Updated Information – March 25
While COVID-19 has made it challenging to communicate with our citizens, through ZOOM commission meetings, social media and surveys, the City of Excelsior Springs continues to work on important community projects.
According to a citizen survey held in February, 97% of 246 respondents support improvements for Safer Streets and Sidewalks in Excelsior Springs. Private investment on the west side makes possible the opportunity to receive BUILD grant funding of up to $25 million for street, sidewalk, curbing, and lighting improvements. The improvements are estimated at $21 million. The community has invested in the building of a new elementary school in the area, the west side business community is in the process of forming a Community Improvement District (CID) that will support this project, and the expansion of Miller Cabinets has helped to leverage additional funding for improvements along Jesse James Road.
Public input is being gathered now to support the grant application. Survey respondents commented on areas that they felt were most important pertaining to the map below.
The Top 3 Priorities of respondents included Leslie Lane to Crown Hill Road (C) at 49%, Kearney Road Business District (D) at 44%, and Wornall to Coranado (E) at 34%.
Respondents said the number one barrier that keeps them from walking in the area is the lack of infrastructure, followed by poor infrastructure. Others were concerned with the volume of motor vehicles and their speeds that made them feel unsafe walking. A proposed pedestrian bridge over 69 Highway gathered 27% support. 22% of respondents said they had been in a crash or close call while walking or biking.
Next steps for the Safe Streets and Sidewalks project include continue to gather and build data, provide a visual illustrations preference survey to the public by the end of March, and gather letters of support. I support the grant application.
Current Survey
The new survey is now underway, providing re-imagined areas which were the top three priorities and additional questions. Please take this short survey to help make decisions about safety and public improvements in the Excelsior Springs community.
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