Transportation
Streetcar Expansion Steams Ahead in D.C. and City Hall, Big Local Firms On Board
(Editor’s note: The City Council approved the $4.7 million and $2.7 million contracts to continue designing and planning the proposed streetcar extension at its meeting April 16) By Kevin Collison Streetcar officials are confident their funding application for the Main Street extension remains on track in Washington despite the federal government’s record $2 trillion emergency…
New O’Neil Bridge Still May See Occasional Backups for I-35 Traffic
(Updated Feb. 5, 2021. A joint venture that includes Massman Co., Clarkson Construction Co. and HNTB Corp. has been selected to build the replacement Buck O’Neil Bridge, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced this week. Work on the $220 million project will begin this fall and is expected to be completed by late fall of…
Barney Allis Plaza Rebuild Estimate $61.7M, Anticipated Completion Fall 2022
By Kevin Collison The city review for rebuilding Barney Allis Plaza and its underground garage tentatively has chosen a $61.7 million option that would lower the plaza to street level and build a 400-space garage beneath it. William Crandall of CBC Real Estate Group, the managing principal hired by the city for the proposed reconstruction,…
MoDOT Recommends New O’Neil Bridge Option, Direct Access to I-35 and Bike/Pedestrian Provision
By Kevin Collison A new Buck O’Neil Bridge that would provide a direct connection between U.S. 169 and Interstate 35, and include a 10-foot path for bicycles and pedestrians is the preferred choice of the Missouri Department of Transportation. A public hearing has been scheduled by MoDOT for March 10 at the Mid-America Regional Council…
Streetcar Leader Praises New Fed Funding Report, Optimistic About Extension Plan
By Kevin Collison A new federal transit funding report released Tuesday has streetcar officials optimistic the planned Main Street extension from downtown to UMKC should be ready to roll financially by early next year. “All the important stakeholders say we’re on the right track and the odds are really good,” said Tom Gerend, executive director…
Guv Pledges Money, But Big Questions Remain for Buck O’Neil Bridge Project
By Kevin Collison Now that Gov. Parsons says the state will provide the final funding to replace the aging Buck O’Neil Bridge, the next big questions are exactly where it will be built and how much it will ultimately cost. MoDOT’s senior local official said Thursday the preferred alignment of the project should be determined…
New Streetcar Authority Chair Works to Keep City Fiscal Support on Track
By Kevin Collison Jeff Krum has hopped onboard as new chairman of the KC Streetcar Authority with a push to keep City Hall financial backing on track as the agency pursues federal funding to extend the route to UMKC. Krum expects the final word from Washington should come within the next 12- to 18 months…
Public Garage Plan Revived at 12th & Broadway, Land Deal Back Before Council
(Updated: The City Council Finance Committee endorsed the purchase agreement for the proposed garage site at its meeting today (Dec. 11) and the matter is scheduled to be considered by the full Council tomorrow) By Kevin Collison A plan to build a city parking garage at 12th and Broadway that was narrowly defeated last month…
New Development Proposal Surfaces for Third and Grand in River Market
By Kevin Collison A mixed-use project that includes 145 apartments has been selected by the development arm of the KCATA as its first choice for redeveloping a parking lot it controls at Third and Grand. The RideKC Development Corp. board chose a plan submitted by CBC Real Estate Group and EPC Real Estate Group for…
Virtual Animation Released of Future Streetcar Ride from Downtown to UMKC
By Kevin Collison Planning for the proposed Main Street extension of the streetcar to UMKC calls for a multi-modal stop near the Country Club Plaza that would allow transfers between streetcar and bus riders. The proposed stop at Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard would serve both southbound and northbound streetcar riders, and connecting bus routes. Northbound…