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CONTACTS:
Tom Gerend, Assistant Director of Transportation, tgerend@marc.org, 816/701-8303
Barbara Hensley, Public Affairs Coordinator, bhensley@marc.org, 816/701-8219
Nominate
transportation projects for next 30 years
Transportation
Outlook 2040 accepting submissions and public feedback
Over the next month, jurisdictions and transportation agencies are invited to nominate regionally important projects that could improve the transportation of people and goods in the Kansas City area for a long time to come. The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) is developing a new long-range transportation plan — Transportation Outlook 2040 — as a blueprint for how we can accomplish "a safe, balanced, regional, multimodal transportation system that is coordinated with land-use planning, supports equitable access to opportunities, and protects the environment.” This important plan will identify needs and budget federal transportation funds the metro area expects to receive over the next three decades.
From Aug. 5–Sept. 4, 2009, MARC will conduct a solicitation for regionally significant transportation projects that support the plan’s adopted policy direction and address many challenges we’re facing. Developing a list of projects is a major component of the long-range plan, and it will help the Kansas City region prioritize future transportation investments based on our goals, strategies and estimated financial resources.
The circumstances we're in as we develop this long-range plan are different than those Greater Kansas City has experienced before. Our economy continues to struggle toward recovery; we have increasing concerns about energy availability and cost; interest in environmental protection is stronger than ever; and there is a growing desire to create vibrant, livable places — all of which are integral to becoming a more sustainable region.
Local jurisdictions and transportation agencies within MARC’s planning boundary can nominate projects for consideration in the plan in the following categories: roadway projects, transit projects, projects that support existing or planned neighborhood and activity centers, regional bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and projects that support management and operations programs.
MARC will host a call for projects workshop on Aug. 12, 2009, from 2:30–4 p.m., at its offices to explain the project nomination and evaluation process, demonstrate the submission database, and answer questions from project sponsors.
The public will be able to review and offer feedback online for all projects nominated through the submission database. Public comments will be posted on the Transportation Outlook 2040 Web site and shared with regional transportation committees that evaluate and recommend projects to the MARC Board of Directors. It is expected that the final project list will be adopted by the MARC Board in late 2009.
As the metropolitan planning organization for Greater Kansas City, the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) is required to maintain a long-range transportation plan that guides transportation decision making and funding decisions involving federal dollars over a period of several decades. For the last year, MARC has coordinated with planners, elected officials, community organizations and citizens to establish a vision for what the region will look like and what should be important over the next three decades.
Learn more about Transportation Outlook 2040 and the call for projects at www.marc.org/2040.
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