I have a friend who lives in midtown just north of downtown Atlanta, and she can attest to what it's like getting to work and having to leave early. That said, unlike KC, they've put rail in and that makes life a LOT simpler for her when she doesn't drive. Sadly KC is still being stupid and not doing the right thing with light rail, and it will continue to fuck us as a metro area until they get off their asses and just get it done.
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Comparing Atlanta to KC is like comparing KC to Des Moines. Atlanta's airport also handles 4.5 million people per month, KC's is less than 1 million.

If there was a light rail to KCI, you'd have like 900 people per day using it based on the number of people who fly in and out.
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Its a 10 to 15 minute drive from Downtown. The Airport was put out there because the TWA overhaul base was out there with two of the longest runways in the nation already available. This would eliminate the time and expense of building and going through all the red tape involved in opening Federal guidelines for airports. Not to mention all the lawsuits that drag on to purchase the land and get approval.

Then there was the SST supersonic flight. TWA and Pan Am had both committed to this new type of air travel and had been promised a hub of international flights centrally located in MidwestKC. The airport was approved and construction began on the three semi-circle terminals with three more down the road. Jimmy Carter and the oil embargo happened and the SST was abandoned in the US. KCI became a minor player and the failure of the SST along with bad management killed Pan AM and TWA.
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I'm pretty sure people in every city bitch about the location of their airport. If they're not bitching about how far out it is, they're bitching that it's too close and causes a lot of noise.
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I remember as a kid growing up in KC North near the I-29 & I-35 split how eerily quiet it became with the grand opening of KCI and Municipal and Fairfax airport dwindling down to small private airplanes and commuter airlines. Its strange how you get accustomed to the noise then boom you have peace and quiet.
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I agree, but to me it's not just for the airport, it would be for the larger area. Then again, it's also why I was no fan of building this new facility - because of how few people the MCI airport serves and how awesome the old terminal was for local travelers. But it's here now, there's nothing that can be done now except to hope that it becomes even a fraction of what the people who sold the city on its benefits claimed.
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I got to eat pizza and drink beer beyond security when I flew out of there recently, so that was a pretty big deal. :-)
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:-) Sadly, usually when I fly/return, most of those places are closed... But hey, that bun place is usually open just in case I can't stop at QT on the way up to the airport... :-)
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Or with Phoenix's downtown airport (or LAX, SD, etc) how much traffic there is around the airport, especially if you need to get there or fly in during morning rush hour or the 3 hour afternoon rush hour.
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This

Sky Harbor practically splits the city in two. So even if you aren't going to the airport you kind of have to navigate around it.
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I've always used the Parking Spot, so I just recently realized it's kind of a pain in the ass navigating in and out, too.

Coming in from the east, felt like I had to circle around about 3 times to get to arrivals and then get back on 202... felt like I was in a National Lampoon's movie, but may have missed a turn or two given shit moves fast and there are like 8 lanes.
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Lots A & B are pretty convenient in my experience if I'm driving

I don't really offer to drop off or pick anyone up, so whenever my wife is travelling and I offer to driver her she's like "where else you going?" and its always Phoenix City Grille haha

But yeah if I'm going to Sky Harbor I'm packaging it with stopping by a couple other places to make it worth it
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The new terminal is far better for local travelers.
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This is a great point. Basically no matter where you are coming from it’s so easy to get there. There is very little variance or surprising traffic delays so if you get there in 30 minutes it’s basically always going to be 30 minutes.
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I haven't been buying as much beer since mid-January or so and that budget has seamlessly transitioned to PCG old fashioneds to go. :-)
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