City leaders hear from East Side residents: ‘What are the problems we’re trying to solve?’
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - On Saturday, dozens gathered at Southeast High School for the first meeting on ‘Reconnecting the East Side’ after the construction of U.S. 71 Highway decades ago.
This is by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Department of Transportation, and the Mid-America Regional Council. A $5 million federal grant is helping fund the first two phases of the project.
The City and MoDOT plan to add a combined $2.5 million to the project.
“Before we start looking at solutions we want to see what are the problems we are trying to solve. And it needs to come from the community,” said Kansas City, Missouri, City Engineer, Nicolas Bosonetto.
For years, thousands of Kansas Citians have faced the effects of living near U.S. 71 Highway.
In the 1990s to the early 2000s, the highway was constructed to connect downtown Kansas City to more parts of the metro.
The construction tore through neighborhoods leaving nearly 2,000 African-American families displaced by the change.
“It is unfortunate what happened here it really has negatively impacted the community it was built on,” said Bosonetto.
At Saturday’s first community summit, people could fill out what they want to see change on a map from 85th Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
A big issue in this area is safety. The highway has the highest rate of fatalities in the state and 51st Street, 59th Street, and Gregory are all high crash-prone areas.
Bosonetto said they are going to find short and long-term solutions to the highway’s safety issues.
The highway has also created noise, light, and other pollution for neighbors.
“That has an impact on people’s lives and their health and so I hope that this will also address that,” said Kansas City 5th District at Large Councilman, Darrell Curls. He added, “This area is more prone to have chronic asthma, heart disease, lung issues, and things of that nature.”
“But not only that how we can move forward in a manner that provides better mobility and helps the economy on the East side of Kansas City,” said Kansas City Mayor Pro Tem, Ryana Parks-Shaw.
City leaders said this first meeting is just the beginning.
“What I envision is that we have an improvement that is what the people want,” said Mayor Pro Tem Parks-Shaw.
It is expected to be completed in several phases over the next five years.
You can learn more here.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
