The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) will host six public meetings in April and May to seek public input on Transportation Outlook 2040, the updated metropolitan transportation plan for the Kansas City area.
MARC anticipates that approximately $33 billion will be available for transportation investments in the Kansas City area over the next 25 years. The long-range plan identifies regional goals, needs, strategies and projects to guide those investments.
The new plan, a five-year update to the Transportation Outlook 2040 plan first published in 2010, considers changes that have taken place in the region, including new census data, the post-recession fiscal environment, and recommendations from related regional initiatives, such as Creating Sustainable Places and KC Communities for All Ages, and in other transportation plans, including the Regional Bikeway Plan and the Regional Safety Blueprint.
“Transportation Outlook 2040 supports a vision of growth and redevelopment in activity centers and along transportation corridors,” said Ron Achelpohl, MARC’s director of transportation and environment. “It prioritizes repair and maintenance of existing roads, bridges and other systems, complete street design concepts and limited expansion of regional facilities. The plan also anticipates a growing role for local governments in providing regional transportation facilities and services due to declining federal and state purchasing power.”
The plan identifies emerging issues and trends that are likely to impact transportation in the future. These include the growing numbers of older adults, travel preferences of the millennial generation, impacts of new fuels, new technologies, air quality and climate resilience. The plan was developed over two years with extensive review and input from regional transportation stakeholders and the public.
The public meeting schedule includes:
· Tuesday, April 21, 3–6 p.m., Johnson County Community College, Commons Plaza (or Atrium if raining), 12345 College Boulevard, Overland Park, Kansas
· Thursday, April 23, 4–7 p.m., Price Chopper Deli, 1400 W. Amity Street, Louisburg, Kansas
· Tuesday, April 28, 3–6 p.m., Mid-Continent Public Library lobby, 150 NW Oldham Parkway, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
· Thursday, April 30, 3–6 p.m., State Avenue Transit Center Transit Room, 47th and State Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas
· Tuesday, May 5, 3–6:30 p.m., Gladstone Community Center, 6901 N. Holmes Street, Gladstone, Missouri
· Thursday, May 7, 1–6 p.m., MARC Conference Center, 600 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri
Transportation Outlook 2040 draft documents are available online at www.marc.org/TO2040update. Printed copies may be reviewed in the MARC offices at 600 Broadway, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri. MARC will accept public comments on these draft documents through May 7, 2015. Comments may be offered at any of the public meetings; by email to [email protected], or by postal mail to the MARC offices. For more information, please contact Ron Achelpohl, PE, director of transportation and environment, at 816-474-4240 or [email protected].