route would run on a lightly used Kansas City Southern line, and the Lee’s Summit route would put an old Rock Island line back into service. Having those routes in place saves money and saves years of environmental review. Even the rails on the old Rock Island line would be pulled out, X-rayed to
Envisioned rail route
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make sure they’re still in good shape and put back into use. That kind of approach, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood told The Examiner, would be a major advantage in winning federal funding. Officials also anticipate spinoff services to the benefit of businesses. For example, one of the three planned stops in Independence is near Centerpoint Medical Center. The city might build a bus loop tying into that, taking people to Centerpoint and the soon-to-open Children’s Mercy East Hospital as well as the Independence Events Center and shopping areas such as Bass Pro Shops and Independence Center. Such a system also makes it easier to get a fan in Gladstone or Grandview to a Mavericks game at the Events Center, proponents argue. Eventually, Sanders said, he’s confident the entire six spokes will be built. Terry once said that would mean a ride from the Blue Springs to the terminal of your choice at KCI – in 40 minutes and for about $3.50. For now, the focus is on the first two lines. “Things are moving along very, very well,” Sanders said.
Eastern Jackson County Business Review
THE DATA $264,864 Average sales price of a new home in Jackson County in August, down 4.4 percent from August 2011. The metro average was $311,262. The three metro area counties with the highest averages were Cass County ($388,898), Johnson County ($371,111) and Platte County ($273,575). The average sales price of an existing home in Jackson County was $121,892 up 14.8 percent in a year. That’s the next-to-lowest among metro counties. Source: Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors and Heartland Multiple Listing Service
6.6 percent Missouri’s growth in general revenues in July and August, the first two months of fiscal year 2013 for the state. General revenues rose to $1.16 billion. For fiscal year 2012, which ended June 30, general revenues rose 3.2 percent compared with 2011. General revenues rose to $7.34 billion. Sales taxes were up 3.5 percent, to $1.87 billion. The state’s overall budget is approximately $23 billion, with the rest coming from the federal government and from fees and related sources. Source: Missouri Office of Administration
0 percent Missouri’s 2011 growth in gross domestic product. That ties Missouri with Montana for 44th in GDP growth among the states. (Several states actually lost ground.) The seven Plains states together – Missouri and Kansas north to Minnesota and North Dakota – showed growth of 1 percent overall, a number aided by North Dakota’s oil-driven 7.6 percent gain, the best in the county. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
22 Missouri’s ranking among the 50 states’ economies in June, according to BMO Capital Markets, which noted the state’s unemployment rate of 7.3 percent in April, the lowest since the end of 2008. Exports from the state, mostly agriculture related, jumped 15.4 percent in the first quarter. BMO suggests Missouri’s gross state product will grow about 1.5 percent this year. Source: BMO Capital Markets
296,000 Number of real estate parcels in Jackson County Source: Jackson County Assessment Departments
Fall 2012