CAMPO raises kickstand on bike plan

The Jefferson City Urbanized Area, as defined by a 2003 U.S. Census Bureau order, now has a formal plan for improving safety, connectivity and mobility for bikers and walkers in the Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) planning area.

The CAMPO board of directors, chaired by Cole County Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Hoelscher, approved the plan this week after 18 months of development.

Before the vote, a team of professional urban planners, working inside the Jefferson City Department of Planning and Protective Services at City Hall, hosted 12 committee meetings, booths at festivals, training events, two online surveys and three open houses. At least 270 residents attended one or more of the public events, Senior Transportation Planner Sonny Sanders said.

Sanders and his colleagues wrote the extensive public input and lengthy assessment timetable were designed to help create the plan. They hope the jurisdictions within CAMPO will:

Formally adopt the plan;

Develop an implementation strategy specific to that jurisdiction;

Adopt a livable streets policy appropriate for their community.

CAMPO includes Jefferson City, Holts Summit, Lake Mykee, Taos, Wardsville and St. Martins, as well as parts of Cole and Callaway counties.

The municipal entities have at least 11 sources from which they can seek funding: local taxes, fees and improvement set asides; local sales taxes; special tax districts, including Tax Increment Financing, Community Improvement Districts and Neighborhood Improvement Districts; federal funding through America's Surface Transportation Act; the Highway Safety Improvement Program; the Transportation Alternatives Program; the National Highway Performance Program; the Recreational Trails Program; the Land and Water Conservation Fund; state and community highway safety grant programs administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and Community Development Block Grants.

The committee said its plan can be used to create individualized pedestrian/bike strategies in different communities.

That area includes 118.5 miles of sidewalks in Jefferson City, 5.6 miles in Holts Summit, 4 miles in Cole County, 0.5 miles in Taos and 0.18 miles in Wardsville.

The CAMPO plan is to be incorporated into the Jefferson City area's Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Hoelscher said.

The 122-page plan can be viewed on the CAMPO website: www.jeffersoncitymo.gov/campo.