Jefferson City Region survey & public meetings March 25, 26 about planned $8 billion Missouri transportation funding plan

Another of MoDOT's regional transportation planning partners has released information about a survey and public meetings regarding the regional plan for the proposed $8 billion/10 year Missouri transportation funding plan.

This time CAMPO, the Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization that covers the Jefferson City region is taking public input.  

(Agencies across Missouri are asking for public input on their priority lists right now--find your agency and give your feedback here.)

Why are these public meetings and surveys important?

Will bicycling, walking, and transit be included in those local priorities?  That is up to the local communities and their citizens.  But this is the first time in history that MoDOT has opened up the process to allow bicycle, pedestrian, and transit projects to be included in state transportation funding proposals.

If the statewide transportation funding proposal passes in November 2014, MoDOT will be obligated by law to provide the projects included in the plan.

And . . . the plan sets the MoDOT's project list for the next ten years.  So if the projects we want are not on the final priorities list, we have a l-o-n-g time to wait until the next opportunity.

So, now is the time to weigh in--let your local transportation planners know how you feel.

Jefferson City Region: Surveys open and public meetings March 25-26, the details

Below is CAMPO's announcement about the surveys and public meetings:

YOUR REGION. YOUR THOUGHTS.

We are conducting a public value survey which lets us know what you think is important in regards to various transportation needs within our regions area including: maintenance, safety, and economic development. The survey takes 10 minutes and will help shape the future of major investments in our area. Take the Transportation Values Survey now by clicking here >>>

HAVE A PROJECT IDEA?
If you have a specific transportation project or need, be it for automobile, additional transit service, sidewalk improvements, or other type of transportation that you feel would benefit our area; please submit it using our online Suggest a Project survey. Please note, you do not need to answer all the questions. Click here to suggest a project online >>>

Thank you for taking the time to help your local transportation planning organization. We will be conducting two public meetings next week and hope you to join us:

March 25                                                
4:00-6:30pm                                           
John G. Christy Municipal Building             
320 East McCarty Street                          
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101                  
Map
           
March 26
4:00-6:30pm                                           
Mid-America Bank
580 Karen Drive
Holts Summit, MO 65043
Map

More information about the meetings and process can be found here >>>

Please join us on our website to learn more about what we do, as well as Facebook to see what we are working on or what interests us.

Meetings like this are being held all across Missouri this spring.  What should you ask for? Here is the list of recommendations that MoBikeFed and our allies and advisors across the state have developed:

Your list of bicycle, pedestrian, and trails project ideas

We have been working with our Statewide Advisory Commission and bicycle, pedestrian, and trails groups across the state to create a suggested list of bicycle, pedestrian, and trails projects that can and should be implemented in every MPO and RPC region in Missouri.  

Take this list and adapt it, refine it, and make it work for your part of Missouri.  Then, submit the final result to your MPO and/or RPC:

• First, think of every street that needs a sidewalk, every road that needs a shoulder, every intersection that needs a crosswalk--every other specific bicycle, pedestrian, or trails project you can. Ask that these project ideas be added to your regional project list. 
  

  MoDOT is working with its regional planning partners to program $8 billion in new transportation funding--including, for the first time, the opportunity to include bicycling, walking, and trails.
   
  
  Brainstorm with your friends, walking, running, and hiking buddies, neighbors, and others.  You know your area better than anyone--and you know what people who walk, bicycle, or use trails need the most to improve safety and access.
   
• Create a regional bicycle, pedestrian, and trails plan.  The region should have a plan and so should city and every county.  Right now, most don't.
   
• Incorporate routine accommodation of biking and walking in every transportation project built over the next ten years, wherever needed and as appropriate to the location and situation.
   
• Create a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian transportation fund for each regional planning commission and metropolitan planning organization in the state, to support much-needed bike, ped, transit, and shoulder projects.
   
• Create a Walk & Bike to School Safety & Connectivity Fund for each region and metropolitan area in the state, to support much-needed projects that help connect neighborhoods and communities to schools, so kids can walk and bike to school safely.
   
• Create a prioritized list of roads needing shoulders in every region of the state, and devote a percentage of new funds to systematically adding needed shoulders. 
   
• Incorporate safe bicycle and pedestrian access into every major river bridge that is built or reconstructed
   
• Refine, mark, and officially adopt into the U.S. National Bicycle Route System all current national bicycle routes in Missouri; consider creating and marking a regional on-road bicycle route system.

Photo credit: Waiting for MoDOT by Zaskem on FlickR; Creative Commons license