KC Metro Urbanists

Hey Overland Park! 🌳
We are having a community conversation about Public Transit, Public Health, Smart Urban Land Use, and Green Initiatives in YOUR neighborhood at the central library. Join us with some local leaders talking about what they are excited about the future of Overland Park!
#opks #ks

Please comment below if you can make it to a meeting of the Kansas City Metro Urbanists Friday, October 3rd, 2025 3pm-5:30PM in Overland Park's Johnson County Library Central Resource!
Also, this is Overland Park's new official city flag! 🤩🌳

Gladstone stepping away once again from the KCATA by creating their own contract with an entirely different company to offer on-demand service for Gladstone residents
#gladstone #happyrock #missouri #publictransit #iris #gest #KC #kcmo

Mayor Quinton Lucas announced today that the Kansas City Council has approved a 12-month contract with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) to continue essential bus service operations throughout the metropolitan area.

I didn't I was virtually attending a UG meeting, but let's all go in person to show support for public transit on the 15th

🚨Let's all show up and support public transportation at the KCATA special meeting to discuss signing the Kansas City, Missouri contract. If the contract isn't signed by that day, the service across the city could cease to exist. 🚨

Kansas City still doesn’t have a contract for bus service. KCATA leaders say that could mean cuts Kansas City and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority haven’t been able to agree on a contract since May. Unless they agree on one soon, the city’s bus service could be at risk.

The desperation for the City of Kansas City, Missouri and the KCATA is growing to a roar as if a contract isn't signed by the 15th, all service will stop in the city. THIS IS A BIG DEAL, THIS IS NOT NORMAL, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS NOT A BUSINESS, IT IS A PUBLIC SERVICE
www.kcur.org/housing-deve...

Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' may push Kansas grocery stores to close and create new food deserts Researchers and grocery stores say the Republican-backed law, which will reduce federal food benefits, only makes it harder for markets to survive because the profit margins are already so low.

Kansas City, Kansas is losing its only full service grocery store downtown. What caused it to go under? The big beautiful bill, and the SNAP cuts following the orders. Locals will have to travel farther and farther for fresh produce or their favorite ingredients.
www.kcur.org/housing-deve...

Kansas City will no longer work with a contractor that repeatedly stole money from workers The city won’t work with CJR Construction Group for two years, after the company repeatedly violated its prevailing wage rules. This is the first time Kansas City has debarred a contractor in years.

Development costs are rising, but not paying your workers fairly is not a cost savings that is acceptable in Kansas City. This contractor is barred for 2 years for this unscrupulous act.
www.kcur.org/housing-deve...

7th Street Transit Corridor Project: Groundbreaking Ceremony Join us as we celebrate the start of the 7th Street Corridor Transit Improvements at the 7th Street Transit Center (7th and Minnesota Avenue, KCK)

www.wycokck.org/Engage-With-...

#kck #transit #publictransit #wyco #kansas #kansascity #kc #kcmetrourbanists #kansascitytransit #kcata #bikewalkkc #urbanlabkc #rainbowblvd #7thstreet #downtownkck

Join the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas as they host a ground breaking ceremony for the 7th Street Transit Corridor Project - The KC Metro Urbanists celebrate urbanist wins like this to showcase the progress and desire for better streets across the region

Missouri home prices reach all-time high while sales fall to a decade low Through June, 34,690 residential properties were sold in the state — the lowest number for half a year since at least 2015. Meanwhile, the median selling price of Missouri homes was the highest on rec...

Housing is a necessary part of being human. The American idea to turn housing into a financial commodity has had a disastrous effect on those facing homelessness and housing insecurity. High housing prices mean more tax dollars for existing homeowners.
www.kcur.org/housing-deve...

KC Metro Urbanists Meeting on Monday, August 18th, 2025 at the Cedar Roe Library in Roeland Park, KS. We are looking for community input on the projects, ideas, and local initiatives to support that align with our pillars.
Fill this out weather you can go or not -> docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

KCMO and the KCATA have until August 15th for a new contract or the buses will stop running August 15th. This is not hyperbole, this is a threat to public transit in Kansas City. Kansas City, Missouri is the biggest contract the KCATA has.

www.kshb.com/news/local-n...

Public Transportation for all parts of the metro, for all communities, and for all income levels Smart Urban Land Use that promotes walking, biking, public transportation, and minimal private car usage Public Health initiatives that promoted the general health of residents and businesses of every community Sustainable Green Ideas for all people, local small scale to the metro-wide and state goals for a better future These four pillars of the Kansas City Metro Urbanists are the guiding ideas for the initiatives and goals of the organization. WE NEED YOUR HELP to accomplish these goals, and we would love for you to join our events and meetings to discuss the best way to implement change on the local level. We can’t change the entire metro all at once, but we can talk to one person at a time, and that is our plan. Just having conversations with people about what can be done at a neighborhood level, area level, city level, county level, and state level is what we are all about. We are non-partisan and a great way to meet people who are interested in fighting for a good cause. Public transportation, Smart urban land use, Public health, and Sustainable green ideas are the priorities and essential for the KC metro. Kansas City Metro Urbanists is a non partisan group of advocates. Kansas City Metro Urbanists are for the above ideas and initiatives. Kansas City Metro Urbanists are not affiliated with any candidate or elected official at this time. Have questions? Fill out our forms and sign up for email updates! Want to join? Fill out our interest form!

Public Transportation, Smart Urban Land Use, Public Health, and Sustainable Green Ideas make cities wonderful. These are the four pillars of our organization, and the way we move forward is through these ideas. Housing is a cornerstone of Smart Urban Land Use, we are not a city without housing!

Tomorrow! Be there!

This will open up so many new transit opportunities in the metro area. This is so exciting! Well done @kcstreetcar.org

Kansas City Streetcar announces grand opening for Main Street Extension A date has been announced for the opening of KC Streetcar's expanded route, which will take passengers as far as UMKC.

🚨Major Kansas City transit news
October 24th, 2025! Opening day of the Kansas City Streetcar extension from UMKC to Union Station!

#transit #kansascity #kc #publictransit #streetcar #missouri #kcmo #fountaincity #railtransit
www.kmbc.com/article/kans...

Don't forget one week from today! meet at the Kansas City Library in the plaza for a meet-and-greet. bring a friend, and let's talk about the issues we care about.
#kansascity #kansassky #kansas #kc #missouri #kck #overlandpark #joco #northkc #gladstone #bluesprings #independence #leessummit

If a "minimum wage" isn't made on the basis of the minimum income required to sustain a single person in a particular place, then what exactly is the minimum wage for? $7.25 should not be anyone's wage, and the fact that a company can pay that in 2025 is insulting.
www.kcur.org/2025-07-17/m...

Missouri governor signs law allowing landlords to discriminate against Section 8 renters The legislation takes aim at ordinances passed in Kansas City and other Missouri cities that protect tenants from discrimination based on the source of their income — especially tenants who use federal housing choice vouchers to pay rent.

This will make more people homeless, drive racism to new heights, and curate a greater divide from the average person and major land owners in Missouri. I don't know what else to say other than, how horrible!
#section8 #racism #kansascity #missouri #stl #kc #stlouis #mo
www.kcur.org/housing-deve...

New Johnson County sculpture memorializes the forced removal of the Potawatomi tribe to Kansas The Heritage Park installation, and another in Antioch Park, heralds a renaissance of public art in the region.

It is essential for developers, urban planners, and architects to understand that land is not free. The United States did not create the land it stands on. Native Americans are everywhere and recognizing and using that context is an expected part of the planning process.
www.kcur.org/arts-life/20...

Missouri's low tobacco tax and minimal cessation funding concern health advocates

Public spaces should be safe for all ages and all health conditions. Smoking is one of the biggest threats to public spaces and public health in Missouri.
20 pack tax:
MO: $.17 (lowest in USA)
KS: $1.29
Nat. Av.:$1.91
www.kcur.org/health/2025-...

www.kcur.org/politics-ele...

Commissioner Townsend also mentioned that the current expense sheet does not reflect the necessary ~$3Mil. just to MAINTAIN the current public transit for WYCO and if the budget does not allow for public transit, the county would be forced to shut down the 101 and 107 routes entirely...

Developers may buy defunct Kansas City, Kansas, power plant as region builds more data centers Many expect electricity demand to double in the Kansas City region as an array of new data centers open here to support AI and related technology. But will Kansas City utility customers end up paying ...

These developers are so inspired to build data centers in KCK that they are willing to convert an old coal-burning power plant into a data center, but the local government-owned BPU electricity provider has limited electricity for the city of KCK.
#data #kck #kansas #kc
www.kcur.org/housing-deve...

Kansas City will give $19 million to housing and business projects east of Troost. Here's where The developments are centered around Kansas City's historically disinvested 3rd and 5th council districts. The money will help transform Parade Park Homes, restore the Workhouse Castle and Historic Bo...

This is a great MUST-READ list from KCUR about all of the businesses, developments, and more that are getting extra assistance along the Troost Corridor in KCMO if you live in the area, lookout for some major development around your corner.
#kc #kcmo #kansascity #housing
www.kcur.org/housing-deve...

Vacant lots anywhere become major issues for a long list of reasons, but the "eyes on the street" principle has neighborhood safety at the top of the concerns. Cleanliness, wildlife habitats, and accessibility come into play when there are large unkept swaths of land.
#kc
fox4kc.com/news/problem...

Massive Panasonic battery facility now open in Kansas The plant is producing electric vehicle batteries for companies like Tesla, Toyota and Ford.

The largest single investment in the state of Kansas has finally opened for business. It employs 1,100 people, and manufactures car batteries for Tesla, Ford, and Toyota.
#desoto #kansas #joco #kansascity #kc #ks #tesla #toyota #ford
www.kmbc.com/article/deso...

Bennett Park Feedback for Updates How would you update Bennett Park? We want your feedback!

To take part in the survey click this link (Liberty, MO residents preferred):
www.libertymissouri.gov/CivicAlerts....