The Johnson County Gateway Study Team met with representatives from the Johnson County Bicylce Club, Bike America and KanBikeWalk group last night to discuss the proposed improvements. The issue isn’t making the interstates safe for bicyclists, since the bicyclists aren’t allowed to ride on the interstates (nor would they want to). But highways create barriers for cyclists and there has to be a safe way for them to get across the highways.
The bike community provided suggestions for the study team to consider when designing interchanges and emphasized how important striping a bike lane is for safety.
Not all bicyclists feel safe riding on the roads, and that is why many communities have bike paths and trails, but for those cyclists who commute to work or who are road bikers, it is important to them to have that adequate accomodation on the road.
The Gateway study team appreciated hearing their concerns and will consider the appropriate bicycle accomodations where feasible and economical.
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Bicycles and Highways
Focus Group Summary Report Available
In early February, focus groups were conducted with randomly selected residents who use or have used the I-435/I-35/K-10 interchange area. The summary report documents their thoughts and perceptions on how the interchange currently works and their opinions on the proposed improvement concepts. Seventy-one people participated in the focus groups. Generally all the participants supported the improvement concept presented.
Video chat with Blake Schreck from the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce
Blake Schreck, President of the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce sat down with me and provided his thoughts on the importance of the I-435/I-35/K10 interchange area to Lenexa and how improvements to the interchange are critical to the economy of Lenexa.
Please note this is our first pod video interview, so there is room for improvement from a video/quality standpoint.
Draft Concept Alternatives
The study team has developed two concepts alternatives that improve safety and reduce congestion. Each concept creates more separation for drivers traveling through the interchange area and those who want to exit. The concepts use collector distributor roads to help create a separation and eliminate much of the weaving for those traveling through the area and those going from one major highway to another. Decision points for exits are placed well ahead of their current location, but with appropriate signage it should be easy to navigate. At least that was the reaction from the recent focus groups who viewed the concepts.
In the next couple of weeks we will have a video simulation posted to show how the concepts function.
Focus Groups Conducted
In order to gather additional information from commuters and regional users of the I-435/I-35/K-10 Interchange, we are conducting focus groups to talk about specific issues surrounding the interchange. We are working with ETC Institute , to randomly recruit and invite people who use the interchange frequently to attend and provide their thoughts and opinions on transportation issues related to the improvement of the area. So far two focus groups have been completed and participants were glad to know that KDOT is studying ways to improve the interchange. The input from the focus groups will help the study team understand the most important issues to commuters as work continues on the improvement concepts.
Latest online survey is available
We are looking for feedback on access and mobility issues. Please providie your input by taking the online survey. The surveys provide insight into what issues are of most concern to the respondents and help the study team as they work on the alternative for improvements.
Issues Workshop Presentation Posted
On January 8, 2010, KDOT invited key businesses and stakeholders in the study area to an issues workshop where the study team presented two draft concept alternatives. We asked the business community what concerns they had with the proposed concepts and how they thought the improvements might impact them. Overall, most of the concerns noted had to do with funding the improvements and for what short-term solutions could be implemented until all the improvements could be completed. As the study progresses, there will be more discussion on the short-term improvements. At this time, there is no funding for construction or any right-of-way acquistion. The presentation can be found in the resource link under meeting summaries.
Unfettered Letter-November 29, 2009 Kansas City Star
From the November 29, 2009 Unfettered Letters section of the Kansas City Star.com this letter appeared:
Bottleneck on I-435
One of the major bottlenecks to westbound Interstate 435 traffic on the Kansas side is the ramp to Interstate 35.
Too often, drivers who intend to take the I-35 exit jump into the middle or left lane and pass other drivers who have been patiently waiting in the right-hand lane. Then, at the last minute, these lane jumpers force their way into the exit lane, causing other drivers to brake to avoid hitting them.
I think it is time for the Kansas Department of Transportation to build two more lanes on the right side of westbound I-435 beginning from the Quivira ramp to the I-35 exit. A concrete barrier should be added halfway between Quivira and the I-35 exit, which would force drivers who want to exit to move into the lanes earlier.
This would allow westbound I-435 traffic to move along better and result in fewer collisions on that stretch of highway.
Curt Thacker
Bonner Springs
Response
The Kansas Department of Transportation is aware of the issue and currently has plans to add additional lanes from Quivira to I-35 as part of the US 69/I-435 improvements. Unfortunately, at this time, there are no funds for construction so there is no timetable for the improvements.
KDOT is also studying the I-435/I-35/K-10 interchange to determine what improvements are needed to reduce congestion and improve safety in the area. To learn more about that study check out the web site: www.jocogateway.com
Make dedicated lanes
We’ve heard a number of comments about keeping through travelers in their lane, while those exiting should move to exit lanes. Like this comment, “make right hand lane from the K-10 Westbound exit in the I-435 Southound lanes a solid white line area (no passing to left 2 lanes). Dedicate this lane for only oncoming traffic or those exiting to I-35 Southbound. Make it this way until the Quivira exit. This would allow people in middle and left lanes to not have to stop on the interstate so people coming on could get in. Anyone wanting to go to I-35 would have to be in right hand lane from K-10 exit on to do so. This has worked for the Grandview triangle area, so it could work here. Would make it safer to get onto and off the highway since only oncoming and exiting cars would be using it. It is a short distance to stay in a dedicated lane. Would reduce possibility of being side swiped by impatient oncoming drivers and would help reduce rear end collisions caused by others stopping to let some rude driver in. It would also help on days when sun is in your eyse and you have problems seeing those wanting in and stopping traffic.”
Response:
As improvement options are developed the idea of keeping the ‘thru traveler’ in the appropriate lanes in order to keep traffic flowing has been discussed. Options for local traffic access would be separated in order to reduce conflict opportunities.
Short ramps
We received a comment regarding the problem of the short distance from the Lackman entrance ramp and the turn ramps which lead to the I-35.
Response: Thanks for your comment. As additional lanes are planned for and access points to the ramps are extended and separated, this will help traffic flow. This might be an area where collector/distributor (think Roe and Nall exit) roads would work to help reduce the conflicting weaving movements.
