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Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc.

Post Office Box 104871
Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871

MoBikeFed is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation

Webmaster email: webmaster @ mobikefed
.org

Send MODOT a message asking them to include good bicycle/pedestrian accommodations on Highway 150

In just a couple of minutes you can send an email message asking MoDOT to include good, safe bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on the new Highway 150 project that will link Grandview and Lee's Summit in the Kansas City area. MoDOT has decided to drop on-road bicycle accommodation on this project.

This public comment period ends March 10th, 2007.

Citizens have sent 318 emails. To make a real impression it would be great to send 300 or more messages by the deadline of March 10th.

If you are in a hurry, just enter your name & email below & hit "submit". It should take you about a minute.

But if you have a couple of minutes, even a little personalization of the message (like one sentence) increases the impact a lot. Do you bicycle in this area? Is there a similar project in your area that did/did not include on-road bicycle facilities? How did that affect you?

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Subject Line: *		Background MoDOT is planning to widen Highway 150 between Route 71 (Grandview) and Route 291 (Lee's Summit). This project has many aspects to praise and some that we need to change. Planners gave consideration to bicycle lanes and wide curb lanes for on-road bicyclists to use. After much discussion, MoDOT is proposing to drop consideration of on-road bicycle accommodation. The current proposal is for a four-lane road with 11-foot lanes and no shoulder. This will be similar to many current Kansas City area arterial roads. Bicyclists will be expected to use the entire right-hand lane--just as we can do on most other major roads in Kansas City, like Bannister Road, Independence Ave, or 63rd Street. MoDOT's page about this project is here. If you would rather not use this form you can simply send email to: Steve Porter, MoDOT stephen.porter@modot.mo.gov
MoDOT Message: *	MoDOT, I appreciate the thought and planning that has gone into including bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on Route 150. However, I am disappointed with the final results. The reason that Kansas City has less than half the walking and bicycling than the national average is that we do not design our roads, streets, and highways to be inviting for walking and bicycling. The Highway 150 design will not be inviting for bicycling, and including a bicycle/pedestrian "sidepath" on one side of the road does not replace the need for good, effective, safe on-road bicycle facilities. Thank you for including sidewalks and other elements such as pedestrian-friendly intersections and traffic signals. These are very important. Slowing traffic and traffic calming add very little travel time but makes the corridor much more inviting for walking and bicycling. If the current configuration is maintained, which will require on-road bicyclists to use the entire right-hand lane, then "Share the Road" signs are really not enough. "Bicyclists may use full lane" signs should be installed. An education campaign should take place to educate local drivers and law enforcement personnel that this is the safe, legal, and proper way for bicyclists to operate in this environment. A lower speed limit and lower design speed should also be strongly considered. These projects should not expect to pay for bicycle and pedestrian accommodation through Enhancements funds. Enhancements are for "extras" or for retro-fitting existing facilities. In a major reconstruction such as this, bicycle and pedestrian accommodation is not an extra, but an expected and necessary part of the project. Transportation is not just about the automobile any more. Certainly in a metropolitan area we expect thoroughgoing accommodation of walking and bicycling. When we voted for Amendment 3 funding, we expected a better transportation system, not just better traffic flow. Please find a way to meet the needs of all users of our transportation system, including bicyclists and pedestrians. Thank you for considering my comments.
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Send MODOT a message asking them to include good bicycle/pedestrian accommodations on Highway 150

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