Joplin Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan | JATSO

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Bicycle and Pedestrian Network

Overall, the Joplin Area should strive to provide safe and connected access regardless of facility type. Therefore, on-road and off-road facilities should be viewed as a cohesive bicycle and pedestrian
network as displayed in Exhibit 6-1. For example, a bicycle or pedestrian trip between downtown Joplin and Missouri Southern State University could utilize an on-road bicycle lane or sidewalk along
2nd Street/Broadway Street, then travel along the off-road Frisco Greenway Trail and Turkey Creek Trail, and then transition to a multi-use path along Newman Road. While the facility type may change
over the course of the trip, the key is to provide a continuous bicycle and pedestrian network that supports mobility and access for all users.

Other programmatic elements that can advance regional safety and connectivity should also be reviewed in a comprehensive manner. These programs include safe routes to schools, sidewalk continuity along major roadways, traffic signal equipment upgrades, and path connectivity to transit stops. Some of the individual elements, based on available data, are displayed in Exhibit 6-2.

Scoping studies may be an appropriate way to define specific improvement projects. For example, individual locations can be targeted, such as an upgrade to pedestrian equipment at the Maiden
Lane and Junge Boulevard intersection along the transit route, or scoping studies along 7th Street and Rangeline Road/Madison Street with particular attention to accessing schools.

In addition to connectivity within and between the Joplin Area communities, the region should encourage connections beyond the Joplin Area. The Ruby Jack Trail, which extends eastward to Carthage, currently advances this component of the vision. Additional inter-region routes to support could include three National Bicycle Routes: Route 76 (TransAmerica Trail), Route 66 (Historic Route 66), and proposed Route 51 (Louisiana-Minnesota). The general corridor under consideration for Route 51 includes Fayetteville-Joplin-Carthage-Springfield but the specific route is to be determined. These connections that extend beyond the Joplin Area are displayed in Exhibit 6-3. Other routes to consider that may be used by long-distance bicyclists include destinations such as Diamond, Neosho, Pineville, and Republic (and the regional Springfield bicycle network). Coordination with the Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council may be beneficial when exploring these inter-region initiatives.

Routes that extend beyond the region not only support mobility and access for residents of the Joplin Area, but provide recreational and tourism opportunities that attract visitors to the region.

Link: 

Joplin Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan | JATSO

MoBikeFed comment: Just a few years ago, no Missouri Metropolitan Planning Organizations had a bicycle or pedestrian plan. Now, we believe, every Missouri MPO has a bike/ped plan adopted or under development.

Take a look at the plan to see the plans for the region and city feedback about priorities.

The Joplin area has really turned itself into a much friendlier community for bicycling and walking over the past 10 years or so. A big part of that has been planning initiatives such as this one.