SE Missouri MPO creates regional transportation plan for Cape Girardeau & Jackson areas - including bicycling, walking, and trails - SEMPO

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

SEMPO, MoDOT and local municipalities participate in expanding opportunities for bicycle and pedestrian facilities through the Transportation Alternatives Program along with state and local funding, and development of bicycle and pedestrian plans.

Member jurisdictions have taken advantage of federal and state funding for sidewalks, trails and greenways through the federal Safe Routes to School Program, Transportation Enhancement Program,
Recreational Trails Program, and State coordinating programs. SEMPO will continue to advocate and assist jurisdictions in plan development, funding and programming.

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SE Missouri MPO creates regional transportation plan for Cape Girardeau & Jackson areas - including bicycling, walking, and trails - SEMPO

MoBikeFed comment: This is just a short excerpt from the DRAFT metropolitan transportation plan that SEMPO is creating for the Cape Girardeau/Jackson metro area.

It's still very early in the process, and the bicycle, pedestrian, and trails portions are just barely starting to be fleshed out. (There will be plenty of opportunity for public comment on the plan later in the process when the plan is in a more complete form--but if you are interested in being involved in the process as it moves forward, you can contact SEMPO staff.)

What's exciting, though, is to see a part of the state that has never before had a comprehensive, metro-wide transportation plan that integrates biking, walking, trails, transit, roads, highways, rail, ports, and all the rest.

As this process moves forward, there will be real opportunity for citizens of the area to give feedback on what they would like to see for biking and walking in the area. The new plan gives a framework for citizen feedback on the need for good, safe biking and walking connectivity in our communities to have a real effect on future transportation spending.