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

I found out today that Senator Kit Bond has been able to include an earmark of $750,000 towards the bike/ped retrofit of the Heart of America Bridge near downtown Kansas City, in the version of transportation and urban development spending bill that has now passed committee.

(The bill still must pass the full Senate and then be reconciled with the House version.)

This is one of the results of our ongoing advocacy to create the first (and then second, third, and so on) safe bike/ped crossing of the Missouri River in the Kansas City area.

Over 2000 supporters have contacted public officials as part of this effort--and this funding is one result of that advocacy.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to email, call, or write about the issue of bicycle and pedestrian access across the Missouri River--it really does make a difference when citizens let our government officials know what they want.

Senator Bond's press release says:

Funds will retrofit the Bridge to provide a barrier-separated crossing for bicyclists and pedestrians crossing the Missouri River from North Kansas City to Kansas City.

See how the Heart of America Bridge looks to bicyclists and pedestrians today in this photo essay.