RESOLUTION NO. 240571
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Sponsor: Councilmember Eric Bunch
RESOLUTION - Recognizing Kansas City Streetcar Authority Director Tom Gerend for 10 years of outstanding service to Kansas City.
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WHEREAS, Tom Gerend has served as the first Executive Director of the Kansas City Streetcar Authority since July 2014 where he is responsible for the planning, start-up, operations, maintenance, and marketing of the KC Streetcar System; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Tom, KC Streetcar has tallied more than 13.8 million passenger trips, is credited with infusing downtown Kansas City with more than $4B in new economic development, and is the recipient of numerous national and global awards including the Best Transit Project of the Year from Engineering News Record and the Community Impact of the Year Award from the AIA-KC; and
WHEREAS, Tom is leading the expansion of the KC Streetcar system with two extensions - one south from Union Station to UMKC, and one north to Berkley Riverfront. Through strategic partnerships and collaboration, Tom has assisted with securing approximately $240 million in federal funding for Kansas City streetcar projects, including the single largest transit allocation in the region's history; and
WHEREAS, Tom is advancing the efforts on two streetcar expansion studies - the RideKC East-West Transit study, which is studying the expansion of a streetcar line through midtown and connecting Kansas City’s east and west sides, and NorthRail, a study to bring the streetcar into North Kansas City; and
WHEREAS, Tom has championed streetcar advocacy on a national stage through his roles as chairman of the American Public Transportation Association streetcar subcommittee and board member of the Community Streetcar Coalition and by testifying before the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
That the Mayor and Council hereby recognize Kansas City Streetcar Authority Director Tom Gerend for 10 years of outstanding service to Kansas City; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Tom Gerend with the appreciation of the Mayor and Council for his dedication and exemplary work.
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