Kansas City: Groundbreaking for first safe, complete bike/ped river crossing today

Today, an event that advocates have been working towards for two decades: MoDOT broke ground for the first barrier-separated bicycle & pedestrian path across the Missouri River.

The path will be on the Heart of America bridge, connecting downtown Kansas City, Missouri, and downtown North Kansas City.

Dignitaries from MoDOT, the Mid-America Regional Council, Kansas City, Missouri, and North Kansas City were on hand--along with a large group of bicyclists, many of whom had bicycled in to the groundbreaking at 10AM on a Wednesday morning.

Stephen Miller, the newest member of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, which oversees MoDOT, gave a stirring speech about the need for MoDOT to incorporate all modes of travel in its planning and projects.

The project will create a separated bike/ped path leading from 3rd Street in Kansas City Missouri's River Market area to a small city park in North Kansas City.

Improvements and changes will be made at intersections at each end of the path to facilitate bicycle & pedestrian access to the path.

MoDOT has committed to working with the cities, the Downtown Council, and other interested agencies to make sure the path is maintained, snow and ice is cleared, and the path is generally kept in top condition.

MoDOT is also moving forward on a second bike/ped river crossing in the Kansas City area, on the Chouteau Bridge.  That project was delayed in the recent uncertainty over federal transportation funding, but with the recent extension of federal transportation funding through the end of 2010, is back on track.

The Chouteau project is likely to be put out for bid in May and started by mid summer.

Other coverage:

• KCStar
• KCUR
• KSHB TV News
• KCBike.info