Kansas City Taking Steps to Make Streets Safer for All
Kansas City, Mo. — Just a few months ago, Todd Voth had an alarming experience while stopping for a pedestrian at a crosswalk on Southwest Boulevard. A car behind him, impatient to get around, crashed right into Voth’s vehicle. “It was one of those things where it’s a total shock because I was stopped,” he shared. “I wasn’t expecting to get hit by a car.” Luckily, the pedestrian managed to move out of the way just in time.
Unfortunately, Voth’s incident isn’t an isolated one. Since 2020, there have been around 275 crashes along Southwest Boulevard, prompting the city council to review plans for a redesign at its upcoming meeting this Thursday. The proposal specifically aims to reduce the number of lanes from Broadway Boulevard to 25th Street. It’s worth noting that a second phase could address the section from 25th to 31st streets, expected to take place after the World Cup in 2026.
Neighborhood Voices Support Change
Local business owner Luis Hernandez, who runs Panaderia de las Americas on Southwest Boulevard, expressed his thoughts on the redesign. “For traffic, it would help reduce the speed from the cars,” he mentioned. Hernandez has observed a worrying trend: drivers often speed, race, and perform donuts as they pass by on weekend nights. He fully supports any efforts that could eliminate such reckless behavior, saying, “Whatever they want to do, it helps everybody.”
Voth, reflecting on his own near-miss, also lends his support to the redesign plans. “People are going too fast. The road is too wide. From a pedestrian standpoint, it’s super dangerous,” he pointed out. He highlighted the urgency for change, stressing that making the area safer is essential not just for pedestrians, but for everyone traveling on those streets.
A Community Concern
As the city council gathers to discuss these important redesign plans at 3 p.m. on Thursday, community members and business owners alike are hopeful that they will make strides toward a safer environment. Reducing lanes could help calm traffic and increase safety for pedestrians, making it a win-win for both residents and visitors. With the community eager for change, the meeting will likely have a significant turnout from those who frequent Southwest Boulevard.
Ultimately, the conversations happening now in city government reflect a larger awareness of the need for pedestrian-friendly designs in urban areas. As Kansas City prepares for growing traffic, especially with the anticipated World Cup in 2026, making streets safer will undoubtedly play a vital role in shaping the future of the city.
