State-Level Advocacy

CAMPAIGN SUMMARY

Missourians for Responsible Transportation (MRT) is a statewide partnership led by Local Motion and three other transportation advocacy organizations (BikeWalkKC, Ozark Greenways, and Trailnet) that is raising the voices of Missourians to state legislators and policymakers. Founded in 2018, MRT serves as an umbrella partnership that brings together communities and grassroots organizations from urban and rural areas to advocate with one voice at the state level for a fiscally responsible, safe, and equitable transportation system. MRT represents 35,000 members across Missouri. PedNet houses and is the fiscal agent for MRT.

In its first two years, MRT worked with 27 rural Missouri communities, including 16 towns where MRT is currently coaching, training and providing technical assistance to improve transportation options for the underserved. MRT created a Complete Streets policy template for rural communities and has so far helped two communities pass such policies; six more are planning policy adoption in 2020.

OUR MISSION

MRT’s mission is to be the leader in fostering strong communities by aligning advocacy efforts for streets, roads, and trails that work for all Missourians. MRT will accomplish this by:

• Finding local champions – communities, organizations, and people who want their towns to grow and prosper. They will act as a resource for information, strategies, and solutions.
• Connecting communities – allowing communities to share ideas and collaborate on common goals. Missourians can win by working together and demanding systems that work for their communities.
• Amplifying the voices – link communities to lawmakers, regional planning commissions, and Missouri Department of Transportation.
• Act as a resource – helping towns and communities that want to be more bikeable and walkable.

MRT is visiting and rallying support for responsible projects that proactively take everyone’s transportation needs into account. They gather stories of how good transportation investments are building businesses and careers for Missouri’s citizens, then taking those stories to Jefferson City to ask for support and making sure Missourians’ voices are heard.

Contact Us

For more information, contact Taylor March at Taylor@MovingMissouri.org