Make plans to attend the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 30 from 5:30-7:00pm at Midtown KC Now (3931 Main Street, KCMO 64111).
Plans are coming together for safety improvements along 39th Street. Read below for more information to key questions.
What is being proposed for 39th Street?
City leaders are exploring safety improvements along 39th Street to make it easier to navigate for pedestrians, people with disabilities, cyclists, transit users, and others. While we don’t have specific plans yet, it is likely that proposed enhancements will focus on reducing speeding and preventing crashes along the portion from Broadway Boulevard to US-71.
Hasn’t the city explored ways to make 39th Street safer in the past?
Yes. In the Midtown Complete Streets Plan from 2018, the plan noted that 39th Street has some of the highest crash rates (in intersections alone) for pedestrians and drivers. The plan also included survey results finding that 72% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with investing in amenities for pedestrians and transit riders even if it meant spending a little more time in traffic along the corridor.
Why is the city considering changes now?
Improvements to 39th Street are being considered now because of data. In addition to the Midtown Complete Streets plan, KCMO has developed a High Injury Network to identify which streets are producing more crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities. In addition to 39th Street being one of the most dangerous corridors for traffic violence in Midtown, there are also several intersections that stand out as well:
- Broadway and 39th
- Main and 39th
- Troost and 39th
The bottom line is that 39th Street cannot remain in its current form because it is too dangerous for pedestrians, people with disabilities, cyclists, transit users, or drivers.
Besides reading this, what else can I do to prepare for the meeting?
If you’re not sure on how to prepare for a public meeting, check out this blog post with a few key recommendations. If you want to dig in further, check out our Advocacy 102 video which goes deeper into the topic of public meetings and public speaking.
You can also urge your friends and neighbors to attend the meeting as well. The more people who show up at the meeting and tell city leaders to make 39th Street safer for everyone, the better the chances that those improvements will come to fruition. As we often say, “advocacy is a contact sport”, meaning that we have to show up and speak out for the changes we want to see.
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