The Missouri Court of Appeals on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013, upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit aimed at cutting off local funding of up to $30 million for the proposed Kansas City, Mo. streetcar.
Local funding for the 2.2-mile, $102 million line will be generated by a special one-cent sales tax affecting properties along the line, but two property owners opposing the tax moved to overturn the measure, first in the Jackson County, Mo., court, then with the Court of Appeals.
The appeals court said the deadline for such a challenge has passed, and the project should be allowed to move forward, noting objectors were able to state their case in Jackson County court hearings in April 2012.
A Jackson County judge subsequently determined that the formation of a downtown streetcar district was legal, and the judge authorized elections on the specific taxes within the district.
The district's formation and new taxes were subsequently approved in two separate elections in which residents within the designated district voted. Kansas City enacted the sales tax last April.
Construction could begin this October. Last month Kansas City selected Herzog Contracting Corp., in conjunction with Stacy and Witbeck, Inc. as finalists for a $102 million contract to build the streetcar line.