MARC transportation planning area expands to include Ray County

Nov 20, 2023
| Posted in
Transportation
Ray County Courhouse

Ray County jurisdictions now have access to federal transportation funds and technical assistance through MARC following state approval.

Ray County and its cities are now part of the Kansas City metropolitan planning area which means the 23,000 residents who live in the county will have more say and support in regional transportation issues. Ray County is a founding member of MARC and participates in many other regional programs including aging services, emergency services and solid waste management – and will now also be part of MARC’s transportation work. 

Ray County officials asked to join the planning area in May 2023, and the MARC Board of Directors approved the request in August. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson gave the final approval in October.

The change will:

  • Allow Ray County to be part of MARC’s long-term and short-term plans for transportation projects in the metro area. 
  • Give the county access to federal funds and technical assistance from MARC. Help MARC and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) better understand the travel patterns and needs of Ray County and how they affect the rest of the metro area. 

We believe that this boundary change will be mutually beneficial for MoDOT, MARC and Ray County and its municipalities by better aligning the planning boundaries within MoDOT's Kansas City District, allowing MARC to provide enhanced transportation planning services to a member county.

Patrick McKenna, Director of Missouri Department of Transportation
Map showing MPO counties of Clay, Platte, Cass, Wyandotte, Johnson, Jackson, Ray, Miami and Leavenworth

As the metropolitan planning organization for the bistate region, MARC oversees transportation planning for nine counties: Leavenworth, Platte, Clay, Wyandotte, Johnson, Jackson, Miami, Cass and now Ray. MARC helps the metro area meet federal requirements for transportation planning and funding.

Learn more about our transportation work
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