Plans progress for Missouri Blvd. sidewalk work

In this Feb. 17, 2017 photo, businesses are seen along the north side of a stretch of Missouri Boulevard with no sidewalk.
In this Feb. 17, 2017 photo, businesses are seen along the north side of a stretch of Missouri Boulevard with no sidewalk.

Actual construction may be months or even a year away, but the multiple governmental entities involved have tweaked a $348,205 sidewalk improvement project on four blocks of Missouri Boulevard, which are among the most heavily traveled in Jefferson City.

At this week's meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) board of directors, an amendment to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) was approved to fine tune the four-block-long, 2,500-foot project that will run from Chipotle to the Sub Shop in the 1400-1800 blocks of Missouri Boulevard, according to David Bange, a senior engineer in the city's Public Works Department.

Bange said there is an "off chance" the installation could occur this fall, but it is more likely the construction would be on the calendar for the spring of 2018.

"This project will construct a 5-foot-wide sidewalk along the northern side of Missouri Boulevard from Beck Street to Waverly Street," Bange said. "It also will include improvements to our four bus stop locations, including bus shelters and bike racks. A final element is the installation of a pedestrian signal and crosswalk at Southwest Boulevard.

"The city has been looking for opportunities to continue to construct sidewalks on Missouri Boulevard, as it is our most used transit route and was the subject of a recent safety audit," Bange added. "This project will continue the progress that has been made in recent years, including the construction of sidewalks on the southern side of Missouri Boulevard as well as improvements that are currently being made to the east of this location."

Mark Mehmert, director of the city's JeffTran transit system, told the directors the site is the most-used bus route in the city. He said having sidewalks on both sides of the street, with signalized crosswalks at Kansas Street and Southwest Boulevard, represents a significant boost for transit users and the general public.

The Missouri Department of Transportation will provide $278,564 of the costs for the project with the city's sales taxes kicking in the remaining $69,641. The sales taxes also are committed to provide operating and maintenance funding for 10 years after this project is completed.

CAMPO is a collaboration between Jefferson City, Holts Summit, Lake Mykee, St. Martins, Taos and Wardsville, as well as Cole and Callaway counties and MoDOT.