The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) facilitated a public meeting for the I-29/I-35/U.S. 169 Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study as one of the first opportunities for community engagement throughout the study’s lifetime. The project study area includes three highly-trafficked highways in the Kansas City metropolitan area that extends through parts of Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties.
In conjunction with MoDOT, the project team is developing both short-term and long-term alternatives for highway improvements and is seeking public feedback. The intent of the alternatives is to address the following:
- Improving safety for all travelers
- Reducing congestion including heavy truck traffic
- Addressing pavement and bridge conditions
- Positioning for future transportation needs
“The I-29/35/U.S. 169 PEL study is needed now as this region has grown, and the traffic counts have increased significantly. With the bridge reconstruction being done at U.S. 169 and I-29, as well as the additional bridge work at I-35 and U.S. 169, it is clear this area has improvement needs that will continue into the next several years.” said Mark Fisher, MoDOT Area Engineer for Platte, Clay & Ray Counties.
The I-29/I-35/U.S. 169 PEL Study is designed to better understand the existing and future traffic, safety and assets of the I-29/I-35/U.S. 169 corridors. MoDOT anticipates incorporating recommendations made as part of the PEL study into future National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) studies, per Title 23 of the U.S. Code, Part 168. “Completing the PEL will position MoDOT to move into the next phase of work more quickly,” said Fisher.
“The Chamber has long been a proponent for this study. We know how important the I-29/I-35 split is for the Northland community. We helped secure grant funding for this study, to begin the improvement process as soon as possible. The Chamber is looking forward to these future improvements that will meet the needs of our growing population,” said Jenny Johnston, president of the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Following the public meeting, a self-guided virtual presentation and an online survey will be available on the project webpage at https://www.modot.org/i-29i-35us-169-corridor-study. The online survey will close on Monday, November 14.
Questions? Contact the project team by email at KC_I35_I29_Corridor@Modot.mo.gov or phone 816-216-6571.