Public invited to rate Kansas City region’s transportation planning process on Sept. 22

CONTACTS:

Jody Ladd Craig, Public Affairs Director, jcraig@marc.org, 816/701-8241
Mell Henderson, Director of Transportation, mellh@marc.org, 816/701-8257

How well is the transportation planning process working in Greater Kansas City? Area residents are invited to a public meeting on Sept. 22, from 6–8:30 p.m. at the Mid-America Regional Council (600 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo., Broadway Room – 1^st floor) for an opportunity to discuss with federal officials their experiences and views on:

whether federal funds are being spent on the right priorities in Greater Kansas City.
whether the views of the public are adequately considered as plans are developed.
how well cities, counties and states are working together to address transportation issues
(traffic safety, congestion, maintenance, air quality, public transportation and freight movement, etc.).

From Sept. 22–24, a team of U.S. Department of Transportation officials will review the transportation planning work of the Kansas and Missouri departments of transportation, the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), transit providers and local governments to make sure major issues facing the Kansas City metro are being addressed and federal requirements are met. This comprehensive evaluation takes place every four years in large metro areas to certify that planning entities are qualified to continue receiving and using federal dollars.

Oral and written comments are welcome at the public meeting. Contact MARC at 816/474-4240 at least 48 hours in advance if special accommodations are required to attend this meeting. The public may also submit comments about the region’s transportation planning process via the following methods through Sept. 30, 2009.

E-mail:	transportation@marc.org
Fax:	816/421-7758
Mail:	Mid-America Regional Council, 600 Broadway, Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64105-1659

MARC is a nonprofit association of city and county governments and the metropolitan planning organization for the bistate Kansas City region. Governed by a board of local elected officials, the agency serves nine counties and 120 cities.

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