On March 11th there will be a screening and panel discussion of Contested Streets, a powerful documentary showing how modern cities can be redesigned to put people first, not cars. Two local streets will be selected for further study of how to re-imagine them as “green streets” designed for human livability.

Panelists include KCMO City Councilmember Jan Marcason and a group of urban planners and landscape architects.  This is a must-see event for anyone interested in bicycle/pedestrian issues, sustainability, urban development, etc.

Designing Streets for Living
Thursday, March 11th, 5:30 p.m.
American Institute of Architects – Kansas City
1801 McGee Street, KCMO 64108 in the Crossroads District

The event is sponsored by the Kansas City Design Center, the American Institute of Architects – Kansas City, and the Mid-America Regional Council. Boulevard Brewery is proving free refreshments.

Download the event poster (PDF)

The Star reports that the Kansas House of Representatives has approved legislation to allow buses to on the shoulders of Interstate highways.  Shoulder-running Bust Rapid Transit is Johnson County’s current plan to enhance transit in the I-35 corridor between Olathe and Downtown KCMO. The Senate and Governor’s desk are up next.

This project is different from, but complimentary to, BRT to the Plaza on Metcalf Avenue and Shawnee Mission Parkway.  That project just received TIGER stimulus funds to begin improvements to bus stops and such.

Both projects will improve existing service, but will do nothing to add new service without new operational funding.  Currently Johnson County Transit has no dedicated funding source and must rely on annual appropriations from the county’s general fund.

Related:

• Johnson County Transit
• I-35 Corridor Study

Kansas City’s TIGER award has been announced at $50 million, split between the Green Impact Zone and suburban transit.  The GIZ money will go towards repaving streets, replacing traffic signals, and rebuilding ten miles of sidewalks and curbs.

The transit funding will towards improving links from the East Side to suburban office parks in the Northland and southwest suburbs.  Money will be spent on things like bus stops, connecting sidewalks, lighting, etc.  Sadly, no new service will come from this money.  Most of the transit funding will go to future BRT corridors along State Avenue in KCK and the Metcalf/Shawnee corridor in Johnson County, even though neither county has a plan to pay for operating BRT.

Projects that didn’t get funded include a Downtown streetcar circulator, a comprehensive bicycle/pedestrian program, a freight rail project, and an expansion of Front Street.

KC regional TIGER application.

List of national TIGER recipients (PDF)

As we’ve mentioned before, the KC region recently applied for $83 million in TIGER stimulus money for an multimodal transportation package of transit, bike/ped, roads, and freight rail.  Wednesday morning Ray LaHood will be here along with Congressman Cleaver and Mayor Funkhouser to announce we’ve been awarded.  At this time there are details about how much of the $83 million request will be funded, or what pieces.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
Wednesday, February 17th, 10:30 a.m.
Green Impact Zone office
4600 The Paseo, Kansas City, MO

The popular walkscore.com has just added transit to its algorithm, so that a location’s proximity to transit helps determine its walk score. Unfortunately, most of the KC metro area is not yet covered. It only works if transit agencies make their Google Transit data publicly accessible. While Johnson County has done this, the KCATA has not.

Not only would opening the data allow Walkscore.com to use it, but others would be able to put it to innovative uses like iPhone or mobile applications, mashups, etc.

You can sign a Twitter petition asking them to open up the data. Click the icon below or tweet “petition @KCATAMetro to Open their Google Transit data to the public http://act.ly/x9 RT to sign #actly #kctransit” to participate.

KCPT-TV 19’s series Generation XL covers the American epidemic of childhood obesity.  Tonight’s episode focuses on physical activity and talks about getting kids walking and bicycling as a way to combat the sedentary lifestyles that lead to obesity. The episode includes local programs like Safe Routes to School, Walking School Bus, and the Urban Community of Cycling’s youth bike club.

9:00 p.m. on KCPT with video clips online at www.kcpt.org.

Missouri and Kansas both use Twitter to send traffic updates, and Missouri is one of a growing list of states than ban cell phone use and/or texting while driving (at least for minors). The AP asks if the Twittering DOTs in states with texting bans are sending mixed signals and/or encouraging motorists to break the law.

Associated Press: States send mixed messages on texting and driving.

September 22nd is the annual international Car Free Day.  The idea is to take just one day a year and try living without a car.  Use the bus.  Walk.  Bicycle.

Reducing our usage of automobiles and getting around with our own two feet provide huge benefits for our air quality, our physical health, our mental well-being, and our communities.  Over-reliance on driving everywhere is one of the biggest factors in modern problems like air pollution, obesity, diabetes, global warming, and social isolation.  Try going car-free just one day.  It’s probably easier than you think.

World Car Free Day web site

Mid-America Regional Council’s Academy for Sustainable Communities presents journalist and urban expert Neal Peirce for a presentation on sustainability topics like land use planning, transportation, water management, etc. This should be an excellent event for those interested livable cities, green transportation, etc.

Neal’s work includes Citistates, a series of reports on the country’s metro regions, including Kansas City.

Friday March, 27th
8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Kauffman Foundation
$35 per person – register online

More information

MoDOT is beginning to study the future of I-70 in Jackson County. Right now, two of the four possible strategies include transit improvements.  The open house on January 6th provides a great opportunity for you to express support for better transit options along I-70.

Tuesday, January 6th, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
St. Paul School of Theology, Holter Center
5201 Truman Road, KCMO 64127
(Between Hardesty and Van Brunt, map/directions)
Metro bus #12 – 12th Street Route

Transit-friendly options being considered for I-70

1. Run expresses on the shoulder of I-70. Shoulder-running buses allow transit to bypass highway congestion and has proven successful in Minneapolis.  This scenario extends from Downtown to I-470/Route 291 in Independence. Johnson County, KS is also considering this for I-35.

2. High Occupancy Lanes. One lane in each direction would be reserved for buses and carpools. This allows them to bypass highway congestion and has been successful in many cities under names like “bus lanes,” “carpool lanes,” “HOV,” “HOT,” etc. There is also the option of allowing single-occupant vehicles to use the lanes after paying a special toll. These lanes would go from Downtown to Blue Ridge Boulevard/US 40 Hwy.

Find out more at www.modot.org/kansascity/metroi70