A Tale Of Two Airports

The Kansas City Aviation Department has proposed building a new terminal. Boosters for the plan, perhaps in an attempt to appear flexible, note that this is the second proposal — the first was rejected because it sought to move the airport south. But really, the plan is the same: an expensive new terminal.

Meanwhile, the Columbia, Mo., aviation department also wants to build something new. It is a much smaller market and as a result, the plans are much more modest. But the report that officials provided to the public actually includes several different alternatives and a comparison of each.

Mind you, Columbia Regional Airport’s leadership has some of its own bad ideas, including airline incentives, tax increase proposals, and flawed assumptions about growth. But  officials haven’t hid alternatives from the public.

Imagine how much time and energy would have been saved if Kansas City Aviation Department leadership did the same, allowing officials and the public to consider various alternatives. Instead, they’ve tried selling the public on a huge and unpopular plan that seems to purposefully conflate figures.