KCStar: Bicycle/pedestrian path recommended as part of new Paseo Bridge

The Mid-America Regional Council could be headed for a showdown with the Missouri highway department over whether a bike lane should be added to a new Paseo Bridge.

On Tuesday, a panel of regional transportation leaders assembled by MARC called on the Missouri Department of Transportation to include a bike and pedestrian lane when designing the bridge.

The recommendation goes to the full MARC board next week. As an organization that promotes regional planning and cooperation, the council now finds itself in the potentially awkward position of being at odds with highway engineers.

Mell Henderson, MARC’s director of transportation, said Tuesday’s vote wasn’t necessarily intended to lock MoDOT into building the bike lane.

“I think people want there to be an honest evaluation of what’s really possible before it’s completely ruled out,” he said.

The issue has arisen because the state is preparing to replace or rehab the Paseo Bridge when Interstate 29/35 is widened from the Northland to the downtown loop.

Engineers say a bike lane so close to the interstate would be unsafe. They also don’t think the Paseo Bridge provides the best connection for bicyclists because it serves a Northland industrial area crowded with trucks.