Missouri Bicycle News Article

The following document, sent by Lee Ann Kell of MoDOT District 4, "contains MoDOT's direction regarding the Downtown bicycle/pedestrian river crossing."

This agreement is the result of an ongoing years-long discussion among MoDOT, MARC, area cities, and the region's bicycle and pedestrian community about the need for safe bicycle and pedestrian access across the Missouri River, which bisects the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Downtown Bicycle/Pedestrian River Crossing
December 6, 2006

Based on the analysis done in the Feasibility Study for Downtown Bicycle/Pedestrian River Crossing and the recommendations from the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), MoDOT is committed to the following:

Heart of America Crossing
MoDOT is committed to letting for construction a reasonable and safe bicycle/pedestrian facility crossing the Missouri River along Missouri Route 9 between 10th Avenue in North Kansas City and 3rd Street in Kansas City via the Heart of America Bridge by 2012.

MoDOT will continue to work with MARC and the community on an appropriate design for the improvements to the Heart of America corridor.

We have received requests to accelerate this project so that it can be completed as soon as possible. However, with our existing project commitments in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), funding is not available to accelerate the Heart of America bicycle/pedestrian crossing project before state fiscal year 2012.

Paseo Crossing
MoDOT is committed to achieving the goals of the kcICON (design-build) project:

· Deliver the I-29/I-35 corridor improvements within the total program budget of $245 million.

· Construct a landmark Missouri River bridge(s) that can be reasonably maintained to provide more than a century of useful service.

· Maximize safety, mobility, aesthetics and capacity improvements in the corridor.

· Engage stakeholders and the community to successfully develop and deliver the project.

· Meet or beat the project completion date of October 31, 2011.

MoDOT will continue to work with the community to prioritize the needs for this project within the allocated budget.

MoDOT will include a provision in the RFP that enough design work be completed to allow for the addition of a bicycle/pedestrian facility to be designed and built, if desired and funded, on the structure in the future.

MoDOT will continue to raise concerns about the safety and connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians at this crossing due to the industrial land use north of the river and the high truck volume.

Other River Crossings
MoDOT will continue to work with MARC and the region to further explore other crossing opportunities to increase bicycle/pedestrian travel across the Missouri River.

Related:

News: Harkin "Complete Streets" Amendment fails; MO Sen. Bond speaks against

News: Senator Bond find $750,000 for bike/ped retrofit of KC's Heart of America Bridge

News: Area bicyclist calls for safe river crossings in Kansas City area

News: Kansas City bike/ped river crossing on the fast track now

News: Bicyclists attend Paseo Bridge groundbreaking