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Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor- Bikes and trails

The Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor aims to implement a transformative strategy that enhances multi-modal mobility, revitalizes historically disadvantaged communities, and reduces carbon emissions in the regional corridor connecting four cities across two states and two counties.

This bi-state reinvestment corridor will benefit these three cities—KCK, KCMO, and Independence, Missouri, each situated in historically disadvantaged areas. The MARC RFQ (Mid-America Regional Council Request for Qualifications) is poised to bring about positive changes in these communities by providing affordable housing, facilitating access to public transit, and creating opportunities for well-paying jobs. Economic prospects in the region should be boosted significantly by these developments.

The concept of multi-modal mobility is particularly interesting. In cities like Independence, where trails are part of the local identity, there is a need to connect many trails with the corridor. The Bi-State Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor should actively prioritize establishing additional bikeways and maintaining existing trails. In the case of Independence, MO, a considerable number of residents aspire to commute to work via biking or public transit. Issues related to access and land use conditions currently hinder these aspirations. Incorporating alternative modes of transportation sustainably is an encouraging development.

Reference:

https://www.marc.org/transportation/plans-and-studies/regional-bikeway-plan

https://www.marc.org/document/rfq-bi-state-sustainable-reinvestment-corridor

First Impressions, Quick Analysis

Bi-state Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor RFP and the KC Regional Climate Action Plan

The issued request for proposals for the Bi-state Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor (BSRC) has the potential to fully revitalize communities in the heart of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Kansas City, KS, Kansas City, MO, and Independence, MO, will all benefit from this focus on modern green infrastructure, economic development, and community safety. The BSRC reflects targeted development that can maximize potential. Regional cooperation is essential in transforming everyday life, and this RFP emphasizes the need for participation from all stakeholders in the corridor.

Map showing the boundary of the Bi-state Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor as defined by the Mid-American Regional Council.
Figure 1. Project location map defining the BSRC (MARC, 2023).

I must also recognize the current context in which the BSRC exists. Recent infrastructure laws championed by the Biden administration–namely, the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and 2022 Inflation Reduction Act–have enabled a wave of sustainable, climate-focused infrastructure developments across the United States. This RFP targets sustainability as the driving factor behind this development, aligning itself with these federal goals. Political support from the administration and local congressional offices will determine how far the BSRC plans will go.

I appreciate the Mid-America Regional Council and its partners for committing to implement numerous existing plans. A pattern exists in the planning world where money and effort get put into development plans that now collect dust. The BSRC RFP affirms that extensive work regarding transportation, climate, trails and bikeways, and economic development has already happened (MARC, 2023, p. 6). All plans should include this history to ensure efficient progress occurs.

Graphic listing climate priorities as identified by the Kansas City Regional Climate Action Plan executive summary.
Figure 2. Kansas City Regional Climate Action Plan priorities and strategies listed in its executive summary (MARC and Climate Action KC, 2021).

The Kansas City Regional Climate Action Plan is a part of this project’s history (p. 6). I view the BSRC as a direct implementation process of the 2021 action plan developed by MARC and Climate Action KC. The CAP lists recommendations for transportation investments, building efficiency standards, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and more–all elements listed in the RFP. The CAP should be a reference for every major infrastructure project in the Kansas City region.

It is encouraging to see how intertwined these two plans are. This project will provide a great look into this exciting corridor.

References

Mid-America Regional Council and Climate Action KC. (2021). KC Regional Climate Action Plan Executive Summary. https://kcmetroclimateplan.org/

Mid-America Regional Council and Climate Action KC. (2021). KC Regional Climate Action Plan. https://kcmetroclimateplan.org/

Mid-America Regional Council. (2023, December 19). Bi-state Sustainable Reinvestment Corridor. https://www.marc.org/about-marc/funding-and-rfps/