High Priority Projects: MoDOT announces 18 updated downtown KC bridges that include bike, ped, transit features

This morning the Kansas City MoDOT District announced the completion of updates to 18 bridges in the downtown Kansas City area. Many of the bridges include significant upgrades to sidewalks, accessibility, bicycle, and transit access.  

Wider sidewalks, art, and lighting are elements in MoDOT's upgrades to several b
Wider sidewalks, art, and lighting are elements in MoDOT's upgrades to several bridges in downtown Kansas City.

The series of bridges across I-670 connecting downtown KC to the nearby Crossroads District include widened sidewalks, better access across adjacent streets, and significant art projects designed to make the pedestrian experience crossing I-670 more inviting and better.

The Main Street bridge includes the first streetcar tracks in the KC area--and are the first step in the city's new streetcar line, planned for major construction starting later in 2014.

MoDOT and other speakers highlight MoDOT's new mult-modal approach to transportation

At MoDOT's press conference announcing the completion of the bridge projects this morning, MoDOT officials shared the stage with others from transit agencies, Kansas City, Missouri, and the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation.  All who spoke emphasized the importance of the multi-modal approach to creating transportation connections taken in updating these bridges, and the importance of creating mult-modal connections to the center of the city, in order to create a healthy, vibrant, and economically attractive downtown area. 

A MoDOT Press Conference announced the completion of the 18 downtown bridges
A MoDOT Press Conference announced the completion of the 18 downtown bridge upgrades, including significant biking, walking, acessibility, and transit improvements.

Biking, walking, and transit connections are key to bringing employers, jobs, tourism, and convention traffic to the downtown area.  The downtown area is not only the hub of the metro area's transit system and planned streetcar system, but the home of the city's new Bike Share system, planned new bike routes, and the recently installed BikeKC route system.

MoDOT officials stressed that this multi-modal approach to transportation design is one of the core values in MoDOT's recently announced long-range transportation plan, which is open for public comment through December 19th.

In addition, the MoDOT officials spoke of the importance of the multi-modal approach to transportation, including biking, walking, and transit, in the proposed new 1 cent sales tax for transportation in Missouri. That tax, which will bring $8 billion in funding to MoDOT and Missouri cities and counties over the next ten years if it passes in November 2014, will be the first in Missouri history to put biking, walking, and transit on equal footing with roads and highways in the transportation funding rules incorporated in the Missouri constitution.

18 Bridge Project completes two projects on MoBikeFed's High Priority Bike, Ped, ADA Project List

Removing barriers to safe bicycling on the Downtown Loop bridges as well as adding a pedestrian and trail connection on the Wyandotte Bridge over I-670 were two key projects in MoBikeFed's High Priority Bicycle, Pedestrian, and ADA Project List that MoDOT completed as part of these 18 major downtown KC bridge upgrades. 

A study by MoDOT and Kansas City, Missouri found numerous pedestrian destination
A study by MoDOT and Kansas City, Missouri found numerous pedestrian destinations lining both sides of the I-670 corridor through downtown Kansas City.

What is the High Priority List? 

In the spring of 2010 the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation partnered with the Missouri Department of Transportation to identify a list of high priority projects that were important to local communities and that could be built over the next few years. MoBikeFed solicited suggestions from across Missouri, and then formed committees around the state to evaluate and rank almost 300 pedestrian, ADA, and bicycle projects.

Many organizations, agencies, clubs, groups, and individuals participated in the process of collecting, evaluating, and prioritizing the projects.

MoDOT selected 13 of the projects, valued about $13 million, for construction. In addition, MoDOT and other agencies consult the list when looking for and evaluating potential projects. 

Art installations along the Wyandotte Bridge sidewalk help make the area around
Art installations along the Wyandotte Bridge sidewalk help make the area around the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Center more attractive to pedestrians and tourists.

Working for a world-class bicycle, pedestrian, and trails system in Missouri is one of the four top objectives of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri.  Working with groups, clubs, organizations, agencies, and individuals across Missouri to create and work for implementation of the projects on the High Priority Bicycle, Pedestrian, and ADA Projects List is just one way we have helped make that Vision become reality.  Your membership and support helps power our work in support of better, safer places to walk and bicycle in Missouri.

  
  

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