Kansas Department of Transportation s 5-County Regional Transportation Study Stakeholder Advisory Panel Meeting

Transcription

1 Kansas Department of Transportation s 5-County Regional Transportation Study Stakeholder Advisory Panel Meeting May 5, :30-10:30 a.m. Kansas Department of Transportation Olathe Office 1290 S. Enterprise Drive Olathe, KS ATTENDEES Panel members in attendance: Steve Baru, Sierra Club Rich Caplan, K-10 Association/Caplan Associates Tom Cooley, Unified Government of Wyandotte County Commissioner Elaine Giessel, League of Women Voters Chris Gutierrez, KC SmartPort Steve Jack, Leavenworth County Development Corporation Greg Kaaz, Heavy Constructors Association Steve Petrehn, Mid-America Regional Council Bicycle/Pedestrian Committee George Pretz, Kansas Farm Bureau/Miami County Commissioner Kise Randall, Kessinger-Hunter (Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant) Hannes Zacharias, Johnson County Deputy County Manager KDOT, MARC 1, and Lawrence-Douglas County MPO 2 Staff/Study Consultants in attendance: Hugh Bogle, Kansas Department of Transportation Thomas Dow, Kansas Department of Transportation Tom Gerend, Mid-America Regional Council Todd Girdler, Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization David Gurss, Kansas Department of Transportation Davonna Moore, Kansas Department of Transportation Erin Ollig, Shockey Consulting Services Clyde Prem, Olsson Associates Bart Rudolph, Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization 1 MARC: Mid-America Regional Council 2 MPO: Metropolitan Planning Organization 1 of 10

2 Sheila Shockey, Shockey Consulting Services Joel Skelley, Kansas Department of Transportation Jim Tobaben, Parsons Brinckerhoff Other People in attendance: Brad Cooper, Kansas City Star Dan Miller, City of Overland Park, Kansas Phil Perry, Homebuilders Association of Greater Kansas City Tom Riederer, Southwest Johnson County Economic Development Corporation 2 of 10

3 MEETING NOTES I WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS Thomas Dow, Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) State Transportation Planner, welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked for the group to introduce themselves. II FUTURE PHILOSOPHIES ACTIVITY Sheila Shockey, Shockey Consulting Services, led the Panelists through an exercise that asks them to envision newspaper headlines for what the transportation system might look like in While the participants shared their headlines, Ms. Shockey recorded some common themes that were brought up. These themes will combine with the themes of the four working group s responses. A vision statement will then be drafted. The themes discussed by the Stakeholder Advisory Panel members included: Light rail ridership is high (record ridership) Cooperation to improve transit Increased bicycle and walking commuters Alternative Fuels (hydrogen, electricity, no more fossil fuels, increased fuel prices) Global model for transit World class example of sustainability Miami County is linked to the trails system Improved air quality Fee public transit in low income zones High occupancy vehicle lanes New mixed use Smart highway system MetroGreen implemented Innovation and technology Car is dead Rail to Columbia and Manhattan Obesity down, public health up KDOT and MoDOT merge Leavenworth County connected Tonganoxie interchange Intermodal has 1 million container volume and is number in logistics Traffic moves smoothly Multi-modal South corridor connection III STUDY UPDATE Jim Tobaben then gave a presentation about the Study and what has happened since the last Stakeholder Advisory Panel meeting. He asked the participants to point out any missing links, think about what is important, and what should the future system include. 3 of 10

4 The stakeholder comments presented can be found in Attachment A. Participant Question: Did your Douglas County comments include any discussion of 59 Highway? Response: Not really. That road is already being worked on. Participant Question: Did your Douglas County comments include any desire for a route to KCI? Response: No comments from Douglas County on that. Participant Question: Is the regional landfill that is mentioned in the Douglas County comments already there? Response: Yes Participant Comment: If Douglas County is considering transit-oriented development, I think the rest of the metro should take it more seriously. Participant Comment: I m surprised there isn t any mention in the Johnson County comments about congestion on I-35. Maybe they have given up on that. Response: A major improvement study was completed about 10 years ago. A lot of improvements recommended in that study have been done. Participant Question: Did you receive any comments in Johnson County about Shawnee Mission Parkway being a transit corridor? Response: We received some comments on that. Participant Comment: The current transit links don t connect; we need to think about that. Participant Comment: We tend to look at the needs today instead of the needs for the future. Participant Comment: I m surprised that there was no mention of a KCI transit connection. Participant Question: Were there any comments in Johnson County about connecting to the MetroGreen and Katy Trail? Response: Some, but not many. Participant Comment: We want to make sure we talk about trails not just as recreation use, but also for commuting and connecting facilities. 4 of 10

5 Participant Comment: I m surprised that there weren t any concerns about freight movement moving east-west. Joel Skelley, KDOT, said that KDOT is currently undergoing an Amtrak study in Kansas to look into missing links to Newton, Kansas and/or Oklahoma. Participant Comment: Also need to think about proposed truck-only lanes if they are implemented in Missouri. Will that just stop at the state line? Participant Question: What about the shifting of freight capacity? Have there been any studies done about what will happen when freight is moved out of Kansas City, Kansas? Response: That is a good point. Participant Comment: Leavenworth County updated their comprehensive plan recently that included a river crossing route. Participant Comment: A Feasibility Study on the potential for a regional airport near Leavenworth has been completed and it is currently under review. Participant Comment: If we re thinking about a regional airport, we should also see how to position ourselves to be a part of the high speed rail. I think that would be more cost efficient than air. Participant Question: Does high speed rail need a new right-of-way? Response: We can t carry freight and passenger rail on the same line. We would need a new dedicated line. Participant Question: Are there any existing passenger-only corridors? Response: Along the east coast, but they typically follow freight alignment. Participant Comment: Another issue with high speed rail would be the grade separations and intersections. Participant Comment: We need to be proactive to have high speed rail in Kansas. What can this group do to encourage that? Participant Comment: There is an opportunity for partnerships with other cities like Denver. Participant Comment: If we position ourselves here we can be the hub. 5 of 10

6 Participant Comment: Our history is to be a distribution hub (i.e. Oregon Trail), barges may be another efficient mode of travel. Participant Comment: the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) is looking at an upgrade of Amtrak, but they are also thinking about replacing/redoing I-70 all together. Participant Comment: Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) is looking at the inventories and how to position the Kansas City area. Participant Comment: The northern states say there isn t enough water in the rivers to move barges. Participant Comment: I don t think we should overlook that. Maybe that is part of our portfolio for freight movement. Participant Comment: I think 223 rd Street would be a good route in Miami County for the eastwest route. Participant Question: Is there a local match associated with improving a road. For instance, would Johnson County pay to have Miami County improve their road? Response: That s a good point. Johnson County residents would benefit from a road being built in Miami County. Participant Comment: I have a concern about increasing more turnpike roads. Already the turnpike may trap people on there so they can t get off (i.e. tornado). Maybe we need to provide a storm refuge or something. Participant Comment: I m surprised to hear no mention of I-70 only being one lane eastbound as it goes into Kansas City. It would seem that it should be widened to at least two lanes heading eastbound. Participant Question: Were there any comments about freight in Wyandotte County? Response: No, but keep in mind we have only met with a few groups from Wyandotte County. Participant Comment: I m surprised there weren t any comments on expanding use of the New Century Airport. Response: A study was on it was completed and it s being discouraged. 6 of 10

7 Participant Comment: the downtown airport will help with that. That s just for personal travel though, not for freight. Participant Comment: While BNSF is held off from building the intermodal facility, we need to maybe rethink the connections to the north and south. We need to think beyond the new interchange on I-35. Participant Comment: Development is happening out that way, although not right at the intermodal site (i.e. Coleman) Participant Comment: I would like to see examples of what other cities around the world have done. Mr. Tobaben continued by asking the group if there were any missing needs or issues that should be addressed by the Study? The following comments were received: Wyandotte County freight needs Focus on I-35 corridor from Antioch to State Line; a lot of opportunity Impact of the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant development and the opportunity for transit; we can start from scratch; would be a good model Sunflower commuter rail Can get from A to B, now need to find out how to get to point C. Barge traffic Control and restriction of truck routes; where and when trucks can travel Incentivize alternative fuels; give tax breaks for fleets with alternative fuel Role of the turnpike with financing; maybe expanding or do congestion pricing. We need to think out of the box. Pricing as related to vehicle miles travelled (VMT) - what would it take to make that happen? Thomas Dow, KDOT, stated that a study on tolls was conducted. They looked at other types of studies as part of that. You can see it on the Kansas Turnpike Authority website at: Participant Comment: Don t know how this all fits in with other studies, but I think we should have a separate meeting on the related issues and area studies. Tom Gerend, Mid-America Regional Council, gave a brief update on MARC s Transportation Outlook 2040 study. More information about the study can be found at 7 of 10

8 Environment & Social Equity Freight Land Use/ Economic Development Mobility/ Accessibility/ Connectivity Stakeholder Advisory Panel IV WORKING GROUP UPDATE Sheila Shockey spoke to the group about the responsibilities of the working groups and the Advisory Panel and the intended work products. She stated that some of the products may overlap. A lot of information will be fed to the Advisory Panel. Input on Work Products and Recommendations Vision for future transportation systems. Identify preliminary strategies to consider further. Criteria for prioritizing future investments. Scenario plans for next intermodal facility. Key freight corridors (map & text). Criteria to evaluate full impact of developments (true cost/ benefit analysis). Identification (map & text) of likely locations for future developments or conditions that drive these developments. Recommended changes to planning and development process to make decisions in partnership at state and local level. Identification and prioritization of problem locations and major system issues to address (map & text). Identification of high priority natural resources and areas of highest threats (map and criteria). Recommendations regarding how the transportation system can be more socially equitable strengthen civil rights and enable better access. Recommendations regarding how best to integrate transportation and environmental planning. Identification of the full impacts of development (text) (i.e. farmland conversion, loss of critical habitat). V NET MEETING & CONVENE The next meeting date will be announced by . Adjournment at 10:45 a.m. 8 of 10

9 Attachment A: Stakeholder Comments Comment Type County Roadways Transit Bicycles/ Pedestrians Freight Movement Economic Development & Land Use Environment Douglas County Complete the South Lawrence Trafficway Widen the existing South Lawrence Trafficway Provide connection from I-70 to K-10 Widen K-10 to 6 lanes Improve US 56 Highway Provide service from Kansas City, MO to Lawrence Provide service from Lawrence to Topeka Maintain K-10 express bus service Create a Kansas River Trail Provide a crossing across K-10 in Eudora Create a trail along K-10 Provide rail service to future regional landfill Complete the South Lawrence Trafficway to provide truck route Improve US-56 Highway to better accommodate trucks Complete the South Lawrence Trafficway Implement the Eudora Vision Plan Develop more transit-oriented development Provide a connection from I- 70 to K-10 Protect water quality at Clinton Lake Preserve wetlands impacted by South Lawrence Trafficway Impacts of prime agricultural land by I-70 & US-24/40 and K-10 Johnson County Provide connection from I-70 to K-10 to I-35 Improve capacity along K-10 & I-435 Improve K-7 Capacity issues along US-69 Need a new eastwest road south of I-435 to Missouri Need better circulation within the County Continue & expand K-10 express bus More routes from Olathe to downtown KCMO Provide transit from Topeka to Lawrence to KCMO Provide transit along Metcalf Corridor Create a trail along K-10 Create a trail along K-7 Have bicycle access across freeways More bicycle lanes are needed Need capacity improvements on I-35 Need rail grade separations in Olathe, Gardner, & Edgerton Travel is become more impacted by truck traffic Connect I-70 to K- 10 & I-35 (Sunflower Ammunition Plant) Provide east-west connector Industrial development Protect environmentally sensitive areas Encourage electric vehicles Environmental impacts of Gardner intermodal facility Preserve right-ofway for K-7 9 of 10

10 County Roadways Transit Leavenworth County Miami County Wyandotte County Improved route to KCI Need a new road from Leavenworth to K-10 New bypass to south Widen & improve K- 5 Widen US-24/40 Improve K-7 Widen K-68 to 4 lanes Build new loop to north Provide a K-68 bypass around Louisburg Need for new eastwest road to Missouri Connect K-5 to K-7 & I-435 Widen K-7 north of I-70 Improve K-7 & I-70 interchange Provide Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) along I-70 Need transit in Leavenworth & Lansing Transit needed to KCI Transit needed to the Legends Transit between Lawrence & Leavenworth Provide connection to Johnson County Need for paratransit services State Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Express bus from Topeka to Lawrence to KCMO Connect Wyandotte & Johnson Counties Provide service on K-7 Bicycles/ Pedestrians Need bike lanes/shoulders on K-5 Need a Missouri River crossing Trail along K-7 from Leavenworth to Olathe Trail from Leavenworth to Lawrence Freight Movement Need a new road to connect BNSF facility to I-70 & Leavenworth Widen US-24/40 Truck volumes a concern in Leavenworth Economic Development & Land Use Connect Centennial Bridge (92 highway) to KCI & KCMO Northland Connect K-5 to I- 435 & KCI Regional airport needed No comments No comments Hillsdale Lake is a major tourist attraction Avoid sprawl Strengthen existing development nodes (connect with multi-modal) Create Kansas River trail Connect Leavenworth to Wyandotte County Lake No comments Improve K-5 State Avenue corridor- smart growth strategies Smart growth strategies for future developments Environment Protect Stranger Creek (valuable resource) Preserve beautiful hills Protect water quality fro Gardner & Spring Hill Air quality- keep trucks moving Plan for the future that is different than the past Consider sustainability in road design to address air quality, water quality, and carbon footprint 10 of 10