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PA CMT Description:
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The intent of this project is to continue with the installation of protected bike facilities which provide exclusive use of the right-of-way to bicycles, scooters, and other low speed and/or non-motorized transportation modes. We will accomplish this by designating a bike lane for a cycletrack on existing city streets.
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PA SOV Capacity:
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This project is not proposing to add capacity. This project is proposing to take advantage of existing excess roadway capacity.
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PA Pre-application Statement:
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Changes made
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PA Pre-application Statement Text:
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The project type has been changed from Transportation Safety to Non-Motorized Transportation - Facilities and SRTS Infrastructure.
Green Infrastructure has been removed as one of the strategies to be addressed by this project. The Green Infrastructure strategy of the Connected KC 2050 Regional framework lists multimodal streets as an example of green infrastructure strategies. Based on the comments we received to our phase 1 application, it appears the scoring committee members would like to see physical green infrastructure included in projects (i.e., trees, bio-swales, permeable pavement, etc). We cannot commit to providing those features in connection with this project.
The relationship of this project to existing PSP studies has been updated. The final report of the Woodland Plaza: Planning Equitable Mobility study was not published at the time the application was initially made. The report, sponsored by Ride KC, has since been made public and this project is listed as one of the projects to be implemented to support the study.
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PA Pre-Application Staff Alignment:
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PA Pre-Aplication Policy Concerns:
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G1. TIP Number: |
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G2. State: |
Missouri
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G3. Multiple agencies / jurisdictions?
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No
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G4 Project contact: |
Mario Vasquez, AICP
Public Works Department
4721 Coal Mine Road
Kansas City, MO 64130
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G5 Purpose and need:
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This project provide design of a separated cycletrack starting on the west side of Paseo Boulevard and continue west to the River Market/Columbus Park area at 5th and Cherry. The City of Kansas City has installed bike lanes along 3rd Street and is proposing to install a cycletrack on the north side of Independence Ave. and along the east side of Paseo Boulevard. This project would connect to these facilities. This section of Independence Ave. is more complex, with higher vehicular movements and other constraints that will require careful design and public involvement. When this project is completed, the result will be a multimodal street with calmer traffic that will make this part of the city more enjoyable for residents.
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G6. Origin and ending
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Route:
From:
To:
Length (Miles):
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Independence Ave./Route 24
Paseo
Charlotte
0.90000
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G7 Functional Classification:
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Principal Arterial
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G8 Connected KC 2050 Decade?
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--Select--
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G9 Muli-Agency Plan?
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No
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G10 Included in a CIP?
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Yes
The project will be part of the FY 2021-2022 budget.
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G11 Planning stage:
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Conceptual Plan
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G12 Reviewed by state DOT?
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No
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G13 Right-of-Way acquisition: |
All acquired or none needed
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G14 ROW by local public agency process manual?
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No
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G15 Other unique local goals and objectives?
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No
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G16 Transportation Disadvantaged Population:
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This project will be of great benefit to transportation disadvantaged populations. Over 21% of residents within these neighborhoods are likely to use transit, walk, or ride a bicycle to commute to work compared to 6% of residents of Kansas City. And whereas households in Kansas City have access to an average of 1.5 cars, households in these neighborhoods, on average, have access to 0.99 cars. The project area is certainly a population that is more dependent on other modes of transportation besides the automobile.
The population within these neighborhoods is also economically disadvantaged. Nearly 50% of residents within the project area are considered to be living below the poverty level. By comparison, 18.9% of residents of the City are considered to be living below the poverty level.
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G17 Relevant Public Engagement:
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This project arose from interactions between city staff and residents of the neighborhood. Numerous transportation facilities have been constructed in and around the neighborhood over the years. The City installed a bike lane along 5th Street as well as bike lanes along Charlotte to the south of Independence Ave. The Riverfront Heritage Trail and the Spirit of KC Scenic Byway are adjacent to or in near proximity to these neighborhoods. The bike lanes across the Heart of America Bridge are at the north end of the proposed terminus of this project. The street car has stations nearby. With all of these transportation investment, residents can more easily point out missing links and areas of improvement. Residents of the area have identified improving Independence Ave. as a locally desired priority.
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G18 Planned Public Engagement:
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Neighborhoods in this part of the City are well organized and engaged. Communication between elected officials, staff and residents is fairly consistent. With respect to public engagement, this project will rely upon residents to serve on an advisory committee to guide major decisions. We intend to utilize data and consider a variety of scenarios to illustrate design concepts. The area is also home to multiple ethnic groups for whom language is sometimes a barrier. We will print materials and distribute materials in multiple languages and will make use of translators as appropriate.
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G19 Sustainable Places Criteria:
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Access to Healthy Foods---Active Transportation/Living-------Compact, Walkable Centers---
Complete Street Design---Connected Street Network---Context Appropriate Streets-------
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Mixed-Density Neighborhoods-----------Pedestrian-Oriented Public Realm---
--------Retail/Rooftop Relationships-------
------
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G19.1 Describe PSP relationship:
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The project will provide a connection to the City Market, where vendors offer fresh fruits and vegetables. It will do so by re-designing an existing street so that it includes facilities for more users of the system. A redesigned Independence Ave. will become a complete street that will promote active transportation and active life styles. Through this transformation, we expect Independence Ave. to become calmer which will in turn promote more pedestrian activity. These improvements and resulting benefits will support neighborhoods in the area which are diverse and mixed use in character.
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G20 Implements Sustainable Places Initiatives?
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Yes
This project complements the Woodland Plaza: Planning Equitable Transportation Investments in a Redeveloping Community PSP Study completed in 2019 by the KCATA. The Woodland Plaza Study provided a set of guidelines to follow in this quickly redeveloping area of the city. One of the strategies listed in the study is to Provide High Quality Bicycle Connections to Key Destinations. This project is specifically referenced in the study.
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G21 Serves Regional Activity Center?
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Yes
High-Intensity and More_Walkable Centers
This project will provide a direct connection between neighborhoods in the Old Northeast (such as Independence Plaza and Pendleton Heights) to Columbus Park and River Market. All of these neighborhoods are considered highly walkable. In addition, the pr
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G22 Environmental justice tracts?
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Yes
This project will create a connection between Census Tracts 3, 10, and 154. All of these Census Tracts are classified as environmental justice tracts by the Mid America Regional Council.
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G23 Reduces greenhouse gas emissions?
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Yes
The completion of a cycle track along Independence Ave. will aid in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The European Cyclist Federation conducted research and has calculated that for every kilometer traveled, a car rider emits 271 grams of CO2 while a bicyclist emits 16 grams of CO2 (mostly as part of the production of food for the bicyclist). If those findings were to hold true for this corridor (which is about two kilometers in length) we should expect to see a 94% reduction in CO2 emissions for every user that shifts his transportation mode from car to a bicycle.
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G24 Natural Resource information:
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The project is located in an area identified as having high ecological value per mapping information provided by the Mid America Regional Council. The corridor is also identified as a high priority for resource conservation and restoration.
Given the limited scope of the project, we believe this project will positively contribute to the conservation of natural resources as it proposes to have limited or no impact on existing features of high ecological value. As the project evolves through the design phase, we will explore ways of enhancing existing natural resources through tree planting and reconfiguration and/or removal of existing paved areas.
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G25 Community Links at Watershaed Scale:
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This project is located in the Turkey Creek watershed which is a tributary to the Kansas River. The project does not propose any increases to the amount of impervious surfaces currently in place. Small reductions in impervious surfaces are possible to improve safety at intersections. Any impervious areas eliminated will be replaced with grass medians or islands which will improve carbon storage capacity. The project can be combined with efforts to restore the city’s tree canopy. Considering the dense and urbanized nature of the area, these small changes would constitute mitigation efforts rather than restorative efforts. In any case, these all represent efforts that lead to the conservation of resources.
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G26 Explain local land use or comprehensive plans:
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This project is supported by the Citys FOCUS Plan, which is the Kansas Citys comprehensive plan of record. The FOCUS Comprehensive Plan is supplemented by a series of area plans. This area plan of record for this part of the City is the Greater Downton Area Plan. This plan recommends separated bike facilities along Independence Ave. This project is also consistent with the Kansas City Bicycle Master Plan which is under consideration for approval by the City Council.
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