Sustainable transportation options available to commuters during Buck O’Neil Bridge project

Jan 30, 2023
| Posted in
News
Buck O'Neil Bridge Project map. Image courtesy of Missouri Department of Transportation

Carpooling, transit, biking among the options

WAY TO GO, formerly known as RideshareKC, is encouraging Kansas City region commuters to consider sustainable transportation options such as carpooling, biking or transit to reduce traffic congestion ahead of the upcoming Buck O’Neil Bridge southbound closure.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), traffic changes include a total closure of southbound U.S. 169 from the Charles Wheeler Downtown Airport to Fifth Street in downtown Kansas City beginning on Feb. 6 lasting until fall 2024. The closure is part of the construction of the new U.S. 169 Buck O’Neil Bridge and will allow crews to tie the new southbound bridge into the new flyover ramps to Interstate 35.

Traffic control for the work will require various lane closures beginning overnight on Feb. 4, according to MoDOT. Motorists can expect southbound U.S. 169 to be closed no later than rush hour on Feb. 6. All work is weather permitting. Details on lane closures can be found on the MoDOT website.

More than 50,000 vehicles travel across the Buck O’Neil Bridge on a daily basis. 

Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Transportation

“The bridge closure will impact many people but provides an opportunity for residents to help reduce the number of vehicles on the road by carpooling, biking or ridesharing,” said Rachel Krause, WAY TO GO program outreach coordinator. “As commuters explore different routes from the Northland to downtown Kansas City, we invite them to consider sustainable transportation options. If you have to change your commute route, now is a good time to change your commute method to a greener way. Sharing a ride helps minimize congestion and reduces the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road. This helps to keep the Kansas City region’s air clean.”

Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Transportation

Greener commutes can have many positive impacts on the region:

  • Fewer harmful emissions — During the warmer months of the year, from March 1 through Oct. 31, the Kansas City region is more likely to experience ozone pollution, which occurs when emissions from cars, trucks and other sources interact with heat and sunlight. Ozone pollution is harmful for everyone to breathe, especially children and people with respiratory problems, such as asthma or emphysema.
  • Health benefits — In addition to contributing to better air quality, commuters using sustainable transportation can benefit from reduced stress and increased physical activity. Commuters can also save money on gas and vehicle expenses.
  • Lessen impacts of climate change — As outlined in the Kansas City Regional Climate Action Plan, reductions in the amount of travel and the use of fuel sources that produce greenhouse gas emissions are ways to reduce the impact of the transportation sector on climate change.

For more information on sustainable transportation options, call 816-842-RIDE(7433) or visit the WAY TO GO website where you can submit a form for us to contact you. Carpool matches can be found on the website WayToGoKC.org or on the mobile app.

Visit the WAY TO GO website
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