Missouri River North Trail

Project Overview

Kansas City, North Kansas City, Riverside and the Mid-America Regional Council are developing the Missouri River North Trail project to explore how to connect the existing trails in Platte, Clay, and Jackson Counties. Through the project, they hope to provide a multimodal transportation network in the heart of the region that connects residents to the many parks, employment centers, and other destinations in the area.

Map of the Missouri River North Trail project area

Importance of Project

Aligns with goals in all 3 communities
- KCMO Spirit Playbook
- NKC Bike Master Plan
- Riverside Master Plan
Follows millions of dollars and dozens of miles in existing trail and bike facility development
Connects across the Northland (east-west) and the Northland to Downtown
The missing link that unlocks massive walking & biking trip potential for the region

Connecting to trails and parks

106 miles of trails and protected bicycle facilities in Northland
33 miles of trails and protected bicycle facilities
570 acres of parks
Connecting gaps will unlock a broader network of transportation and recreation amenities for the Northland

Connecting to jobs

10,000 downtown Kansas City workers live within ½ mile of the Northland trails
90,000 jobs and 93,000 workers located within ½ mile of Northland trails
Connecting gaps in these trails can make bicycling a viable commute choice for more workers.

Multimodal options and completing trips

9% of households in the study area don’t have a car
Trails and bicycle facilities can help extend the impact of public transit and provide a vital link to people who don’t have the option of driving.
40% of trips in our study area are 3 miles or shorter
By providing safe and convenient options for walking and biking, people will feel more encouraged to reduce driving and increase their physical activity.

Missouri River North Trail public meeting audience

Public Engagement

Two public meetings were held in January 2024 and June 2024 to gather community feedback and showcase the trail design options. Take the latest survey about the options and comment through June 30.

Public input will help refine options for the trail and inform potential implementation priorities.

Public meeting #1 - Jan 2024 Public meeting #2 - June 2024