This summer, The Beacon published a four-part series that shed light on a major issue facing Kansas City: traffic deaths. Kansas City local government reporter Josh Merchant looked into why our city’s streets rank among the most dangerous in the country. That reporting showed the risk comes partly from street designs that allow cars to move at high speeds that lead to more severe crashes. Merchant broke down how reducing car crash deaths requires more than just urging drivers to slow down. It demands a comprehensive redesign of our streets, borrowing from successful efforts in cities across the world that have adopted measures to make roads safer. To spur change locally, we know the work must begin by listening to people from the community who are directly experiencing these issues. In response to your feedback, The Beacon hosted a traffic listening session at the Kansas City Public Library’s Plaza branch on Aug. 26.We welcomed a full house for an agenda inspired by the traffic series. The event brought together transportation leaders and members of the public eager to share their insights and discuss what’s being done to make our city safer for walking, biking and driving. Before we get into the key takeaways from this listening session, here are the panelists who shared their perspectives and answered questions from the audience:Michael Kelley, policy director at BikeWalk KC Asia Dunmore, pedestrian advocate Eskew Jackson, bus operator and union representative at KCATA Nic Miller, president at the Amalgamated Transit Union Bobby Evans, principal planner at the Mid-America Regional CouncilMajor transportation issues facing Kansas CityOver-Reliance on Cars: Panelists described Kansas City as a very car-centric city without many transportation options for people who can’t afford or choose not to own cars.Political Challenges: Kansas City’s Vision Zero study said that Black pedestrians are twice as likely to be killed as white pedestrians and Black bicyclists are four times as likely to be killed in crashes as white bicyclists. Despite that data, panelists and attendees expressed frustration that political action has been relatively sluggish. Evans said that the best way to prioritize a stop sign request is to submit a request through Kansas City’s 311 hotline. Funding and Resource Allocation: Kelley said the vast majority of government transportation funding pays for car infrastructure, as opposed to public transit, sidewalks or bike lanes. As a result, Kansas City lacks sidewalks and bike lanes on some of its dangerous streets and has a long backlog of sidewalks due for repairs. Specific challengesTraffic Safety vs. Efficiency: There is an inherent tension between traffic safety and efficiency. While free-flowing traffic is convenient, it can mean higher speeds and more severe crashes. Safe streets often require some level of congestion to prevent reckless driving. Public Transit Issues: Jackson and Miller said dangerous incidents on buses have increased since the implementation of zero-fare, making it more difficult to retain bus operators. When buses have to stop because of harassment or violence, that delays routes and can make riders late to work. They said there are other creative ways besides zero-fare to reduce the financial burden for riders without straining the bus system.Infrastructure and Development: Some attendees felt that Kansas City lacked infrastructure investment in historically neglected neighborhoods. Residents east of Troost Avenue are more likely to rely on public transportation, and one panelist said that area of the city needs a streetcar just as much as downtown.Biggest community concernsPedestrian Safety: Pedestrian safety remains a significant concern, especially in areas without proper sidewalks and street crossing facilities. Highway Traffic: Evans said that in Europe, most highways run around cities, rather than cutting through them like Interstate 35, Interstate 70 and U.S. 71 in Kansas City. That creates safety issues, where drivers are more likely to strike pedestrians who may attempt to cross the highway. One study in Kansas City suggested removing the North Loop, which separates River Market from the rest of Downtown.Communication Gaps: The introduction of new traffic measures like roundabouts and one-way streets without adequate public education was brought up as creating confusion and potentially mitigating their success. The work aheadHere at The Beacon, the story isn’t over. Your feedback is essential in shaping our reporting, and we’re digging into the comments and questions we heard at this session to inform future stories. You can count on our newsroom to keep a close watch on traffic fatalities, honoring our commitment to deliver community-first news that inspires positive change.The post Navigating Kansas City’s dangerous roads: Takeaways from The Beacon’s traffic listening session appeared first on The Beacon.