|
G1. TIP Number: |
|
|
G2. State: |
Missouri
|
|
G3. Multiple agencies / jurisdictions?
|
No
|
|
G4 Project contact: |
Mike Winckler
City Engineer
816-325-7619
mwinckler@indepmo.org
111 E Maple Avenue
Independence, MO 64050
|
|
G5 Purpose and need:
|
The project will implement the Truman Road Green Gateway Plans, a PSP project on the eastern end of the plan corridor, including Van Horn High School. The existing street design negatively impacts pedestrians and drivers. Exiting school buses require police to halt traffic on Winner Road to allow buses to exit school property due to a misaligned median. The project will remove this obstacle, and result in a smoother transition during peak times without the use of police to direct traffic. Truman Road, a state highway/minor arterial carrying notable truck traffic, intersects with pedestrian crossings at mid-block points, resulting in safety concerns. The project shifts pedestrian, bus, and student pickup activity to Winner Road and onto school property. The design encourages pedestrians to use signalized crosswalks at the intersection, improves access to transit, and creates safer driving movements for motorists, including the school’s young drivers.
|
| |
|
G6. Origin and ending
|
Route:
From:
To:
Length (Miles):
|
Winner Road
Truman Road
Arlington Ave Spur
0.50000
|
|
G7 Functional Classification:
|
Major Collector
|
|
G8 Connected KC 2050 Decade?
|
2020
|
|
G9 Muli-Agency Plan?
|
Yes
This is the first step in implementing the Planning Sustainable Places corridor plan called the Truman Road Green Gateway Plan of 2014. The TRGG Plan was a cooperative effort between Jackson County, Missouri and the City of Independence, Missouri. The proposed project centers on the eastern terminus of TRGG plan at the Truman and Winner Road intersection which is entirely within the City of Independence. A future phase in unincorporated Jackson County to the west would be completed by the County. The Independence School District is also included in and supportive of the plan.
|
|
G10 Included in a CIP?
|
Yes
This project is listed in our current 2020-2026 Capital Improvement Plan and is anticipated to be scheduled in fiscal year 2022 in the Municipal Services Department of projects.
|
|
G11 Planning stage:
|
Conceptual Plan
|
|
G12 Reviewed by state DOT?
|
No
|
|
G13 Right-of-Way acquisition: |
Not started
|
|
G14 ROW by local public agency process manual?
|
Yes
|
|
G15 Other unique local goals and objectives?
|
Yes
Van Horn High School was integrated into the Independence School District in 2008. Since that time considerable investment by the School District and the City has occurred to address the needs of the schools incorporated into the school district to bring them to the same standards of all schools existing in the District. Investments related to sidewalks to schools, water, stormwater, and sanitary sewer projects continue to occur as a means of support for the neighborhoods in western Independence. These investments have led to a more connected and vibrant area. This project will continue to improve transportation choices and safety for all people while giving a better opportunity for residents to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Loading and unloading of buses will be relocated off the state highway, impacting ease of use for young drivers coming to and from the school each day.
|
|
G16 Transportation Disadvantaged Population:
|
This project will have a positive impact on the disadvantaged populations in the surrounding area by providing a safe travel environment for students, parents, bus drivers, and the general public accessing Van Horn High School or traveling on the adjacent streets. Improved pedestrian facilities will increase transportation options for zero car households and improve connectivity. Disadvantaged populations are prevalent in the Truman and Winner project area. Approximately 5.2% of households in the area have no vehicle, double the regional level; students travel to school either as pedestrians, on a school bus, or a few are driven by a parent. The area has a Hispanic population that is double that of the KC Metro area. The poverty rate is double that of metro area with 24.5% of households in this category. The area north of Truman Road has a poverty rate between 30% and 37%. The most northern area is nearly triple the regional poverty rate. The median household income is approximately $32,400, or two-thirds of the metro area. Median income ranges from $23,000 to $40,700. Household income is distributed to the lower income levels with more than 21% of households in the $10,000 to $20,000 level. Higher income levels have progressively fewer households in each income category.
|
|
G17 Relevant Public Engagement:
|
This project was presented to the City of Independence Council and support was given to pursue funding. Seven public engagement events took place to connect the public with the Truman and Winner project. Events began in the summer of 2015 with a community stakeholder meeting followed by six subsequent events focusing on the Independence School District, parents groups associated with area schools (elementary, middle and secondary) plus several other meetings with the Truman Gateway Committee, a property and business group in the area. The focus of the public engagement strategy was Van Horn High School. Presentations and discussions were made with different parents group and the Van Horn High School Student Council. It was our intent to involve the students as much as possible as a way to engage their parents and neighbors and build a connection with the school and school district. The most successful engagement event took place at an evening when the high school hosted three basketball games with students, parents, and other stakeholders in attendance. This event provided the most diverse group of participants from a part of Independence that has some of the lowest incomes and high minority populations. The final presentation took place at the Van Horn Student Council meeting and was the second meeting to the Student Council. Members of the steering committee, business community, parents, City Council and Planning Commission attended along with about 35 students. The events with the students resulted in articulate and insightful comments and suggestions.
|
|
G18 Planned Public Engagement:
|
Project information will be provided via the Citys website and in the monthly newsletter to residents. The public will be invited to provide input during the project development. If selected for STP funding, LPA process will be followed including public hearings to meet with the public in order to provide information, display plan sheets with details at various properties, answer questions, and take comments. The public engagement plan is to continue with and expand the strategy used with the Truman and Winner project to date. The intent is to identify locations and events that allow outreach to the community by tagging along to other events where residents have other compelling reasons to be there. We are confident we have identified some very good connections with the Truman and Winner neighborhoods and will build upon that and make it more robust and meaningful to the residents.
|
|
G19 Sustainable Places Criteria:
|
----Active Transportation/Living---Age in Place---Compact, Walkable Centers---
Complete Street Design---Connected Street Network-----------
----Green Infrastructure-------Integrated Trail System---
----Natural Resources Protection---Optimize Parking---Pedestrian-Oriented Public Realm---
----Repair Strip Corridors-----------
Transit-Ready Corridors---Tree Preservation-
|
|
G19.1 Describe PSP relationship:
|
Promoting active transportation by investing in bicycle, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure. Pedestrian improvements enhance walkability access at a recognized activity center including school and nearby underutilized commercial properties. This is a complete street projects that improves travel using multi-model options. This project including a mix of uses connecting residents to education, businesses, services and a trail network. Green infrastructure will be utilized to protect the natural resources at the site. This project supports an existing transit corridor and consequently provides connected transportation options to residents and improving the quality of life for the non-driving population, further allowing residents in adjacent neighborhoods to age in place. Planting street trees and preserving existing trees with a tree survey will create a pedestrian-oriented public realm. Optimize parking by shifting bus staging to Winner Rd to improve traffic flow on Truman Rd.
|
|
G20 Implements Sustainable Places Initiatives?
|
Yes
This project supports concepts of Truman Rd Green Gateway Plan and Truman and Winner Rd Plan by addressing low-income area safety issues and reinvestment in an older part of the community with an identified activity center. The project also addressing transportation choices for residents through a complete streets strategy that encourages a healthier lifestyle for residents by designing the street for many transportation modes (pedestrian, bicycle, transit and vehicles). One goal is to encourage students of Van Horn High School to walk to school by providing a connected and safe pedestrian environment. The project is the baseline for the future vibrancy of the remaining three corners of the activity center. Partnerships with Van Horn High School, parent groups and area stakeholders (business & property owners) were solidified through the PSP process. Recently the City has constructed several sanitary, storm and street projects in the area indicating support for northwest Independence.
|
|
G21 Serves Regional Activity Center?
|
Yes
High-Intensity and More_Walkable Centers
This project includes many elements of Connected KC 2050 by investing and enhancing the already busy intersection of State Highway 12 (Truman Road) and Winner Road, a major collector street. When fully developed the three remaining quadrants (the first quadrant encompasses Van Horn High School) will include local commercial businesses, medium density housing, local services, and employment. The focus on reconstructing the drive lanes by removing the median and adding wider bike/pedestrian areas will support a healthy vibrant lifestyle and provide a better functioning, connected, and more attractive intersection for residents of these neighborhoods. Sidewalks and better access to transit will increase transportation options for zero car households and improve connectivity. This project will increase connectivity to Englewood Arts District on Winner Road.
|
|
G22 Environmental justice tracts?
|
Yes
The project area is entirely within an environmental justice (EJ) tract. Pedestrians were observed walking on undefined paths, in ditches or in traffic lanes. This project would improve access to the south of Truman Road transit stop and other businesses and services, and improve all transportation user safety by adding pedestrian facilities and upgrading signalization at this intersection.
|
|
G23 Reduces greenhouse gas emissions?
|
Yes
Completing the Truman and Winner Road project will reduce congestion along Winner Road at peak travel time when school buses, public transit buses, automobiles, and pedestrians arrive and depart Van Horn High School. As such, greenhouse gases will be reduced due to fewer vehicles idling as they attempt to navigate the current road design. Air quality will be improved with more attractive bike/pedestrian facilities and by providing safer access to the nearby transit stop. Through providing safer pedestrian and bike facilities, and access to transit stops, travelers will be encouraged to use alternative transportation choices, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and subsequent emissions.
|
|
G24 Natural Resource information:
|
The project improves existing streets within existing street right of ways. The project increases total greenspace by removing a median from Winner Road and adding bicycle lanes, pedestrian facilities, a dedicated parkway, and street trees to both sides of the roadway. The overall plan for the PSP Truman Green Gateway Plan of 2014, of which the Truman and Winner project is part, will increase greenspace wherever possible.
|
|
G25 Community Links at Watershaed Scale:
|
The project is in the Rock Creek watershed. Street trees would be planted along the corridor as a restorative measure. The project will also evaluate potential stormwater BMPs such as native plantings, bioswales, and other implementations that will improve water quality and reduce runoff from this long-established area that was developed with minimal stormwater runoff requirements. The implementation of the BMPs can be maintained in partnership with the school district Academies which focus on career development tracks and can be used as a joint-effort learning lab.
|
|
G26 Explain local land use or comprehensive plans:
|
Truman Road (Minor Arterial) and Winner Road (Major Collector) are part of the Citys adopted Thoroughfare Plan (an amendment to the Citys Comprehensive Street Plan approved in 2007). The Citys latest comprehensive plan, Imagine Independence 2040, has identified one of the top goals of City to make it "Easier to get around for all users, including transit, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists". The City adopted the complete streets policy in June 2011, which emphasizes the Citys commitment to projects that promote transportation choices and economic vitality.
|
| |
