This summer, Kansas City initiated a study to evaluate the lowering of Route 9 to street grade between Interstate 70 and the Heart of America Bridge where it separates the River Market and Columbus Park neighborhoods. While the study is focused on engineering feasibility, the larger purpose of the project is to better connect the…
On September 30th, the volunteer-based, tactical urban design group BetterBlockKC transformed a parking lane into what we’re calling a “Mobility Lane”. This mobility lane is a parking and cinder block protected two-way cycle track constructed for bicyclists, scooters, skateboards, and other forms of micro mobility transportation. BetterBlockKC did this by moving the existing parking lane…
There’s a lot of innovation and progressive policy to celebrate in Kansas City, but my favorite is the City’s commitment to open data. Its GIS data (available for download on the City’s online mapping under the “Download” tab) is particularly helpful to any planner or other civic nerd wanting to contribute to learn more about the…
On April 6th, 2017, the Westport Community Improvement District, in partnership with the Westport Regional Business League, submitted an application for the vacation of public right of way on Westport Road and Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart of the historic Westport neighborhood. In simple terms, that means that Westport business owners are asking the City…
In October, the Kansas City Streetcar Authority, Port Authority, and KCATA issued a request for proposals to assess the feasibility of extending Kansas City’s streetcar to connect with Berkley Riverfront Park. The move should not surprise anyone. Kansas City’s streetcar has been wildly successful at overcoming precisely the two major challenges the riverfront faces. Kansas…
Readers: The following post is written by a new guest contributor who asked to remain anonymous. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, or more from this author, please let us know! The undeniable connection between transportation mobility (or lack thereof) and poverty has been studied and confirmed over and over. From…
The last month or so has been a big test for the newly adopted Midtown Plaza Area Plan. First, the City Council upheld the tight density limits imposed on the Plaza, rejecting two requests for rezoning. While many pro-development urbanists (including me) were disappointed to see a dense redevelopment proposal rejected, it was nevertheless encouraging…
Anyone interested in the future of cities is paying close attention to the rapid development and proliferation of autonomous vehicle technology. Autonomous vehicles are poised to radically alter how people move around, redefining the entire concept of personal mobility, and even transforming the form and function of our cities. The most immediate and dramatic impacts…
Two weeks into operations of Kansas City’s new streetcar, past the pomp and curiosity of the opening weekend, people are riding. A lot of people. Initially estimated to handle around 2,700 passengers per day, Kansas City’s streetcar averaged more than 7,000 per day in its first week of operations. Scrapping plans to operate three cars…
Last week I put together a quick experiment in crowdsourcing recommendations for bike lanes. The website allows you to draw a line for a suggested bike lane, and the results tab creates a heatmap of the cumulative recommendation from all users. In the week since it has gone live, there have been over 800 new…
Penn Valley Park is not achieving its full potential today, but several specific improvements can enhance its use and better connect its neighbors. The following proposals represent a collaborative effort by designers/Downtown residents Arpit Balhara, Jihee Chung, Alyssa Parsons, and Thomas Morefield. Just a mile from the heart of Kansas City’s central business district, Penn…
A few days ago a curious curvy concrete curb appeared at the northwest corner of 13th and Baltimore. This particular concrete curb is curious for a few reasons. First, it is curious that the curb appeared in the first place. This recently rebuilt corner was new and functional and generally getting along as a normal…
For a variety of converging and interconnected reasons, Kansas City has seen a flurry of activity in recent months related to its development codes and standards. Three major updates to development standards have been adopted for the Downtown Loop, Troost Corridor, and the City’s Parkways and Boulevards. With support from a Mid America Regional Council…
Last month, the Kansas City Planning and Development Department released the long-awaited draft of the Midtown Plaza Area Plan, which was the culmination of several years of groundbreaking community engagement in the area from 31st Street on the north to 55th Street on the south, State Line to the west, and The Paseo to the…
A plan to replace a parking lot in Westport with new development is drawing criticism from both ends of the pro and anti-urban spectrum. People on the pro-car, anti-urban side are criticizing the development because it removes parking spaces and increases density, which triggers their ‘where am I going to park/this neighborhood is unsafe’ reflex. On…