The summary for the June 30th Issues Workshop is now available for review. The summary documents the construction phasing options presented for discussion during the meeting. Many of the questions from the stakeholders at the meeting included questions about when right-of-way limits would be known, transition between the new construction and existing roadways and concern about how long these improvements could take.
Many in the group were pleased to see plans for the interim improvements of adding additional lanes on I-35 from 119th Street to I-435 and from Quivira Road to I-35 moving forward.
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Archive for the ‘Study Process’ Category
Issues Workshop Summary Available
Bicycles and Highways
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.
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
Phase 1 Regional Study Report now posted
The purpose of the Phase 1 Regional Study Report was to better understand the existing conditions of the interchange and determine areas for improvement by reviewing the influence of regional and localized traffic generators, future traffic levels and travel patterns on the interchange area.
The report summarize the existing conditions as noted:
• 230,000 drivers use the interchange every day.
• With the exception of bridge surface maintenance, the bridges within the interchange area are in good condition.
• Most of the roadway pavement has experienced significant rehabilitation in recent years with pavement patching and overlays. Despite this rehabilitation, very little remaining service life is left in the pavement.
• Sections of the interchange area do not meet current design criteria. This includes several horizontal curves, ramp acceleration/deceleration lengths, weave distances and local service interchanges in close proximity to system
interchanges.
• Severe congestion levels exist in both the AM and PM peak hours on portions of the I-435, I-35 and K-10 corridors. Today, 20 percent of the interchange is congested. A drive through the interchange that should take 3 minutes actually takes, on average, 4 minutes due to congestion.
• The K-10 and I-435 highway crash rates are higher than the Kansas statewide average for similar facilities. The highest density of crashes occurs on I-435 from K-10 to Quivira. Rear end crashes are the most prevalent crash
type.
• Transit plays an important role in the interchange area. Johnson County Transit operates a number of fixed route
and flexible route (paratransit) services through the interchange.
• The SCOUT system is operated in part of the interchange area.
• Ramp metering service will be added in November 2009, to I-435 just east of the study area.
The report also summarize the future no-build conditions as:
• 360,000 drivers are expected to use the interchange by 2040.
• Regional historical growth patterns have shown a southerly and westerly development pattern along the I-35 and K-10 corridors. This growth pattern is expected to continue in the future. (As noted in chapter 3 of the report.)
• Regional traffic generators surround the study interchange and rely on the interchange area for access to the interstate system.
• Severe congested conditions are expected to occur in much of the AM and PM peak hours on portions of the
I-435, I-35 and K-10 corridors. By 2040, 50 percent of the interchange is expected to be congested. A typical
drive through the interchange that should take 3 minutes in uncongested conditions is expected to take 16
minutes at the peak hour by 2040.
• As traffic demand and congestion increase, the number of crashes is also expected to increase.
