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…