NOTICE:
Petition MoDOT!  Take two minutes to demand bicycle accomodation on Route 150.

Where: Southern Jackson County (KCMO, Lee’s Summit, Grandview)
What: Highway widening
Who: Missouri Department of Transportation

Background:
MoDOT is widening Route 150 to four lanes across southern Jackson County. The current project covers the segment between Route 291 and US 71. Route 150 is also 147th Street on the metro street grid and veers north at Holmes Road to connect with 135th Street at State Line Road. The segment between US 71 and State Line Road/135th St. is already four lanes. Route 150 is a key east/west corridor across the southern suburbs, connecting people with employment centers in Johnson County and increasingly in Lee’s Summit.

MoDOT’s Plan:
After much discussion with the bicycle community MoDOT ultimately decided they “couldn’t afford” on-street bicycle facilities. The current plan is for a four-lane road with 11-foot vehicle lanes, no shoulders, and possibly a trail on one side.  There will be no on-street bike facility except for “share the road” signs. MoDOT itself would not pay for the proposed trail, rather KCMO, Lee’s Summit, and Grandview would be expected to apply for federal grants to fund it.  Unfortunately the total cost of the trail exceeds the maximum grant available for this purpose.

Bike considerations:
The desired outcome for Route 150 is an on-street bike facility for bike transportation, either a dedicated bike lane, wide outside lane, or paved shoulder. Additionally, one side of the road should have a multi-use trail for novice and recreational cyclists, plus a sidewalk on the opposite side.

Related Information:

MoDOT Route 150 project web site