March 6, 2008
Red Bridge Residents Betrayed by Council Members Sharp and Jolly
Later today, the City Council is expected to pass resolution 080201, expressing support for the Red Bridge Road Alternatives Plan submitted by Bucher, Willis & Ratliff Corporation. (Another plan, funded by Friends of Red Bridge, was dismissed by both the Parks Department and the City Council without consideration.) This resolution is the final step in a process begun on the first day of the new council (5/3/2007) when resolution 070587 was "rammed through" by Cm. Sharp and Jolly without any opportunity for discussion in the council or with the public. The words "alternative" and "consensus" have been used by the P.R. firm promoting the Red Bridge project. However, no discussion of alternatives has ever been allowed, and no consensus was ever reached. Friends of Red Bridge, the organization that originally advocated for an alternate approach, withdrew from the process due to its failure to allow different points of view. The true purpose of the entire project -- to muzzle the opposition to the expansion of the road -- was reported on at the time (see link below). That report has proved true at every stage in the process. Only the consultant and the Public Works department had any control over the outcome. The result of the study is the third variation of the original plan to widen the road and build a 1,100-foot-long bridge over Minor Park. An independent analysis conducted by nationally renowned traffic engineer Michael Wallwork concluded: "Finally, because a two or four lane bridge, including a rebuilt Red Bridge will have a capacity far greater than the adjacent signalized intersections a high expectation exists that, in the near future, there will be a considerable pressure for widening of Red Bridge Road to four or six lanes from College Boulevard east of State Line to Highway 71. This pressure will increase further with the development of the Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base [into a freight facility]." For the historic Minor Park, as well as the health, safety, and quality of life of thousands of south Kansas Citians, that result would be disastrous. In a time of "permanent fiscal crisis", many are more convinced than ever that the Red Bridge project is a lavish giveaway to the warehousing and trucking industries which will be using Red Bridge Road as an alternate to I-435 during the frequent periods of congestion there. Links: Report on true purpose of Red Bridge project Friends of Red Bridge plan for the road Michael Wallwork About Friends of Red Bridge: Friends of Red Bridge is a community organization with about 500 supporters based in the Red Bridge Road corridor in south Kansas City, Missouri. FoRB believes it is not sufficient to simply say 'no' to the city's plans to expand Red Bridge Road. We have a positive vision for the Road that is based in the emerging mega-trends favoring smart growth and eco-friendly development for a sustainable and livable community.
