On Tuesday, March 3rd the Missouri House Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on HB 642.  This bill would direct MoDOT to develop a policy for fairly accommodating all road users – bicyclists, pedestrians, transit users, the disabled, in addition to motorists.  HB 642 is a second attempt to pass a Complete Streets bill in Missouri.  Last year Complete Streets passed the House overwhelmingly, but was killed in the Senate after personal lobbying by MoDOT Director Pete Rahn.

Click here to send an email to the House Transportation Committee and tell them that you support HB 642.

Read the text of HB 642.

Learn more about Complete Streets.

Members of the House Transportation Committee.

Midtown pedestrian struck by police car at 33rd and Troost – video from KCTV-5.

Two Independence high school students struck in front of William Crisman High School – Developing story at Fox 4.

Metro bus ridership tops 16 million for first time in 20 years – KC Light Rail.

KCATA has a new map and guide to Northland bus service, including recent service enhancemetns.

On Wednesday, December 17 the Kansas Department of Transportation will hold a regional summit to discuss the future of the transportation system in Wyandotte, Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, and Douglas Counties in Kansas.

Wednesday December 17
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (registration at 8:30 a.m.)
Jack Reardon Civic Center
500 Minnesota Ave, KCK 66101 (map/directions/transit)
RSVP to angela@shockeyconsulting.com or 913-645-4780

This is an excellent opportunity to let KDOT and your local electd officials know that it is critical for the region to provide transportation choices for all citizens.  Specific things you can mention include:

• Dedicated transit funding for the current bus system and future transit improvements
• Inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian facilities in new transportation projects
• Enforcement of traffic laws increase safety
• Complete Streets policies to ensure roads are built for all users – motorists, transit users, pedestrians, bicyclists, and the disabled.
• Support efforts to extend Amtrak passenger to rail from KC to Wichita, and on to Oklahoma and Texas.

This week has brought developments in the cases of several bicyclists and pedestrians who have been killed on our region’s roadways.

Robert Osborn - shot and killed while bicycling home from work in November 2005. Confessed killer Fabian Brown will be sentenced on Monday, November 17th. Read more at KCBike.Info.

Angel M. Cameron – hit and killed while walking across the Heart of America Bridge over the Missouri River. The motorist fled the scene but today the KC Star reports that Trevor A. Souther has been captured and charged with leaving the scene of an accident.  So far there is no manslaughter charge in Cameron’s death. Read more in the KC Star.

Daniel Riemann – killed by a hit-and-run driver on Mothers Day 2008. Curtis W. Mertensmeyer was ultimately identified by the passengers in his car.  This week he pled guilty to first degreet involuntary manslaughter and will be sentenced on February 13th, 2009.  Until then Mertensmeyer is under house arrest at his parent’s Mission Hills house. Read more in the KC Star.

Update
Orlando Gentry has just been caught in connection with the death of James Green, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver on November 14th. He was crossing the street with his fiance, in a crosswalk, 39th and 71 Hwy. More from KCTV-5 and KMBC-TV 9.