The Line Creek Loudmouth

Tony Luetkemeyer is Going to Win SD 34

Buchanan County only has one outstanding precinct remaining and Platte County has 17/28 in and Tony Luetkemeyer has a 1870 vote lead in Platte and a 1,564 vote lead in Buchanan.

Missouri House Results So Far

Quick look at the status of house races as of 9:37PM

The Freight House District That Almost Wasn't

I had lunch the other day in the Freight House District (FHD) which is quite the amazing redevelopment story.  Why do I say that?

Because back in the 70's/80's, transportation planners/engineers had this vision of a 22nd/23rd Street corridor trafficway connecting I-35 to I-70.  I haven't figured out the genesis of it other than speculating that the developers of Crown Center wanted direct access to the highway and were selling the politicos that it had to be done.

Anyways, I found an old plan and profile study.  The quality isn't great but I thought I would try and give you some idea where the proposed layout is in relation to landmarks.  You can download the whole exhibit and zoom in and out as you like.

Download 22nd-ViaductoverCrossroads

I start from the west at I-35 and will work east.  The proposed corridor are the darker lines.  Southwest Boulevard is highlighted in red.  Broadway is Green.  Basically the road improvments start at 23rd Street at SW Blvd and 21st Street at the West Pennway exit.  The two streets come together under the Broadway viaduct and the parallel the Kansas City Terminal Railroad (KCTRR) tracks.

The trafficway would then bridge over the KCTRR and have an intersection with Main Street (orange) right where the tracks go under the Main Street viaduct.  The pedestrian bridge from the FHD to Union Station is the blue line.  The FHD restaurants are the red rectangular building.

Somehow the viaduct would magically span the multiple KCT railroad tracks and have another intersection over the tracts at Grand Boulevard (green) and the go over to McGee Street (olive) and then eventually over to Gillham Road.  Parts of the corridor were done in the mid-2000's  as highlighted with the yellow dash.  I noticed that a couple of office buildings were under construction and planned (maroon).

I then used the ultimate computer aided drafting program (MS Paint) to try and highlight the corridor over a current aerial.  The road improvements are the red lines and the blue arrow is pointing towards the FHD restaurants.

Why did it never get built?  Simple guess?  It was too expensive.  Why?  The project was a long bridge over multiple railroad tracks in a rail switching yard which would have cost a fortune to build not to mention the difficulty of working with railroads. It also would have required tons of right of way and buildings that would have cost a fortune to buy and tear down.

Moral of the story?  The engineering profession needs to change.  Consultants and planners need to stop proposing fairies and unicorn type projects that can't ever be built or provide limited or no return on the taxpayers' investment.  Taxpayers and businesses are strapped.  Billions in pensions are unfunded.  You can't afford a condo on the beach when you barely have enough money to buy a new tarp to put on top of the mobile home.

Myron Neth Must Really Like Jefferson City

Why do I say that?  He's done some interesting things recently.

I noticed he is a sponsor of a bill that would semi-repeal the term limits enacted with a whopping 75% approval in 1992.

HJR 41 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing a member of the General Assembly to serve 16 years maximum in any proportion in either chamber as long as he or she serves no more than 16 years total. 

Currently right now, a person can serve a total of 4 two year terms in the House (8 years total) and 2 four year terms in the Senate (8 year total).  If HJR 41 would pass, then someone like Representative Neth could stay in Jefferson City for 8 two year terms or a total of 16 years in the House vs 8 years under the current law. 

He has some support from Repubican Democrat Opportunist Chris Koster.

I also find it interesting that Representative Neth voted yes to support the largest tax increase in Missouri history with his "yes" vote on HJR 68 which is the 1 cent sales tax which will probably be used to re-build I-70 from the outskirts of Blue Springs to Wentzville.

Why is HJR 68 being pushed? Because the state inflated the construction program using bonds and is now having to pay for the bonds without any revenue to replace bond proceeds.  If you have some time, read the Missouri Budget Project analysis of MoDOT's credit card program.  I'm not anti-revenue for transportation, I'm anti-bonding.

The authority of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission to issue bonds needs to be revoked.  I've been through two boom and bust cycles caused by MHTC bonding.  The state legislature and governor need to provide oversight of how state funds are spent and not some appointed commission who can't be removed from office by the voters if they mismanage cash flow.

The only way I support any bonding authority for the MHTC is if bonds are issued to pay for a fixed asset backed by a new dedicated revenue stream paid for by users of the fixed asset. If we want to have a serious discussion of how to re-build I-70, it needs to start with a comprehensive bond package with a 25 or 30 year bond payback recovered from tolls.  This is MBA managerial accounting 101.  (side note, while I'm dreaming, I'd like a condo on the beach.)  

Anyways, check out the MBP analysis and chart illustrating the funding cliff caused by irresponsible bonding.

It's a viscous cycle.  Issue bonds and inflate the market with construction.  When the bond revenue is depleted, the payments start and the program caters.

Why is the program cratering?  Because the bonds have to be paid off to the tune of nearly $300 MILLION per YEAR.

We don't need the largest tax increase in Missouri history.  We need to stop issuing debt which is making us broke.  Now we're hosed and no one is having a realistic conversation about the tough choices that need to be made like tolling I-70.

Representative Neth also voted no on HB 1770 which is the the "Right to Work" bill.  Given the geography of his district which includes the Ford Motor Company plant, I am wondering if he voted "no" because the bill was going to pass anyways?

I strongly support term limits and Missouri's as they are.  That's why he's deserving of this commentary.

The Future Coffee Barista Major of the Week is Architectural Studies

Like most college students, I was all gung-ho the first two weeks of school.  Then I decided to hit the beach for a week and blow off some classes.  It's getting to be the first test period of the year so I need to pick up the slack.

This week's highlight of higher education helping with massive tuition increases and soaring underemployment is courtesy of our flagship institution of higher learning, the University of Missouri-Columbia.

I picked this major because I was driving around the other day and saw a brand new house that looked like a "tinker toy" frame with aluminum foil for walls.  This eyesore innovative house was set in a 75+ year old area with distinct Queen Anne and other Tudor Revival style houses.  I guess they don't teach context sensitive design to architects like they do to engineers.

Also one time last week late at night, I drove by three 30' tall "lightning rods" that are supposed to be some kind of public art.  Since only two of the three were lit up at night, my interpretation of the architect was this: 

"hey joe q citizen, we made a butt-load of money designing these things that are unsustainable and stuck you with a needless maintenance expense/headache until they get torn down."

With the hope and change economy continuing to creep along, architecture majors will continue to face long odds at paying back all their students loans to keep older college professors and administrators wealthy.

With that, a future architect can look forward to such enlightening classes as:

ARCHST 2100. Understanding Architecture and the American City. 3 Credits.  Analysis of the American city and its architecture.

ARCHST 3100. Color and Light. 3 Credits.  The theory, application, and specification of color and light for interior and architectural design. Lecture and studio format.

ARCHST 4620. Environment and Behavior. 3 Credits.  Evaluate relationships between human behavior and environmental design. Survey of environment and behavior theoretical foundations examining how these concepts translate into a more responsive theory of design.

PHYSCS 1210. College Physics I. 4 Credits.First course in algebra-based physics. Covers kinematics, dynamics, fluids oscillatory motion, waves and thermodynamics. Three lectures, one lab weekly.

I am somewhat surprised Mizzou requires some level of scientific/technical competency.  It's algebra not calculus based so don't get too big a head alums.  It's physics you can do with a free solar calculator from a career fair.

 

Clip credit to CBS from the Big Bang Theory.

The Future Coffee Barista Major of the Week is Theater-Performance

This week's highlight of higher education helping with massive tuition increases and soaring underemployment is courtesy of our hometown University of Missouri-Kansas City.

For a the price of a small starter house, one can spend four years getting a Theater-Performance degree and take such useful life classes such as:

THEATRE 101 Introduction To Acting:  An introductory course to acquaint the freshman theatre major and non-major student with the process of acting through relaxation and improvisational exercise.

THEATRE 300CS Cluster Course:  History Of Russian Culture

THEATRE 333 History Of Costuming I:  The study of the history of European costume, with emphasis on the social and economic ramifications of costuming through the ages.

I guess you need to learn how to harness your inner feelings, creativity, and express your role when you ask "Would you like to add two fresh hot apple pies for a dollar to your order?"

 

Clip credit to Mike Judge and Viacom™.

"Uh, we're like closed or something...."

 

Business Taxes in the State of Missouri Are Way Down

After writing about HB 253, I was doing some more research from the Office of Administration website and found the 2014 Press Packet the office put out with regard to the budget.  In 2008, business income tax revenues were $459.3M.  In 2014, those same revenues are projected to be $342.0M.  That is a about a 25% DECREASE in revenues.  In the meantime, higher education spending is projected to increase 4% so we can continue to provide students of the state of Missouri valuable degrees.  If business income is dropping or stagnant, why don't we plan to phase it out to help our small business owners.

I don't know about you but when 2008 revenues dropped from $8.0B to $6.77B in 2010, I didn't see mass dying, rioting, and complete anarchy that the opponents of HB 253 are predicting.  The state trimmed spending and worked within their means which is what the rest of us have done the past 5 years.

Governor Nixon decided that he could withhold $400M from the budget due to the threat of a veto overturn of HB 253 giving him time to travel around the state and play politics and use kids as photo ops rather than actually working to make Missouri more competitive to our western neighbors.

The job growth in the Kansas part of the KC metro area has been a lot better than the Missouri part of the MSA as shown here.  It is time to "Grow Missouri."

Bike Commuting in Platte County Getting Easier (Unless going downtown)

With all of the investments in bike friendly trails by KCMO, Platte County, and Riverside which eliminate or reduce vehicle conflicts and waiting at signals or stop signs, it's becoming easier to safely commute downtown or to employment centers via bicycle.  I wanted to try and see what routes I could take and how long it would if I ever decided to do so.  I work down in the Northeast Industrial District and had two ways to get there that I thought I would try.  Unfortunately I wasn't thinking and took the flatter and easier route through Riverside and Briarcliff on the way there and was gassed on the way back when I had a hillier route along Chouteau/Parvin/Vivion. 

Things are relatively easy until one enters Clay County and gets to the railroad service bridge over Route 9 on the way into North Kansas City.  There is a nice 8-10' shoulder along Route 9 but at this bridge, that shoulder disappears.  For a cyclist, that often means stopping right before the bridge and waiting for a gap and then trying to gun up to 25mph to avoid cars that are going 65+mph (no enforcement whatsoever here).

 

The south route has somewhat limited stop distance and with cars having just completed a high speed merge, this movement is downright impossible except on a weekend.  Luckily when I took that picture the car saw me, had no one next to them, and moved over.  The northbound commute is a little better since there is better sight distance and a stop light at 32nd Street which meters Route 9 traffic to allow some semblance of a safe gap to enter the road.

I went around Macken Park (bad idea at 4PM on Father's Day as everyone was BBQing) and through NKC neighborhoods and my biggest issue was all the 4 way stops at every single block.  I wound up at the 35/210 interchange where I went on the sidewalk and around the Arby's™, McDonalds™, and Donut King™. 

I hopped the median on 210 to get to the south side past Sutherland's™ and had a stretch where I was able to ride in the merge lane from the RR yars until I hit a curb section but a gravel road right next to the highway.  Luckily since it was Sunday, there was little traffic on 210 so I took the travel lane.  During business days, this 3 lane section of EB 210 slims to 2 lanes and a lot of drivers use the outside lane to speed up and pass the cars or trucks in the interior lanes.  The stoplight at the entrance to North Kansas City Hospital posed my next big obstacle.  Someone decided to put a curb section in with a slotted drain which is not bike friendly at all.  Adding the guardrail along the top of curb left really no safe place to get through this area and if I ever did this during businss days, I would probably just walk the bike on the grass on the other side of the guardrail or take my chances using the RR tracks since I can see and hear a train coming a lot easier than a car at 65+mph trying to beat the last stop light.

There are some major employment centers in this area with Cerner™ and the hospital.  It would be nice if North Kansas City would figure out a way to put a trail along the toe levee installed to keep water from draining into NKC so that the folks that work at Cerner, the Hospital, or other businesses could access Macken Park.  During lunch, I often see employees jogging along the cowpath in this area.  Imagine how Cerner™ or the Hospital could attract more talent by having a facility that their employees could use to either commute or walk to Macken Park for lunch.

I made it to 210 and Chouteau where I went up Chouteau and back over to Parvin Road.  Parvin has shoulders but they have disintegrated into gravel which doesn't work well with road bike tires.

I did fine except for having to take a couple of breaks since it was hilly and I was spent at that point.  I used the Vivion Road Trail for the first time which I can safely say I will never ride a bike on again as it is too windy and hilly and there are too many cross streets which interesct the trail at the low points making it hard to get a consistent speed and ride.  I made it to North Oak and Vivion.  Vivion has a nice shoulder except for right at the intersection where the curb was installed on the NWC.

 

From that point, it was smooth sailing on the Vivion Road shoulders except having to wait to cross the NB I-29 on-ramp.  The hill down into Riverside is a smooth ride and there are bicycle friendly grates until Vivion narrows down to one lane under US 169 where a non-bike friendly grate almost was the end of me.

I encourage anyone who walks or rides along MoDOT's system to take some time and go to the Missouri Bicycle Federation's website and let them know what bike/pedestrian barriers you face.  The only way these choke points will ever get fixed is if you as taxpayers request them.  Most of these fixes are simple and minor projects.  MoDOT is getting better at doing smaller projects and using some more common sense in delivering improvements.  With the morons in DC threatening to enter into another Middle Eastern country which will further de-stabilize oil prices, biking may be the only afforadable way to get to work in a few years.

Submit your project by clicking the link here:

What are YOUR top bike/ped transportation needs? Submit them here, and MoDOT will add them to its statewide plan. Deadline 10am July 1st.

State Bird of Missouri

Did you know the state bird of Missouri is the bluebird?  The Department of Conservation has a long write up with all the details about it here.  One amazing thing is that they like BACON!

"Bluebirds do not eat seeds, so rarely visit ordinary bird feeders. To see bluebirds up close, attract them with special foods. Some Missourians make cakes of yellow corn meal glued together with cooled bacon drippings or similar cooking grease with bits of fruit or raisins throughout. Berries collected in summer can be dried or frozen and provided during cold weather. If the reason for feeding is to promote bluebird survival, it is better to plant dogwoods, sumacs, cedars, hawthorns or similar plants that provide natural winter foods. Fresh water is an attractant, especially in winter."

 I haven't come across many but saw one hanging out on the Line Creek Trail in Riverside.