Districts Impacted
Improve I-70 KC
I-70 is a vital lifeline for moving people, goods and information across Missouri and beyond. This interstate was constructed more than 50 years ago, and with the availability of additional federal and state funding, now is the time to make it fully functional for the demands of the 21st century.
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is improving aging infrastructure along Interstate 70 between The Paseo and just east of U.S. 40. Several bridges, as well as pavement along this corridor, have been patched and repaired many times, but are now at the point where they must be replaced. While this work is underway, it is the perfect opportunity to improve connectivity between the neighborhoods. This project is one of many being considered to modernize the I-70 corridor throughout Kansas City.
Improve I-70 KC Goals
- Improve Safety: Reduce crash rates and crash severity on I-70.
- Reduce Congestion: Remove key bottlenecks; reduce the potential for ramp back-up onto the freeway; and improve multimodal travel times in coordination with plans put forward by local and regional agencies.
- Restore and Maintain Existing Infrastructure: Improve bridges and pavement conditions on I-70, and implement cost-effective investment alternatives.
- Improve Accessibility: Provide travel options for residents; increase safe access across I-70 for non-motorized travel; support local and regional land use plans.
- Improve Goods Movement: Improve the efficiency of freight movement on I-70.
What's Happening?
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is improving aging infrastructure along Interstate 70 between The Paseo and just east of U.S. 40. Several bridges, as well as pavement along this corridor, have been patched and repaired many times, but are now at the point where they must be replaced. While this work is underway, it is the perfect opportunity to re-connect the neighborhoods which were separated by the original construction of the interstate. This project is one of several which will modernize the I-70 corridor across the state.
The MoDOT Kansas City District, in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration are in the process of re-evaluating the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of I-70 between The Paseo to east of U.S. 40. A National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) re-evaluation is necessary because the Final EIS document was last updated almost five years ago and the existing conditions, possible solutions, potential impacts, and related mitigation measures may have changed.
What is an Environmental Study Re-Evaluation?
An environmental study re-evaluation is a process to review the environmental impact categories and commitments to ensure that any recent changes to the corridor are incorporated into the document.
During the current phase of work these are the primary goals:
- Re-evaluate potential impacts of the previously determined preferred alternative, current conditions and related mitigation measures that may have changed.
- Engage with stakeholders to provide a project status and update previous feedback.
- Prepare the project to move forward into design.
EIS Documents
Timeline
- Preliminary Design - January 2023
- EIS Re-evaluation - June 2023
- Public Outreach - In progress
- Stakeholder Coordination - In progress
September 2022 Public Input: Thank you for your comments!
As a result of comments received in March 2022, the project team incorporated that feedback into the modified design to find ways to improve safety, reduce congestion, and reconnect the community. At the September 2022 public meeting feedback was requested on these new ideas, such as locations for potential pedestrian crossing across I-70, continuation of lanes, and combining access points between I-70 and local roads. The comment period has closed.
View a summary of public feedback and survey results here:
Review the updated display based on the feedback received:
September 2022 Public Meeting Materials
March 2022 Public Input: Comment Period has CLOSED
Thank you to those who have submitted feedback, attended our in-person public meetings in March, and that have been involved in this project! Public commenting closed on March 31, 2022. The project team continues to review all of the feedback received as they continue with the re-evaluation.
You can review the comments made online through the Interactive Map above. To stay connected with the project, you can continue to check back here for updates or sign up for email updates using the form below.
March 2022 Public Meeting Materials
Previous Studies and Updates
2017: Project Development Suspended
Due to budget constraints, MoDOT suspended the project development process for improvements between January 2015 and June 2016. In 2017, MoDOT reactivated the environmental review process and began to finalize the draft EIS in order to move the project forward.
2011: I-70 Second Tier Environmental Impact Statement
In December 2011, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration completed a Second Tier Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for approximately 6.8 miles of I-70 from west of the Paseo Boulevard interchange to east of the Blue Ridge Cutoff interchange. This study encompassed two sections of independent utility (SIU) from the I-70 First Tier EIS, which are the Urban SIU (Paseo Boulevard to U.S. 40) and I-435 Interchange SIU (U.S. 40 to Blue Ridge Cutoff). The Second Tier EIS carried forward and refined the needs identified from the First Tier EIS and conduct an alternatives analysis based on the Improve Key Bottlenecks Strategy.
Through this study, more specific definitions of the improvements and their potential impacts were developed for consideration by the general public and the various environmental and community resource agencies. Examples of these improvements include modifying access, fixing existing pavement and bridges, improving interchange ramps, adding collector distributor roads, and providing for bus transit on shoulder. The Second Tier EIS also evaluated a no-build alternative and alternatives coordinated with ongoing regional transit studies.
This study lasted about 30 months and concluded in spring 2014.
2009: I-70 Statewide Environmental Study
In August 2009, MoDOT in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration completed a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement across the state incorporating truck-only lanes on I-70 between Kansas City and St. Louis. The study area included 9 miles of I-70 in Jackson County from east of the I-470 interchange to the State Routes F/H interchange in Oak Grove.
2008: I-70 First Tier Environmental Impact Statement
In July 2008, MoDOT in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration initiated the I-70 First Tier Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for approximately 18 miles of I-70 corridor from the end of the last ramp termini east of the Missouri and Kansas state line to east of the I-470 interchange, including the entire Kansas City, Missouri’s Downtown Central Business District (CBD) Freeway Loop.
Its purpose was to determine an improvement strategy for the corridor to address the following needs - improve safety, reduce congestion, restore and maintain existing infrastructure, improve accessibility, and improve goods movement.
Various concepts were combined to develop 15 initial strategies that were screened down to four first tier strategies.
These four strategies included the No-Build Strategy, Improve Key Bottlenecks Strategy, Add General Lanes Strategy, and Transportation Improvement Corridor Strategy.
After analysis and public review, the First Tier EIS identified a Selected Strategy to improve the I-70 corridor.
The Selected Strategy is the Improve Key Bottlenecks Strategy from the downtown loop to east of I-435. From east of I-435 to I-470, the Selected Strategy is either the Improve Key Bottlenecks Strategy or the Add General Lanes Strategy. The I-70 First Tier EIS concluded with a Record of Decision in April 2011. The First Tier EIS recommended that for the second tier environmental studies, the 18-mile I-70 corridor be divided into five sections of independent utility (SIU).
The intent of the second-tier environmental studies is to build on and extend the work of the First Tier EIS for improving I-70 as part of the Mid-America Regional Council’s long-range transportation plan.
Each SIU will be evaluated to the appropriate level of detail (CE, EA, or EIS) within the National Environmental Policy Act process.
2000: I-70 Major Investment Study
In August 2000, MoDOT, the Mid-America Regional Council, and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority started a Major Investment Study (MIS) for the I-70 corridor in Jackson County.
The study area spanned approximately 28 miles from Kansas City Missouri’s Central Business District (CBD) Freeway Loop to the State Routes F/H interchange in Oak Grove, Missouri.
The objective of the I-70 MIS was to identify a multimodal investment strategy to address transportation needs in a manner consistent with regional policy goals. The I-70 MIS concluded in November 2004, and it identified a package of recommendations that included the reconstruction and widening of the existing I-70 facility.
Stay in the Know - Current Press Releases
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Improve I-70 KC open house public meeting #2 set for September 13
Kansas City, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is hosting a second round of public engagement as part of an I-70 Environmental Study Re-Evaluation for I-70 between The Paseo and U.S. 40. The project team incorporated...
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Public Input Needed for I-70: The Paseo to U.S. 40 Environmental Study Begins Re-evaluation Phase
Kansas City, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Transportation recently hosted two, in-person public meetings as part of an Interstate 70 Environmental Study Re-evaluation between The Paseo to U.S. 40. The previous study was completed nearly five...
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Public Input Needed for I-70: The Paseo to U.S. 40 Environmental Study Begins Re-evaluation Phase
Kansas City, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Transportation is hosting two, in-person public meetings as part of an Interstate 70 Environmental Study Re-evaluation between The Paseo to U.S. 40. The previous study was completed nearly five years...
Sign Up For Project Emails!
Stay in the know by signing up for emails regarding the I-70 Environmental Study (The Paseo to just east of U.S. 40) using the webform below.
Need More Information?
We're here to help. If you need additional information, you can contact us.
- Email: ImproveI70KC@modot.mo.gov