Sustainable Corridor Redevelopment in Kansas, Missouri
Key Takeaways
- Stantec chosen to lead a $5.6 million project to revitalise a 24-mile corridor in Kansas and Missouri.
- The project aims to improve housing, healthcare, transportation, jobs, and education for residents.
- Focus on sustainable development, including green transportation, affordable housing, and community engagement.
Leading sustainable design firm Stantec has been chosen to lead the Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor project, which will connect Missouri and Kansas.
The Mid-America Regional Council, the region's planning organisation, tapped Stantec to develop a preliminary plan for the 24-mile stretch connecting four cities. This $5.6 million federal grant-funded initiative seeks to enhance access to housing, healthcare, transportation, employment, and education for residents throughout the corridor.
“There is tremendous economic potential along this corridor, Kansas and Missouri, as well as across the wider Midwest,” said Adam Jones, Stantec’s project manager on the Bi-State Corridor. “This is a perfect time to make a long-term plan that takes a fresh look at improving transportation for the future and guides redevelopment using a regenerative planning approach in the area while prioritizing peoples’ livelihoods.”
A Comprehensive Plan for the Future
The 24-mile corridor includes areas within Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; Independence, Missouri; Sugar Creek, Missouri; and Jackson County, Missouri.
Recognising the diverse economic and infrastructure needs along the corridor, and the varying stages of development plans in each jurisdiction, Stantec, in collaboration with the Mid-America Regional Council and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, will adopt a holistic approach to the corridor plan. This plan will guide land use decisions, economic development strategies, and facilitate collaboration between the different jurisdictions.
Key components of the plan include:
- Sustainable transportation: Zero-fare, zero-emission transit, bus rapid transit, bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.
- Affordable housing: Energy-efficient housing options near public transportation.
- Community development: Equitable transit-oriented development, broadband access, and workforce training in green infrastructure.
By creating a framework and land-use policies that support long-term community growth, the plan aims to attract public-private partnerships and government funding.
“This plan represents all the communities along the corridor taking a step forward together,” said Ron Achelpohl, director of Transportation & Environment at the Mid-America Regional Council. “We’re excited to embark on this ambitious project together with Stantec and our many other partners.”
Stantec’s team will leverage expertise in urban design, market analysis, community development, transportation planning, civil engineering, and landscape architecture to bring this vision to life.
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Source: Stantec
