Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Saturday, May 4, 2002

KANSAS CITY, MO – U.S. Senator Kit Bond today spoke on the benefits of the ongoing transportation projects in Kansas City at the Regional Transit Alliance awards dinner, where he received the 2002 Transit Advocacy Award.

“With the federal resources committed to bus upgrades, the innovative BRT program, and projects like the Transit/ Early Learning center, we are using public transportation to improve our economy, our communities, and our environment,” said Bond. “In response to your hard work, I will continue my efforts in Washington to bring these important federal dollars back to Kansas City.”

As a senior Senator on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Bond was able to secure the $7.5 million in federal funds that made possible the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program in Kansas City. The BRT will use existing rights of way, have signal priority at intersections and be as frequent as light rail. The service will run north/south connecting the City Market-River-front, with the Union Station-Crown Center region, and Plaza to south.

Bond hopes this regional transit project will serve as not only an impetus for economic development, but also be a way for residents to commute in an environmentally friendly way. Towards this goal the ATA has agreed to burn biodiesel in the new BRT buses. Not only will the use of this soybean based alternative fuel be good for Kansas City’s air quality and environment, but it will also benefit the farming community.

In the fiscal year 2000 VA/HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations bill, Bond was able to secure $2.5 million for a transit and child-care facility at the corners of 39th and Troost The novel integration of a child-care facility into this important new transportation hub will help Kansas City’s commuting families.

As an advocate for both transportation and early childhood education needs in Missouri, Bond said this project to be very significant. “This facility was another positive step in addressing the vitally important efforts to ensure that parents in Kansas City have the necessary mode of transportation so they can get to work, while also providing them another tool in their on-going efforts to educate our young children.”

Senator Kit Bond served the state of Missouri as governor twice and is now in his third term in the United States Senate.