The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas Transportation Department won a $60,000 grant to transform the 7th & Minnesota Transit Hub.
The money will fund a large-scale mural and other improvements at the downtown bus stop. JT Daniels, a local artist who created murals at Jersey Creek basketball court and The Merc downtown, will design the mural.
“We fully support community beautification,” said Deasiray Bush, UG Transportation Director. “This project will allow us to revitalize the 7th Street hub and bring it back to life.”
The grant will help fund these improvements at 7th & Minnesota:
- New bus shelter panels
- Custom-designed artistic seating with anti-loitering features
- Large mural on the retaining wall reflecting Wyandotte County’s history
- Bike racks to promote eco-friendly transportation
A committee with downtown representatives and nearby neighbors will meet to collaborate with the muralist before selecting from three mural designs by late June.
Kansas City, Kansas was one of five communities nationwide selected for GM’s Main Street Grant Program, which funds pedestrian-friendly and inclusive design projects.
“We’re excited to bring art, accessibility, and essential upgrades together in a way that truly connects people and place,” Bush said. ”This grant gives us the opportunity to reimagine the 7th & Minnesota Transit Hub—not just as a stop, but as a vibrant space that reflects and serves our community.”
Broader 7th Street Improvements Coming
The receipt of the GM Main Street Grant coincides with a separate Transportation Improvement Plan grant to the KCATA from 2022 that will upgrade a larger stretch of 7th Street from Minnesota Avenue to KU Medical Center.
This 7th Street corridor project includes:
- New bus shelters
- Benches and trash receptacles
- Real-time arrival signs similar to those on KCMO Streetcar
Both grants should begin implementation by July, and a joint future groundbreaking ceremony is being planned by the UG.
“It will look completely different than what you see today,” Bush says. “We want something that’s more of a modern style, that’s colorful, open, and benefits community morale.”
