by Jeff Quibell
15. October 2009 17:13
Major change takes time, and improvements to our city never seem to happen as quickly as we want. It’s been almost three years since the Blue Springs City Council approved the new downtown master plan, following an extensive period of public input from residents, business owners and city officials.
Revitalizing downtown Blue Springs has been a priority for many years, and this plan’s formal adoption was only the beginning. Almost immediately there was a flurry of activity with new housing. Other improvements include additional sidewalks, decorative lighting and road enhancements.
This week, County Executive Mike Sanders unveiled Jackson County’s plan to implement a regional commuter rail system. This is an important component to revitalizing Blue Springs’ downtown, providing connecting transportation to the metro area for employment and entertainment options.
The downtown plan calls for a transit station to serve commuter trains and existing buses, and to be a catalyst for new downtown businesses and the future development of additional housing. If the county is able to secure federal stimulus funds, the commuter system could be up and running in just two years. While the commuter rail is only one component of our master plan, the implementation of a regional system will facilitate progress toward the original timetable for the revitalization in downtown Blue Springs.
The choice to spend $1 billion in the current economic environment is not easy. But our transportation needs will not simply go away. As our communities continue to grow, the demands on our roads and highways grow as well. We must look for ways to expand our transportation options throughout the metro area and find the most fiscally responsible options available.
In spite of the divergent opinions on our City Council, our elected officials seek to make the improvements that we want to see happen in our city. I commend Mike Sanders for pursuing this vision, which will benefit the entire region and will assist our city in our efforts to continue the exciting improvements to our downtown. Much remains to be done and will take longer than any of us would like to wait, but the result will be significant improvements in our community.