Safety study suggests Missouri Boulevard improvements

Report findings likely to be used in grant applications

Representatives from various local, state and federal organizations walked, biked or rode a transit bus along an approximately 3.4 mile route of Jefferson City's Missouri Boulevard in May 2016, in an effort to identify the safety challenges faced by pedestrians, bicyclists and bus riders.
Representatives from various local, state and federal organizations walked, biked or rode a transit bus along an approximately 3.4 mile route of Jefferson City's Missouri Boulevard in May 2016, in an effort to identify the safety challenges faced by pedestrians, bicyclists and bus riders.

A new safety assessment of Missouri Boulevard found what many Jefferson City residents already know - improvements are needed for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users.

However, whether the assessment's offered solutions will be implemented is unlikely, at least for now.

In late May, representatives of local, state and federal agencies participated in a safety assessment as part of a national initiative to reduce the number of pedestrian, transit user and bicycle injuries and fatalities.

Members of the following organizations took part: the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, Jefferson City Police Department, Jefferson City Public Works Department, Jefferson City transit division, Missouri Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Highway Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Capital Region Medical Center and Mid-America Regional Council.

Participants broke into three teams: a bicycle team, an eastern team and a western team. Meeting at the MoDOT Central District Office on Missouri Boulevard, the bicycle team completed a seven-mile loop, looking at north and south sides of the area and rode the greenway trail running parallel to Missouri Boulevard. The eastern team walked east from the Central Office and the other team walked west. Both teams used wheelchairs and digital levels as part of the assessment.

According to the assessment results, "the teams did not feel safe walking on multiple portions of the boulevard due to the lack of continuous sidewalks," lack of crosswalks at intersections and other issues.

Transportation Planner Katrina Williams said the results didn't come as a surprise to her or the other local and state representatives who took part in the assessment, as they are all pretty familiar with Missouri Boulevard and its challenges. However, she said, the experience did surprise the federal representatives.

"The federal partners, I think, were more surprised than anybody else because they're not here," Williams said, noting they were most surprised by the cooperation between the state and city on Missouri Boulevard, which is a state-maintained road.

The assessment results laid out a series of suggested solutions, including:

Constructing sidewalks in right-of-way to provide a continuous system on the north side;

Providing pedestrian refuge islands at signalized intersections;

Installing bike lanes and "traffic calming barriers or medians;"

Reinstating the Jefferson City Police Department's bike patrol team;

Constructing bus stops and shelters closer to intersections.

Some steps were able to be taken almost immediately, as the report notes city staff already addressed one issue with a signalized crossing at West Main Street and Missouri Boulevard where the signal timer was not programmed to allow enough time for someone to cross the street. Staff is also working to construct more bus shelters for the area.

Williams said the report will be used as a tool when the city applies for state and federal grants, noting the city can only do so much when it comes to Missouri Boulevard as it is a state-maintained road.

"If we're applying for any kind of federal funds, we can use this as something to cite and say, 'We have assessed it; we do have issues,'" Williams said. "They want to see that you've actually put the time in before you apply for something."

Janice McMillan, director of Planning and Protective Services, said the report could also help take the city and state beyond an incremental approach to Missouri Boulevard, meaning only considering one property at a time, to looking at a more comprehensive picture of the area and its needs.

"It's an excellent indication of the challenges that are out there," McMillan said.

The full report, along with an interactive story map, can be accessed at www.jeffersoncitymo.gov/government/long_range_transportation_plan/announcements.php.