Residents of Princeton and South Lineville will soon see an upgrade to their sidewalks, as the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), in partnership with engineering firm Affinis, sets its sights on improving accessibility along U.S. Routes 136 and 65. The project, aimed at aligning with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, opens its doors to public opinion with a scheduled meeting at Princeton High School.

The community is invited to drop in tomorrow, at the high school located at 1008 E. Coleman St., Princeton, MO 64673. From 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., attendees can visit to peruse project plans and chat with the project leaders, as no formal presentation will be placed. While open to all, property owners affected by the potential easement changes have been directly contacted by MoDOT's Right of Way staff to discuss details between the same hours stated above.

Those who cannot make it to the public meeting have until Wednesday, April 9, to make their thoughts heard. Two additional platforms for input are welcomed; participants can either navigate through the project's website at Missouri Route 136 and U.S. Route 65 Sidewalk/ADA Improvements in Mercer County to leave comments and sign up for email updates, or address their written comments to: Mercer County ADA project, MoDOT, 3602 North Belt Highway, St. Joseph, MO 64506, ensuring their letters are postmarked by the April deadline.

Accessibility to this community dialogue is not an afterthought for MoDOT — they stand committed to providing equal access for all participants. If you require an accommodation, or if translation services are necessary, reaching out to Northwest District Communications at 816-901-4529 by the earlier date of Wednesday, March 19, will secure the services needed. Ensuring a broad and inclusive spectrum of voices can shape these developments reflects MoDOT's commitment to a process that seeks to uplift every corner of the community it serves.