Kansas City may close some streets to cars, giving walkers more space amid COVID-19
As spring weather entices homebound Kansas Citians outside, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas hopes to shut down several city streets to car traffic to provide more space for pedestrians and cyclists during the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s an effort similar to those in Denver and other U.S. cities. With businesses closed or sending employees home to work, traffic is lighter on many thoroughfares. Meanwhile, residents are getting outdoors for respite.
“Particularly in some neighborhoods … you’ve seen sidewalks get filled up and a desire for more social distancing, a need for folks to be able to get out and recreate, but not just in our parks,” Lucas said.
Lucas introduced a resolution at Thursday’s City Council meeting directing acting City Manager Earnest Rouse to identify three east-west streets within a week after the council votes. The proposal was referred to the Transportation Infrastructure and Operations Committee.
The move may also alleviate crowding at parks, where officials have had to take steps such as cordoning off playgrounds and removing basketball and tennis nets to ensure residents distance themselves from one another to limit the spread of COVID-19. The city has also closed its dog parks.
“I think, frankly, if you see some of the crowds we’ve had in some of our busier parks, you see a need for something like this.”
Under Lucas’ resolution, Rouse’s office would identify three east-west routes: one in the Northland, one in the city’s core and one further south. Lucas said Kansas Citians largely travel north and south because of generations of segregation dividing east and west. Lucas said he would like residents to see more connectivity.
“I think to the extent that we do see our communities more walkable and more connected, I think the better,” Lucas said. “18th and, let’s say, Woodland is really not that far from 18th and Baltimore, and I don’t know if enough of our lived experience throughout the city explores that enough.”
Under Lucas’ and other stay at home orders across the metro, residents can still leave their homes for outdoor exercise so long as they adhere to social distancing: remaining six feet apart, avoiding handshakes and covering coughs and sneezes. The orders have instructed nonessential businesses to conduct work remotely, a provision with at-times confusing enforcement, and instructed residents to stay home unless they are seeking medical attention or supplies, buying food or going to work at an essential business.
To find out more about Kansas City’s response to the coronavirus, you can text “COVIDKC” to 888-777 or visit the city’s website at kcmo.gov/coronavirus. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information at cdc.gov/coronavirus, and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has a hotline at 877-435-8411.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 2:26 PM.
