BikeWalkKC is off to a busy start on the policy and advocacy front! We’ve already made some good progress on key items from our 2024 policy platform. Read on to learn more about our efforts from City Hall to Capitol Hill.
Kansas City, MO (KCMO)
Walkability Plan Update – Thanks to your outreach, BikeWalkKC was able to advocate for a budget amendment that not only pays for an update to the walkability plan (which hasn’t been updated since 2003), but also pays for an additional $7 million for sidewalks this year!
Implementing the Vision Zero Action Plan – The walkability plan wasn’t the only multimodal priority to get support in the city budget. The City Council approved a $4 million line item for Vision Zero implementation, a $3 million increase over last year. This will help to pay for traffic calming, speed humps, and intersection improvements that move KCMO towards eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries.
Public Restrooms – BikeWalkKC is working to build upon some of our initial research on this topic by studying how public restrooms are deployed in other communities, and at what cost. We hope to share more on this later this year.
Meyer Boulevard Safety Improvements – The first big step to make Meyer Boulevard safer for pedestrians is a proposed crosswalk in front of the Kauffman School and additional traffic calming. That project, upon completion later this summer, could be a catalyst for larger improvements along the corridor.
Troost Avenue Safety Improvements – BikeWalkKC anticipates an initial plan sometime in the next couple of months for safety improvements along the Troost corridor. In the meantime, the city approved funding in the budget for safety improvements at Troost and 79th. This project will include the installation of a new crosswalk, ADA ramps, and a HAWK signal.
Kansas City, Kansas (KCK)
Vision Zero Safety Plan – The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS is in the initial stages of developing this plan. Stay tuned for more information later this summer.
Regional
E-Bike Rebate Program & Expanded Bike Share – BikeWalkKC has been working with MARC on a federal grant application that could potentially cover both of these items. We anticipate knowing more in late summer or early fall.
Transit Funding – In the recently adopted KCMO budget, the city allocated $3.3 million for the continuation of zero fare for another year. There is still a considerable shortfall in transit funding overall, so BikeWalkKC is working with our partners to determine next steps.
Transportation for All Coalition – BikeWalkKC held our first coalition meeting at the end of February, hearing powerful stories from partners about lack of access, dangerous situations for users, and the need for a better transportation system. To build on the meeting, we’re organizing listening sessions with partner organizations, gathering survey data, and beginning to research possible policy changes.
Transportation Safety Plans – BikeWalkKC staff have started to meet with local champions and local staff to discuss their plans for developing Transportation Safety Plans. We anticipate more information about meetings, steering committees, and more ways to get involved over the coming months.
Families for Safe Streets, KC Chapter – BikeWalkKC staff have spoken with several of the local chapters of Families for Safe Streets to learn more about how they operate and what may be helpful to know for Kansas City. That included a meeting with the president of the New Jersey chapter in April.
Suburban Communities
NKC Bike Parking Policy – We’re working to connect with city leaders to discuss this issue further.
NE Johnson County Bike Parking Policy – Some of the recent road projects, including a project for Mission Road between Westwood and Roeland Park, create an additional opportunity to discuss bike parking further with local leaders. To that end, BikeWalkKC is working to schedule meetings with elected officials to discuss this issue further as well.
Johnson County CARS & Vision Zero – BikeWalkKC is still researching this topic. We want to know more about how the program potentially does (or doesn’t) support multimodal elements.
Shawnee Safety Improvements – BikeWalkKC is having conversations with local champions about which elements to prioritize before we go further.
Statewide – KANSAS
Statewide Complete Streets Policy – We anticipate KDOT beginning the process later this year. We’ll share more information about ways to get involved when we learn more.
Statewide Coalition – Thanks to funding from the Sunflower Foundation, BikeWalkKC is beginning to work with our partners at Bike Walk Wichita to organize the coalition!
Statewide – MISSOURI
Statewide Active Transportation Plan – BikeWalkKC is working with our partners at Missourians for Responsible Transportation to push for this process to begin. We hope to have more to share later this summer.
MRT Technical Assistance – BikeWalkKC is providing technical assistance in Moberly on their active transportation elements.
FEDERAL/NATIONAL
E-Bike Charging – There are currently 12 cosponsors for this legislation, including one representative from Missouri.
Major Taylor Congressional Gold Medal – There are currently 62 cosponsors for this legislation, including one from Kansas and one from Missouri.
Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Act – There are currently 63 cosponsors for this legislation, including one from Missouri.
Building Safer Streets Act – There are currently no cosponsors for this legislation.
Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act – There are currently 119 cosponsors for this legislation, including two from Missouri.
Complete Streets Act – There are currently 25 cosponsors for this legislation, including one from Missouri.
Partnership with RE-AMP – BikeWalkKC is working on several items with RE-AMP this year, including planning for their transportation summit, organizing a Transportation Academy, and doing work with other advocacy organizations in the Midwest on pedestrian safety.
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Even though we’re already a quarter of the way through the year, there have already been clear examples of how the voice of everyday folks like YOU have made a difference. If you don’t already subscribe to BikeWalkKC’s general newsletter or to our advocacy alerts, please sign up and stay informed!
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