Background
The Kansas City region has conducted several planning initiatives
to address the need for trails and to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists, but the City of Kansas City, Mo., does not have an adopted, comprehensive trails plan to guide trails planning and development. The Trails KC Plan will build upon
previous regional and city planning initiatives to develop a much-needed comprehensive citywide trails plan.
Previous planning initiatives
1991/2002 - local
planners created and recently updated the MetroGreen Plan which defined a series of stream corridors and overland connections to link regional
historical, cultural and environmental resources through trails
1996 - the Mid-America
Regional Council prepared its first bicycle transportation plan for the Missouri portion of the metro area
2000 - Clay
and Platte Counties adopted the Northland Vision Trails Plan
2002 - The City
amended its Major Street Plan to include a bike route network consisting primarily of on-road routes but including some trails
2003 - The City
adopted the Kansas City Walkability Plan as a policy guide for increasing transportation choice through improved pedestrian facilities
and options. |
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Purpose for the plan
The Trails KC Plan, administered by the City's Planning and Development Department, will guide the
development and maintenance of a citywide trails system for pedestrian, bicyclist and equestrian use. The plan
will define major corridors that will provide basic north/south, east/west connections within the city and to a
larger, regional system. The system will not only serve as a recreation resource to residents and visitors, but
also as an alternative transportation corridor.
The plan includes the following key components to ensure effective trails development:
- Design standards and criteria for use of on-street and off-street facilities
- Funding and maintenance options to ensure a sustainable system
- Policy recommendations to facilitate plan implementation
- Priority projects to enable coordinated, phased implementation.
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