MARC Board of Directors adopts transportation plan update for Kansas City region

Throughout the three-year planning process, MARC worked work with representatives from federal and state departments of transportation, public transportation providers, city and county jurisdictions and community organizations to plan how the region will manage and operate a multimodal transportation system that will meet our economic, transportation, development and sustainability goals. The plan included extensive public engagement through a variety of methods including pop-ups at local grocery stores, in libraries and on public transportation, open house events at community centers throughout the region and online surveys.

Connected KC 2050 starts with a regional vision of Greater Kansas City as a region of opportunity. Its robust economy, healthy environment and social capacity support the creativity, diversity and resilience of its people, places and communities. In order to achieve that vision, the plan builds on our strongest assets — our strong communities that connect our successful, engaged and healthy people to our vibrant and green places. View the plan at ConnectedKC.org.

“We wrapped up this plan during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has created unprecedented disruption to public health, social interaction, economic activity and significant changes in travel behavior,” said Carson Ross, co-chair of the Total Transportation Policy Committee and mayor of Blue Springs, Missouri. “This event vividly illustrates the kinds of profound forces the region must consider and work toward building a resilient system that can quickly rebound and emerge stronger than ever before.”

“During the past 21 months, we’ve identified many overarching strategies that will help the Kansas City region make progress toward its transportation goals,” said Chuck Adams, Kansas co-chair of the Total Transportation Policy Committee and Edwardsville, Kansas, councilmember. “The plan supports smart decisions and high-impact strategic investments to make the most of the limited funding available.”

As the Kansas City region’s federally designated metropolitan planning organization, MARC is required to develop and maintain a long-range metropolitan transportation plan for federal transportation investments over a 30-year plan horizon.