The busy corridor of commercial activity that is Missouri Boulevard is getting some well-deserved attention this week.
Jefferson City's council members on Tuesday approved an agreement with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to reconstruct sidewalks and improve access ramps along a portion of the road.
Although Missouri Boulevard is the responsibility of MoDOT, Jefferson City maintains an interest in the corridor that provides access to restaurants, stores and auto dealerships.
Among the shared state-city interests are public safety and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
A prerequisite for the state project was city action granting temporary right-of-way to the state, which was approved by the council Tuesday.
According to City Engineer David Bange, the MoDOT project will improve offset sidewalk panels and ramps from just north of U.S. 50/63 to Delaware Street as a part of sidewalk replacement on both sides of the boulevard.
Bange said the project will require some signal poles at the on and off ramps to U.S. 54 and at the Dunklin Street intersection to be relocated, which will cause some traffic disruption, noting that won't happen until the Missouri River Bridge is fully re-opened.
Bange said the project will also reconstruct the sidewalk and ramps at the Kansas Street intersection to be more ADA compliant. Bange said Kansas Street will be closed for that work, which will likely start later this week.
In addition, a comprehensive safety assessment of Missouri Boulevard recently was completed by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and its planning partners.
Those partners include: Jefferson City Police Department, Jefferson City Public Works, JEFFTRAN (Jefferson City Transit), MoDOT, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Highway Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Capital Region Medical Center and Mid-America Regional Council.
According to CAMPO, the assessment examines existing safety concerns for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users, as well as steps to alleviate them. The local assessment follows a model used by federal partners who have conducted similar assessments nationwide.
Residents and visitors who frequent Missouri Boulevard know how busy it can be, particularly during peak dining hours. Pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and disabled people face additional safety concerns.
The shared interest in improving safety and access along the Missouri Boulevard corridor is both welcome and necessary for our community.