Advocacy

Missourians for Responsible Transportation is engaged in advocacy efforts to improve streets, roads, and trails that work for all Missourians.

Our 2024 Focus Areas

Missouri Complete Streets [MOCS] is an initiative sponsored by the Department of Health and Senior Services [DHSS]. DHSS contracts with MRT to lead quarterly MOCS Advisory Committee meetings, working in a collaborative environment to address Missouri's active transportation policy issues.

One of the primary objectives identified by MOCS is to establish a statewide active transportation plan, and we are working to support the development of this statewide plan for Missouri.

MRT is monitoring state funding sources that impact the way Missourians get around. We aim to support the planning and implementation of projects that benefit all road users, including those who walk, bike, take the bus, or use a wheelchair to get around. We hope to continue the momentum to address the lack of funding dedicated for these vulnerable road users.

In 2023, we advocated for an improved Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), the largest source of funding in Missouri for active transportation projects. We also advocated for changes to the 'Improve I-70' highway expansion that may make it harder for Missourians who rely on transit or for communities on both sides of the interstate to get across with active transportation.

The 'Movement is Life' project supports efforts to collaborate more closely with Regional Planning Commissions and Metropolitan Planning Organizations to better coordinate and effect positive changes for walking, biking, and transit access on the regional level.

Our Wins

Learn more about our achievements:

Letters of Support

MRT uses our voice to elevate projects and policy initiatives that align with our mission. Here is a selection of actions we have supported:

Federal, CDC: Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH)
  • 2023: REACH St. Louis letter of support
Federal, USDOT: Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE)
  • 2022: Warsaw, MO's RAISE application letter of support
  • 2022: Versailles, MO's RAISE application letter of support
  • 2021: Great Rivers Greenway's Brickline Greenway legislator efforts letter of support
Federal, USDOT: Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)
  • 2022: Kirkwood, MO's SS4A Application Letter of Support
State of Missouri, DNR: Recreational Trails Program (RTP)
  • 2023: Frisco Highline RTP Application Letter of Support
  • 2020: Cooper's Landing RTP Application Letter of Support
State of Missouri, MoDOT: Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)
  • Grant applications for various communities
Federal: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
  • 2022: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Support
Federal: National Discovery Trails Act
  • 2022: Support for the American Discovery Trail
State of Missouri: Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law
  • Recurring: Siddens Bening Hands Free Law Support
State of Missouri: Transit Funding
  • Recurring: Transit Funding Support
US Bike Route: 51/251
  • 2024: US Bike Route 51/251 letter of support
US Interstate Highway: 70
  • 2023: Improve I-70 Letter to MoDOT
Missouri State Parks: Rock Island Trail
  • 2023: Rock Island Trail support
  • 2022: Rock Island Trail support
State of Missouri, MoDOT: Passenger Rail
  • 2022: MoDOT State Freight and Rail Plan
State of Missouri, MoDOT: Unfunded Needs
  • 2023: MoDOT High-Priority Unfunded Needs List
Federal, NHTSA: New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)
  • 2023: Updates to the New Car Assessment Program
State of Missouri, MoDOT: SAFER document updates
  • 2022: Considerations for updates to the SAFER document
State of Missouri, MoDOT: Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) scoring criteria updates
  • 2023: TAP program scoring criteria updates

Do you need advocacy support for your initiative?

Reach out to us–we may be able to help.
MRT@MovingMissouri.org

Looking to find advocacy efforts closer to home?

Visit this map to see if groups are working for positive transportation change in your community:

mrt@movingmissouri.org
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