By John Sharp
KCMO residents can give direct input to the City Public Works Department on what are the greatest needs for sidewalk construction and repairs in their neighborhoods and on what should be the city’s highest priorities for building a safe and well-connected citywide sidewalk network at an open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 13, at the Regnier Family Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City, 433 E. Red Bridge Rd., in the Red Bridge Shopping Center.
The open house, co-sponsored by the South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, is being held in conjunction with a community meeting hosted by 6th District City Council members Andrea Bough and Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McManus who will be available to talk to residents during the open house and will give them updates about other important city matters during a brief meeting toward the end of the event.
City voters approved a 20-year $800 million bond issue in 2017 to fund capital improvements which designated $150 million of that for sidewalk improvements, resulting in $5 million annually being available for sidewalk construction and repairs and $2.5 million being available for sidewalk accessibility improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
So far sidewalk bond funding has been used to catch up on the backlog of requested sidewalk repairs and on ADA compliance. The backlog of requested repairs should be completed no later than 2025.
The city is now developing a new plan for sidewalk improvements for the remaining years of the bond program and is seeking public input on what its priorities should be.