BLOG

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.

Since the public meeting the study has moved into phase 2 and the study team has started developing improvement concepts for the interchange area. The concepts developed will accomodate projected 2040 traffic levels in order to improve safety and traffic flow. As the study team develops alternatives, they will also consider how alternative transportation solutions, such as transit options and intelligent transportation solutions (ITS) can be incorporated. There is still a lot of work to be done, but look for roadway design concept alternatives to be presented later this summer.

In order for traffic engineers to have a better understanding of how people travel throught this interchange area, a video license plate origin-destination (O-D) study was performed on November 6 and 7, 2008 in the study area. Cameras were set up at each of the study interchanges and data was collected during the peak AM and PM periods. The purpose of the origin–destination study was to better understand existing travel patterns, calibrate the existing traffic simulation model used to analyze existing problems, collect traffic volumes on system to system ramps, help develop a future traffic assignment, and observe high congestion areas.
For more information on how travel patterns influence future improvement come to the May 14 Public Meeting.

The study team is working hard to prepare displays that explain the information collected and evaluated during this first phase of the regional study. There will be information on existing conditions and future traffic projections. With the input from the online survey and community interviews we have ideas on what the travelers consider the biggest problem areas. Please plan to attend the May 14 Public Meeting to provide your input on what the issues are for the interchange area and what options we should consider as we move into the concept development phase of the study.