Missourians for Responsible Transportation [MRT] and our organizational partners (BikeWalkKC–Kansas City // Local Motion–Columbia // Ozark Greenways–Springfield // Trailnet–St. Louis) work to advance active transportation opportunities for Missourians.
Learn more about who we are, what we do, and why we do it in our 2024 MRT Annual Update.
Our mission is to be the leader in fostering strong communities by aligning advocacy efforts for streets, roads, and trails that work for all Missourians.
2024 was an eventful year for Missourians for Responsible Transportation, and in reflecting on some the the activities and success of the past year, I’m reminded just how much we crammed into a year! After the successful passage of the Siddens Benning Hands Free Law in 2024 we continued to do education about the new law and the penalty provisions that went into effect Jan. 1, 2025. During the annual Distracted Driving Awareness day at the Capitol we had a very meaningful event with two empty chairs along with past victims to signify the two lives that were not lost this year due to the impact of the law already. It was incredibly moving, and I'm proud of Missourians for Responsible Transportation’s role in elevating the voices of communities around the state to make this law a reality. Following on the heels of the successful passage of the Siddens Benning Hands Free Law, Missourians for Responsible Transportation, AAA, MoDOT and others began meeting regularly in a new Driver's Education Coalition aimed at getting drivers education curriculum back into Missouri High Schools. Universal Driver Education will improve teen skills, prevent crashes, and save lives.
I’m also extremely proud of our team for helping to convene and facilitate six different trainings across the state that helped set communities up for success in advancing more transportation choices for residents. All of this while doing a lot of work internally to kick off our own strategic plan for the next few years that we will release in 2025!
Jackson Hotaling traveled across the state to build coalitions while learning about Missouri's transportation challenges and opportunities. This year, he participated in several statewide planning initiatives, including advancing advocacy for a statewide active transportation plan and representing active transportation needs on MO Department of Health and Senior Services' Master Plan on Aging - Transportation Subcommittee. One of his 2024 highlights was bringing Missouri's rural active transportation issues to the national stage, through participation in a two-day rural road safety forum focused on the Safe Systems Approach.
Cindy DeBlauw supports MRT on a part-time basis assisting with the implementation of Department of Health and Senior Service and University of Missouri Extension projects. The most satisfying part of Cindy's job is working with a dedicated group of professionals across the state to make transportation safer and more accessible.
BCBH is a program that brings a diverse array of communities together to tackle chronic disease risk factors through increased physical activity and tobacco use prevention. MRT is contracted by MO Department of Health and Senior Services [MO DHSS] to be a technical assistance provider for the active transportation portion of the project.
Six BCBH communities across the state are making headway toward adopting active transportation plans that will set forth a community vision for infrastructure implementation over time. We have been working locally to assist with walk audits and the planning process, and in April 2024, we brought all the communities together for an 'Active Transportation 101' training in Moberly.
For questions about the project, email Molly McGrath with MO DHSS (Molly.McGrath@health.mo.gov).
MRT leads active transportation technical assistance strategies for SPAN, which is funded by MO DHSS. For our first cohort, communities in four southeastern MO regional planning commissions were selected to move this project forward.
MRT hosted several trainings for the project, convening our regional planning partners in St. James and our community partners in Poplar Bluff. We look forward to regular meetings with our first cohort starting in January 2025.
For questions about the project, email Molly McGrath with MO DHSS (Molly.McGrath@health.mo.gov).
Similar to SPAN, MRT is a technical assistance contractor with the High Obesity Program, which is contracted through the University of Missouri Extension to support active transportation planning in Southeast Missouri.
MRT is kicking off our work with HOP, and we hosted a training with HOP coordinators in Columbia to identify walk audit best practices and to share more about the active transportation planning process.
MU Extension is preparing to identify communities to participate in the program. To partner on this project, please reach out to Jollyn Tyryfter with MU Extension (jtyryfter@missouri.edu).
MOCS is a Dept. of Health and Senior Services [MO DHSS] initiative formed in 2010. MRT leads quarterly MOCS, inviting a broad range of stakeholders to host presentations, discuss active transportation developments, and contribute to the discussion and planning. MOCS has four main goals:
MoDOT is currently updating its long-range transportation planning document, and this may be our best opportunity to establish a system for statewide active transportation planning. A statewide active transportation plan is a crucial guiding document that can improve safety, establish regional active transportation connections, and address funding gaps.
MOCS is tracking these important updates and has formed a Statewide Active Transportation Plan Workgroup to coordinate our advocacy initiatives.
MRT participates in an important planning project that seeks to provide expert and citizen-led guidance for policy improvements for our aging state, as part of MO DHSS' Master Plan on Aging:
On January 19, 2023, Governor Parson signed Executive Order 23-01 to establish a Master Plan on Aging to help reduce age and disability discrimination, eliminate barriers to safe and healthy aging, and help Missourians age with dignity. This Executive Order created an advisory council and tasked DHSS with the development of a plan by Dec. 31, 2025.
One of the seven subcommittees is focused on 'Transportation and Mobility.' The recommendations are intended to provide guidance "on expanding transportation access and options for older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers" as well as "making safe streets and neighborhoods for walking, biking, and living for older adults and adults with disabilities and their caregivers. The recommendations are currently under review.
In addition to our support for the Transportation Subcommittee, MRT helped facilitate three town halls in Jefferson City, Cape Girardeau, and Joplin, as well as a virtual town hall:
Mindy Ulstad, Bureau Chief for Senior Programs, joined MRT and MOCS to share about the Master Plan on Aging process, including how feedback from subcommittees and public input will be utilized to inform the remainder of the planning process.
Stay tuned in early 2025, as we will share the Master Plan on Aging's Transportation Subcommittee recommendations.
Missouri's regional trail projects made significant headway in 2024. MRT followed along process and supported trail developers through public meeting participation and letters of support.
MRT continues to lead monthly virtual update calls to coordinate conversations around the development of Rock Island Trail State Park. We also attended groundbreaking ceremonies in several communities to celebrate the first developments for the new Rock Island Trail State Park:
MRT attends quarterly update meetings for the US Bicycle Routes 51 and 251, two bicycle routes located in western Missouri that will be recognized as part of the US Bicycle Route System.
We submitted organizational support for the new bike routes, and many additional partners came together to move US Bicycle Route 51 to be officially designated. To become designated as a US Bicycle Route, every single community along the route must provide official support, and additional support came from MoDOT, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Adventure Cycling Association, Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, and other groups.
Complete Streets can be established through roadway safety interventions. The Federal Highway Administration [FHWA] established the 'Proven Safety Countermeasures Initiative' [PSCi], which is "a collection of 28 countermeasures and strategies effective in reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries on our Nation’s highways." Learn more:
MRT made a map with points that reflect these safety countermeasures and other Complete Streets best practices across Missouri, including bicycle and pedestrian countermeasures:
Two major regional trail projects are making headway thanks to rural trail advocates, and MRT had the opportunity to meet with local trail leaders to see how they get work done.
Kirksville FLATS, an all-volunteer community organization, has a long-term plan to connect downtown Kirksville to Thousand Hills State Park. FLATS received grant funding to open up a beautiful downtown trailhead this year with a pavilion, play area, and other amenities.
MRT met with Kirksville FLATS at the new trailhead to learn how they are working together to build extensive active transportation connections in Adair County.
Johnson County's Spirit Trail is developing an incredible trail network across the county, and they celebrated a 4.4-mile expansion that connects Warrensburg with Knob Noster State Park and Whiteman Air Force Base, with future connections envisioned for the city of Knob Noster and Rock Island Trail State Park.
MRT attended their trail grand opening, a Spirit Trail coalition meeting, and we invited a coalition member to speak at a SPAN training this year.
MRT attended several trail development events and opening celebrations to highlight active transportation updates across the state. Check out the next section to learn about MRT's partner organization updates.
We lead coalitions and serve on working groups that forward our mission:
