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The Cost of Our Aging Infrastructure

Home | The Cost of Our Aging Infrastructure

Join us for an in-depth look at our metro’s infrastructure system with comprehensive original reporting. We take you underneath the pavement to tackle the state of our water and sewers. We track the state of highways and bridges in Kansas and Missouri. We take a closer look at our public transit system. And, perhaps most importantly, we convene policymakers and industry leaders in search of solutions.
Follow the entire project here, and ask us your infrastructure questions.

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Overviews and Introductions, Digging In

No Public Inspections for Our Rail Bridges
See what else has to offer
A Level Foundation
The Cost of Our Aging Infrastructure

Public Transit

Video
It's the Journey: A Slice of Bus Life
Climb on board as we follow three Kansas City residents as they navigate daily life on our regional bus system. One surprising point agreed upon from both those who need to use it and those who want to use it: It may be the key to…
By Michael Price

Water

Video
Water Rates and Rivers
Water Rates and Rivers explores the reasons behind the steep climb in Kansas City water rates and asks "Was this inevitable and is it fair?" The hike in prices is largely explained by a federal mandate requiring KCMO to upgrade it…
By Michael Price
Video
Testing the Water in Our Watershed
From road salt to pet waste to runoff when it rains, the Blue River and its tributaries have been polluted over time. So much so that in 2010 the EPA gave Kansas City 25 years to reduce the amount of raw sewage dumped into the wa…
By Michael Price

Bridges/Highways

Video
The Cost of Our Roads | Episode 4
If you've ever wondered how Kansas and Missouri maintain their roadways, "The Cost of Roads | Episode 4," looks at what's being done to fund the roads Kansas Citians rely on everyday in the fourth of a five-part digital serie…
By Cole Blaise
Video
The Cost of Our Bridges | Episode 3
If you’ve ever wondered about the safety of the bridges you drive across everyday, "The Cost of Bridges | Episode 3" looks at what's being done to preserve the life of the city's bridges in the third of a five-part digital …
By John G. McGrath

Public Transit

Video
The Cost of Our Public Transit | Episode 5
Get an insider's look at what's being done to improve the region's public transit system and increase access to jobs in "The Cost of Our Public Transit | Episode 5," the final of a five-part digital series looking at our ci…
By John G. McGrath

Waters/Sewers

Article
Downstream
Downstream As Kansas City Grows, Rivers Become Increasingly Urbanized By: Jesse Howe Kansas City is served by multiple watersheds, the Blue River being the largest. (184,998 Acres) The watershed runs through four counties before …
By Jesse Howe
Video
The Cost of Our Sewers | Episode 2
If you’ve ever wondered about the inner workings of our region’s sewers and how the city is working to stop raw sewage from leaking into area waterways, "The Cost of Our Sewers | Episode 2" goes underground in the second of …
By Brad Austin
Video
The Cost of Our Water | Episode 1
If you’ve ever wondered where your water comes from, how it gets there, and what shape those pipes are in, "The Cost of Water | Episode 1 " opens a five-part digital series giving an overview on our city’s aging infrastruct…
By Cole Blaise

Digging In

Article
No Public Inspections for Our Rail Bridges
The old Broadway Bridge, built in 1956 when Dwight Eisenhower was president, is “structurally deficient,” according to publicly available reports, and needs critical repairs. But right next to it stands a much older bridge for…
By Mike McGraw
Article
Downstream
Downstream As Kansas City Grows, Rivers Become Increasingly Urbanized By: Jesse Howe Kansas City is served by multiple watersheds, the Blue River being the largest. (184,998 Acres) The watershed runs through four counties before …
By Jesse Howe
Article
Ever Thought of It? Sidewalks Play Big Role in Community Health
Let’s say you buy a new home in Kansas City, and several months later, the city blindsides you with a $4,000 bill for sidewalk repairs you knew nothing about. Seriously? City Councilman Scott Wagner encountered just that scenari…
By Multiple Reporters
Video
The State of Our Metro Bridges? May Not Want to Shut Your Eyes
When it comes to the sorry state of Kansas City bridges, City Manager Troy Schulte says the one that keeps him up at night is the old Broadway Bridge over the Missouri River. But a Flatland analysis of bridge inspection data revea…
By Multiple Reporters
Video
It’s the Journey: A Slice of Bus Life | Preview
If you've ever wondered how people navigate the city using public transportation, watch "The Bus Riders," the first in a three-part series on the quality of the city's infrastructure and how Kansas Citians use it. Here’s a p…
By Michael Price
Article
Bus vs. Streetcar Debate: No Easy Answers
More than a decade ago, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority launched an express bus system along Main Street between the Country Club Plaza and the City Market. Known as the Metro Area Express, or MAX, that 6-mile route …
By Kelly Cordingley
Article
Send Us Your Pothole Pictures
If you drive in the Kansas City metro, chances are you've hit a pothole and cringed as you imagine what it may have done to your car.
By Lindsey Foat
Video
The Cost of Our Public Transit | Preview
If you’ve ever thought about the importance of the city's public transit system, follow The Cost of Public Transit, the final in a five-part general overview series on our city’s aging infrastructure. Here’s a preview i…
By John G. McGrath
Article
The Cost of Our Roads | Preview
If you’ve ever thought about the state and age of the roads you drive everyday, follow The Cost of Roads, the fourth in a five-part general overview series on our city’s aging infrastructure. Here’s a preview in advance…
By Cole Blaise
Article
A City Haunted by Ghost Water
It first bubbled up a year ago as a steady stream at the edge of Harry Ellis’ well-kept lawn. It flowed across the nearby roadway north of the river and splattered mud on passing cars. In the winter, it formed an icy glaze. The …
By Mike McGraw
Video
The Cost of Our Bridges | Preview
If you’ve ever thought about the safety of the bridges you drive over everyday, follow The Cost of Bridges, the third in a five-part general overview series on our city’s aging infrastructure. Here’s a preview in advanc…
By John G. McGrath
Video
Our Watershed | A History of Brush Creek
From questions of quality — think Flint, Michigan — to questions of access — think the Dakota Access Pipeline — understanding our finite resource of water starts at home. Our story starts with Brush Creek, a landmark in th…
By Flatland
Video
The Cost of Our Sewers | Preview
If you’ve ever wondered about the inner workings of our region's sewers and how the city is working to stop raw sewage from leaking into area waterways, follow The Cost of Sewers, the second in of a five-part general overvi…
By Brad Austin
Video
The Cost of Our Water | Preview
If you've ever wondered where your water comes from, how it gets there, and what shape those pipes are in, follow The Cost of Water, the first in of a five-part general overview series on our city's aging infrastructure. Here's…
By Cole Blaise
Article
Infrastructure By the Numbers
By Jesse Howe
Part II | By Ways and Means Part I | The State of Our Infrastructure Overviews and Introductions
Public Works? The Cost of Our Aging Infrastructure

Public Works? The Cost of Our Aging Infrastructureis underwritten by our presenting and community sponsors:

Presenting Sponsors

Burns McDonnel logo Heavy Constructors Association of Great Kansas City logo
"The Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City"

Community Sponsors

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