Highway Removal and Re-Aligment in Downtown

[tower]

I-35, I-70, and US 71 all need to go, but US 71 might be the most ideal recipient of the grant just because it will probably be the most expensive due to the length. It will probably have a low political cost because industry won't really be affected most cars just use 435 already if they are going straight through. I-70 removal is important, but probably doesn't need the grant as much because the cost would be less and the sale of land can help offset the cost. I35 is probably easiest, but also has the lowest benefit I would think. Removing or redoing the penn valley interchange would have a high benefit, but it may not even qualify for this grant.

[normalthings]

This flier for land in Columbus Park notes that MoDot is willing to sell their holdings too

https://images1.loopnet.com/d2/y0vPjNwN ... /58333.pdf

[normalthings]

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-con ... E90D7A69BD

NFRASTRUCTURAL BARRIER.—The term “infrastructural barrier” means a highway (including a limited access highway), a railway, a viaduct, a principal arterial facility, or any other transportation facility for which the high speeds, grade separation, or other design factors create an obstacle to connectivity, including—

(A) obstacles to walking, biking, and mobility;

(B) diminished access to destinations across the infrastructural barrier; or

(C) barriers to the economic development of the surrounding neighborhood.

(5) LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY.—The term “low-income community” means a census block group in which not less than 30 percent of the population lives below the poverty line (as defined in section 673 of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902)).

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a program to help communities—

(A) identify infrastructural barriers within the community that—

(i) create obstacles to mobility or economic development; or

(ii) expose the community to high levels of particulate matter, noise pollution, and other public health and safety risks;

(B) study the feasibility of improving, and develop plans to improve, community con­nec­tiv­i­ty, including through—

(i) removal or retrofit of an in­fra­struc­tural barrier; or

(ii) construction of facilities to mitigate the obstacle created by the in­fra­struc­tural barrier by enhancing connectivity across the infrastructural barrier;

(C) plan the redevelopment of any land made available by the removal or retrofit of the infrastructural barrier, with a focus on improvements that will benefit the populations impacted by or previously displaced by the in­fra­struc­tural barrier;

(D) access funding to carry out the activities described in subparagraphs (B) and (C); and

(E) require the equity of any activities carried out under the program, including by garnering community engagement, avoiding displacement, and ensuring local participation in jobs created through those activities.

(6) FEDERAL SHARE.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost of a project carried out with a capital construction grant may be not more than 80 percent.
(B) MAXIMUM FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT.—Federal assistance other than a capital construction grant may be used to satisfy the non-Federal share of the cost of a project for which the grant is awarded.

[alejandro46]

(5) LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY.—The term “low-income community” means a census block group in which not less than 30 percent of the population lives below the poverty line (as defined in section 673 of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902)).

I wonder if KCMO submits all of I-70/HOA to Independence Avenue over to Hardesty it would meet this requirement? This population would also be benefitted from better access to downtown area and highway removal.

[normalthings]

$889 million in grants for infrastructure projects that address equity, safety, and climate change.

These are big investments, and we're making them count! - USDOT

What are your ideas for this #KCMO? - Eric Bunch

https://twitter.com/EricWBunch/status/1 ... 58248?s=20

[Chris Stritzel]

$889 Million seems like peanuts to remove several highways from cities across the United States, implement safety things, and fight climate change. Even a few Billion Dollars may not be enough for the goals defined there.

How much do I want to bet myself the Northeast gets priority for highway removal meanwhile cities and states elsewhere are pushed to the back of the line? I'll bet myself $50.

[normalthings]

$889 Million seems like peanuts to remove several highways from cities across the United States, implement safety things, and fight climate change. Even a few Billion Dollars may not be enough for the goals defined there.

How much do I want to bet myself the Northeast gets priority for highway removal meanwhile cities and states elsewhere are pushed to the back of the line? I'll bet myself $50.

Another bill proposes billions for highway removal. Today’s announcement I believe are for funds already approved that can now go to alternatives and removal.

[normalthings]

MARC is studying corridor improvements from the downtown loop to 40 HIGHWAY. $2.5 million just to study and do initial design on the thing.

From MARC Website:

Scoping for corridor improvements from the downtown loop in Kansas City to
Rte. 40. Potential Design-Build.