I also have looked over the existing 2016 network and the proposed 2021 Transit Plans.  From what I can tell, the difference between the 2016 and 2021 maps is the frequency of  some of the existing routes.  If the routes currently run every 60 minutes, in 5 years they will run every 30 minutes.  I also notice that on both the northwest and west side of the County we will lose some of the streets that are currently served.

This project may go to a referendum vote on the ballot this coming November.  If it passes, that means there would be an increased income tax hike of $0.25 (twenty-five cents) per $100 of earned income.  The paper broke down that to cost someone who earns $39,000 annually an increase in taxes of $120 per year.  You can do the math from that on what your household income is and if you would be paying more or less than $120 a year in new taxes.

I hope that many of you can attend the open house on Wednesday, March 23rd starting at 6:00 p.m. in the Speedway Town Hall.  If you cannot, there are four other open houses around town.  They are;

March 21st, 6 – 8 p.m. – Lawrence Administration Building, 9001 E. 59th Street, Lawrence

March 30th, 6 – 8 p.m. – Avondale Meadows YMCA, 3908 Meadows Drive

March 31st, 6 – 8 p.m. – Urban League, 777 Indiana Ave.

April 5th, 6 – 8 p.m. – Perry Township Education Center, 6548 Orinoco Ave.

It is important for you to learn as much as you can about this so that you can make an intelligent decision, if this is on the ballot, to move forward with the Rapid Transit Lines as proposed and how it will affect your taxes.

Sincerely,

Janice McHenry
City-County Councillor District 6